The 'Backup' command is used to back up the QuickFill database and report files. QuickFill backup files are industry standard Zip files which can be viewed using common utilities such as WinZip or PKZip. They can also be viewed directly in Windows Explorer if you are using Windows XP.
You can back up your database and report files from outside of QuickFill, but doing so from within QuickFill does have a few advantages:
It always backs up the database that you are currently using with QuickFill. There is never any confusion about which database you are backing up.
The backup can be part of a scheduled update run. You can back up the database and then run issue labels, bills, or renewals overnight without manual intervention.
Note: backing up outside of QuickFill
If you decide not to use QuickFill's built-in 'Backup' program, be sure to select all of the files in your database directory(s) that have a QFDAT extension; these are the files that make up your database(s). If you use the non-audit system, there will be fourteen QFDAT files for each database. If you use the audit system, there will be at least fifteen QFDAT files (the fourteen database files and one galley data file) for each database. (If you have never run an audit issue, you will only have fourteen QFDAT files. If you have run more than one audit issue, you may have more than fifteen QFDAT files—the fourteen database files plus a galley data file for each audit issue.)
Backup description
Enter the description that you would like QuickFill to print on the back up report that will be produced.
Backup to
Enter the drive or drive and directory to which you would like to back up your files. If you are backing up to removable media, QuickFill will prompt you to insert additional media as needed. You can either type in the location to which you would like to back up your files or click on "Browse" to locate it. If you leave this field blank, QuickFill will put the backup file in the root directory of the drive that your database is on (that is, if your database is on the J-Drive, the backup file will be put in J:\).
The name of the zip file that is created will be DatabaseName_Backup_Date(YYYYMMDD)_Time(HHMMSS).zip. For example, your zip file might be named QFWDB_Backup_20051128_11430.zip.
Backup saved reports, bills, renewals, and labels
If you would like all of your report files (including bill, renewal, and label files) to be backed up with your database, check this box. QuickFill's restore program provides the ability to restore a database, report files, or both from the zip file that is created.
Compression factor
Enter a number from 0 to 9 indicating the amount of disk compression that you would like QuickFill to use during back up. Zero indicates no disk compression while nine indicates maximum disk compression. Depending on the size of your database, the greater the compression factor is the longer your back up may take.
Delete old backup files
Select this option if you would like to delete all prior files from the removable disks you are going to back up to or the database files from the back up directory you have specified.
When you are ready to run the back up, click on "OK." When you run this utility, you have the choice of running it immediately or as part of a scheduled job. Scheduling the backup to be run overnight only makes sense if you are backing up to a tape or disk drive that can hold the complete database on a single tape or disk. There is no point in scheduling a back up overnight if someone has to be there to insert multiple floppy disks!
If 'Backup' program exits with an error status, the scheduled job list stops automatically so that the remaining jobs do not get run when you don't have a good back up.
Note: verifying your backup
Back up procedures should include frequent integrity tests. If you back up to tape, make sure that you verify (also known as compare) the backup. If you are using removable media, like zip disks, make sure that some form of integrity tests are performed on the backup.
Click here for more information on the importance of backing up your database and back up methods.
Click here for more information about Options for running 'Backup'.