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Backing up your Database #
Spectra can make a backup copy of your database for you. To make a backup
of your database files, follow the steps below.
-
From the Spectra Utilities
menu, choose Backup Data Files. -
You will be prompted for the location to place
the backup. Unless you’re placing the backed up files onto a separate
drive, like a zip drive, you should accept the default location. Click
Backup. It is highly recommended
that you copy these backup files to other media such as a tape drive,
zip disk, or CD. You risk losing both sets of files by keeping them
on the same hard drive. -
Spectra will create a zipped file that contains
the data files. If you ever need to restore a backup, use the Database
Utility found under the Start
Menu > Program Files > Spectra 20xx > Utilities. See also: Database Utility
Make sure that you back
up your data files DAILY, either by using the Spectra backup utility
or by using your own backup software! If your data files become
corrupted beyond repair or if your hard drive crashes, you will
lose all of your data unless you have a current backup. Spectra asks you to choose a location for your backup files. By default,
Spectra specifies a backup sub-folder on the same hard drive as
your main database files. It might be advisable to back up to
a different hard drive, an alternate computer through a network
drive, a jump drive, or a CD. That way if one hard drive fails,
you have your Spectra backup on a different computer. See also: Database Backup Best Practices
You can also back up your Spectra database with the Database Utility and/or schedule automatic backups with the Control Center. See also: Database Utility and Control Center
Compacting your Database #
We highly recommend compacting your data files regularly, at least once a week. Why? Spectra stores its data in Microsoft® Access® data tables. Access builds
its own internal temporary files. Running a compact rebuilds the
data files and removes any temporary files. Not only will the
data files be reduced in size, but performance should increase and
data corruption can be prevented.
To compact your Spectra database, follow the steps below.
-
From the Utilities
menu, choose Compact Data Files. -
A message will appear indicating that Spectra
must close and, if you are compacting the network installation, all
other users must exit the program. -
Click OK. Spectra
will close and the compact process will run. Spectra will relaunch when finished.
You can also Compact and
Repair your Spectra database with the Database Utility and/or schedule automatic compacts with the Control Center. See also: Database Utility and Control Center
