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Schedule automatic backups of the firm database

Because many backup tools such as Carbonite or Barracuda can't back up a SQL database, we recommend that you back up your data manually, or on a regular schedule so that your client data can be properly restored in a timely manner. The backup from each application includes data for all clients in the application database. In most cases, you don't need to back up data for individual clients.
note
  • If you are licensed to use the application in the Virtual Office CS or the Software as a Service (SaaS) environment, your firm data is backed up automatically on the servers that host your data.
  • The application keeps up to 11 files created from scheduled backups. The most recent backup file is called Backup.BDF. With each subsequent scheduled backup, the application renames the last file to BackupArchive001.BDF, then BackupArchive002.BDF, and so on, through BackupArchive010.BDF. When the maximum number of backups have been created, the application deletes the oldest of the 11 backup files and continues to rename the files in this manner.
  • To ensure that the backup of your database is safely stored off the data server, your automatic backup tool should be set to copy Backup.BDF from the specified backup folder, or all 11 *.bdf files from the folder, if you want to include the current backup plus the last 10 backup files.
  • You can change the location of the backup path in the CS Professional Suite tab of the
    Setup > File Locations
     window.
  1. Select
    File >Backup
     and then select
    Schedule a recurring backup
    .
    Select
    Setup > System Configuration > Scheduled Backup
    .
  2. Mark the
    Schedule backups to occur
     checkbox, and then select the database backup frequency and time.
    note
    The scheduled backup will run when the application is currently being used by staff, and when the application is not currently in use.
  3. Enter the path and folder in which you want the backup files to be stored.
  4. Enter a Windows Login and Password for the data server. We recommend using a server administrator's credentials.
  5. Select
    OK
    .
  6. When you receive the message "The scheduled backup was saved successfully. Practice CS will now create a test backup.", select
    OK
    . A test backup file is created in the specified folder called ScheduledBackupTest.bdf.

This article applies to:

  • PRODUCT: Practice CS
  • Subject: Install