Producing a Backup of Your Database


The following describes the appropriate procedure for producing a backup of 
your Q&A data files (or any other files) you want to backup from your hard 
disk to a floppy disk(s).  It is wise to make a backup off your hard disk, as 
hard disks can fail leaving you with no data and many hours of data re-entry.

First, you must determine the size of your filename.idx and filename.dtf.  Do 
this by going to the directory where the files are located and type: DIR.  You 
will see something similar to this:

              sample.dtf          43,337         08-22-88
              sample.idx           9,746         08-22-88


If the total of both of these is less than the capacity of your disk drive, 
then use Procedure A.  If the total is more than the capacity of your disk 
drive, then use Procedure B.  In the above example, the total is 53,083.  
Therefore, Procedure A would be used.



PROCEDURE  A:

From the Q&A main menu choose File.  From the File menu Choose Backup.  Type 
in the database name and press enter.  Q&A automatically brings up the default 
directory (e.g. C:).  Use the backspace key to delete that and type A:.  Press 
enter and you will see a list of the filenames on the floppy disk in A:.  
Select one of these to overwrite it or type in a new filename for the database 
on the floppy.



PROCEDURE  B:

First, be sure backup.com and restore.com (Note: these files may have the 
extension .exe) are located in the root directory C:.  If they are not, copy 
them from your DOS disk to C: by typing:

         COPY  A:backup.*  C:\
         COPY  A:restore.*   C:\

Have a number of formatted disks ready, for the total capacity of bytes of 
information you are backing up.  Place one disk in drive A and type the 
following from the C:\  prompt:


         BACKUP  C:\(see note below)\filename.*  A:

    Note: In the BACKUP command above, you would substitute the subdirectory
          in which your Q&A files are loaded.

You will be prompted to insert another disk until the procedure is complete.  
Label each disk #1, #2, etc.


Q & A Application Note       Rev. 6/92           #2006     Page 1 of 2



                     Producing a Backup of Your Database


To restore your datafiles from the floppy disks to your hard disk, type the 
following from the C:\ prompt:


         RESTORE  A:   C:\ /S


Your files will be restored to the directory where they were originally 
located.



    *IMPORTANT*

If while using your database you experience a problem, such as a power loss,  
a reboot of your system, or if you receive an error message while entering or 
using your database, this is the time to use your backup.  This is NOT the 
time to produce a backup as your database is damaged and your backup is your 
only working copy.

Also, having multiple copies of your backup will assure that your data is 
always available if you experience one of the above problems. The diskette(s) 
you use for your backup may have a bad sector or other problems.  If you have 
two backup copies, you will have a usable copy if one copy is bad.  Rotate 
these two backup copies every time you backup (for example use backup 1 the 
first time you backup, then use backup 2 the next time.)  This only takes a 
short while to perform and will save hours of re-entry.


























Q & A Application Note       Rev. 6/92           #2006     Page 2 of 2