Backing up open files

bilbod

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Nov 9, 2009, 10:59:32 PM11/9/09

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Hello,
I've got users running an automated backup that makes one zip file of
the solution. It's in FM5 on current windows platforms, mostly XP &
Vista. Until now, I've been reluctant to have the zip backup routine
run automatically because I thought it was important the files be
closed, so the system wouldn't get confused between open and closed
files to archive. Now I'm wondering if that is necessary best
practice. Any thoughts?
Thanks,
Bill

bilbod

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Nov 9, 2009, 11:14:58 PM11/9/09

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105

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Nov 10, 2009, 1:05:34 AM11/10/09

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bilbod wrote:
> Hello,
> I've got users running an automated backup that makes one zip file of
> the solution. It's in FM5 on current windows platforms, mostly XP &
> Vista. Until now, I've been reluctant to have the zip backup routine
> run automatically because I thought it was important the files be
> closed,

it is; re flushing cache...
maintain your reluctance.

Christoph Kaufmann

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Nov 10, 2009, 9:27:19 AM11/10/09

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bilbod <bja...@montanaport.net> wrote:

> Until now, I've been reluctant to have the zip backup routine
> run automatically because I thought it was important the files be
> closed

It is. Do not ever try to copy running files. Your copy will be broken,
and even the running file might get corrupted, so you end up with
nothing. FWIW, that's what FMI state in their Training Series.

> Any thoughts?

Make sure Filemaker is closed before before running the backup.
--
http://clk.ch

Howard Schlossberg

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Nov 10, 2009, 12:06:22 PM11/10/09

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You should absolutely, positively not copy, zip, virus scan, or
otherwise apply external influence to any live, open database files.

If you have more than, say, three users, you should probably be hosting
the files from FileMaker Server, which includes scheduled backups of
live files (it pauses the data service while the files are backing up).

If you don't have FM Server, then whichever machine is acting as host
should run a "save files as...copy" script step and then the zip files
can be made from those copies. Guests of a multi-user file are not able
to use the "save as" command; only the host can.

bilbod

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Nov 10, 2009, 2:55:08 PM11/10/09

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Thanks everyone,
I'd have to have a pretty thick skull to miss the intent of the
responses!
Bill
On Nov 10, 10:06 am, Howard Schlossberg

105

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Nov 10, 2009, 4:57:05 PM11/10/09

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Hi Howard

re save as copy
there was discussion of this in another forum some months ago, and the
strongly expressed position was that this was a very bad idea, was a
source of potential corruption, and that even FM had subsequently
advised against it (no reference). In short, never use save as copy.
This from a well known FM dev. Which is very inconvenient if true.

Having to quit FM in order to do a 'safe' copy is tedious. Thoughts?

bilbod

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Nov 10, 2009, 7:33:11 PM11/10/09

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I've been using a Save as Copy routine for a long time. Whenever I've
needed to restore a user's file
I've just renamed the copy to the correct name for the fileset in use.
It's never given me a problem.
I'm having that run when they close the solution, but, they don't
always close each day. That's why
I turned to the free Cobian Backup. And finally, one important file
wouldn't Save as Copy.
Bill