Problem
If I have backed up my entire data drive with an external backup tool, do I still need to use the Commence backup command?
Cause
Third party backup software may not capture core database files if Commence is running. For this reason it is critical to use the Commence backup utility to create XFR files in addition to your normal backup routine. The Commence backup file can be saved to a drive that is captured by the third party backup software.
Solution
A typical Commence database directory may contain anywhere from a few dozen to a few hundred files. All of these files must be backed up in their entirety to make a complete Commence backup of your database. The Commence backup command compresses all files and folders in the Commence data directory into one file with the file extension of .XFR.
- Click the Commence Application button and select Open/Manage Database.
- Highlight the database you wish to backup.
- Select the Backup button. You will be prompted to select a backup file. The backup file will be Saved in the Application Data Directory. You can select a different folder on your computer such as My Documents.
- The File name will be the name of your data folder followed by an extension of .XFR (for example Data.xfr). Be sure to change the filename if you do not wish to overwrite the previous backup.
- Press the Save button to start the backup. When the backup is complete, click OK then Done.
CAUTION: Once the backup has begun do not cancel, especially if you are overwriting a previous backup. This will result in an incomplete file that is automatically deleted.
Additional Information
Commence agents can be used to create automatic backups at regular intervals. Refer to Technical Note 5310: Using Agents to Backup Data from the following link:
http://www.commence.com/technotes.asp
For future reference, the steps to create a Commence backup file of your database are also found in the online help.
- Press F1 in Commence to launch the Contents page for the online help.
- Select [How Do I...]
- Select [Work with Databases]
- Display the topic titled [Backup a Database]
Applies To
- RM 4.0 and newer versions
| Author: |
Commence |
| Tracking ID: |
8-346160-S |