Contents - Index

Backing Up/Restoring Data

Backing up Your Data:

There are two ways of backing up the data files:

a) Do a backup whenever you want to by clicking on the word Backup on the bottom right of the main window.  You will be able to select which years you want to backup.  You also have the option of deleting the data from your hard drive after you back it up.
b) Have Donarius® prompt you to do a backup after exiting the program a certain number of times.  Set how often you want to be prompted by choosing Preferences... from the Setup menu and typing a number in the field: Prompt for backup every.  (If you don't want to be prompted, click the Don't prompt for backup checkbox.)  Then click OK. If no data was changed since your last backup, you will not be prompted to do a backup.

In both methods you will be asked to confirm that you want to backup the data files.  You will be shown the years which have donations.  To backup all the data, leave it as is.  To backup only certain years, change the range of years. Usually you should keep the donations for all the years so that you can do reports comparing several years worth of donations.  However, if you are sure that you don't need data from previous years you may delete it.  To do this click on and delete the data from the current files.

Backups can be done to any removable media, such a floppy drive, rewritable CD or USB drive.  Indicate which drive to use for your backups or indicate a folder to backup to.  To browse for a folder, click on the Browse... button. Find the folder you want to backup to and double-click it.  Then click on the Open button.

You may want to have several folders for each date that you do a backup. To to that, check the box that says:
  Create separate folders within this folder
  or drive for each date that you do a backup
For example, suppose you do a backup on Feb 25, 2009 to folder C:\Backup. Donarius® will create a folder called Donarius-2014-02-25 inside that folder and backup to it.  If you do more than one backup per day the others will have a letter after the date. (eg: Donarius-2014-02-25a, Donarius-2014-02-25b, etc.)

To start the backup, click Backup data files.  The data files, customized report files and graphics files will be copied to the backup medio.  (You may also cancel the backup by clicking Don't backup.)  When the backup is done remove the media and store it in a safe place.

Restoring Your Data:

If the data files on your hard drive ever become damaged or lost you can restore them from the backup media.  Just insert the backup into the computer and click on the word Restore on the bottom right of the main window.  All drives and most folders will be searched for  backup data.  Click the drive or folder to restore from. When there are many backup drives/folders they will be shown in a list.  Select the one you want, then click on Check the files on the backup.

If the folder you need is not shown, then browse for it, by clicking on the Browse... button.  Find the folder you want to restore from, double-click it and click on the Open button.  Then click on Check the files on the backup.

If your church or organization has multiple locations or ministries that each use their own copy of Donarius® you can merge/add the donations from all of them to your main copy of Donarius®.  Put a checkmark where it says:
 Merging data from a different location
then type a short name for the other location in the box below. The donations from those files will be marked with a reason that has the location name you chose above. They will appear on the right hand side of the donation on most reports. (To see these go to the donation entry window and click on When.)

You will be asked what to do with the data on the backup disk.  You have three choices. To copy all the files from the backup, back to your hard drive, click on Replace current files with files from the backup. (This choice is not available if you are restoring from another location ministry.)

You can also add any new data from the backup to your files.  When you are using Donarius® on two computers you may add some new donors or donations on the second computer.  You should do a backup on it then bring the backup to the first computer.  Restore the data, choosing Add new data from the backup to current files. Only the new donors and new donations will be copied. All others will remain unchanged.  Any changes you made to donors or donations on the first computer will still be there.  You should not make any changes to the donor's name or address on the second computer because they may then be considered a new donor. You could then have the same donor twice, each with their own set of donations. You also should not make any changes to the donations on the second computer because they will be ignored.

When you are restoring from another location/ministry, all donors and donations will be considered new if this is the first time you are restoring from those files.  The next time you restore from those files they will not be added again.

To view the data on a backup, choose View the data on the backup.  Any functions which might change the data will be disabled.  (For example, entering donors or donations, changing the setup, importing data, etc.)  You will be able to reprint any receipts that you had previously printed, but you cannot print any new receipts.  Leave the backup in the drive while you are viewing it.  When you are finished viewing the backup, click on Stop viewing backup on the bottom right of the main window.




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