Question:
How do I back up and restore my Act! database?
Product:
Product Family: Act!
Product: Act! Pro, Act! Premium
Version: 2009 and later
Answer:
Important Notes:
Creating a backup
Restoring a Database
There are 3 different options for restoring your database. Refer to the section for the option next to the description which applies to you:
Using Restore
Note: Use caution when using this option if your database still exists on your computer. Restoring over your database with a backup cannot be undone. Only use this option if you are sure that you need to overwrite the existing database files or if the database was removed from your hard drive.
Using Restore As:
Note: This option is not recommended if you are trying to move databases which synchronize with each other, as doing so will break remote synchronization. For information on moving your databases while retaining synchronization, refer to the following knowledgebase article:
How to retain synchronization when the Publisher and/or Subscriber database is moved to a different computer
Answer ID How to retain synchronization when the Publisher and/or Subscriber database is moved to a different computer
Using Unpack and Restore:
For instructions on unpacking and restoring a remote database, refer to the “Unpacking and Restoring the Remote Database” section of the following knowledgebase article:
How do I set up remote database synchronization in Act!?
Answer ID How do I set up remote database synchronization in Act!?
Related Information:
How to Backup and Restore Personal Files in Act!
Answer ID How to Backup and Restore Personal Files in ACT!
How to Back Up and Restore Your Act! E-mail Database
Answer ID: How to Back Up and Restore Your ACT! E-mail Database
How do I back up and restore my Act! database?
Product:
Product Family: Act!
Product: Act! Pro, Act! Premium
Version: 2009 and later
Answer:
Important Notes:
- It is recommended that you create the backup file directly to your local hard drive then, if desired, manually move it to an external storage device or network location.
- Forgotten database backup passwords cannot be recovered by Act! Technical support or Database Services as these passwords are tied to the database backup .ZIP file, and not the actual Act! Database. Make sure that if you password protect your backup files that you store the password somewhere it will not get lost.
- It is strongly recommended that you use the steps below or the Act! Scheduler to create backups of your database, rather than using third-party back up systems to back up this data. Due to the nature of the files that Act! uses for your database, the files are always in use by the system. Attempting to move or copy files which are in use can cause corruption or data loss. If you are interested in creating scheduled automatic backups of your database, refer to the following knowledgebase article:
How to use the Act! Scheduler to automatically back up your Act! Database
Answer ID How to use the Act! Scheduler to automatically back up your Act! database
Creating a backup
- Login to your database as an Administrator or a Manager level Act! User
- Click File > Back Up > Database…
- Click Browse…, then browse to the location you wish to save the backup to
- Give the file a new name (if desired), then click Save
- Decide whether or not you wish to include attachments by either leaving Include Attachments checked or by unchecking it
Note: For larger databases with attachments of large file sizes, creating a backup that includes attachments may take a long time to complete. If you are trying to create a backup of your database for the purpose of moving the database or in preparation for an upgrade, you might be able to save time by creating the backup without attachments, then manually backing up the attachments folder. For more information, refer to the following knowledgebase article:
How do I back up and restore my attachments separately from my database?
Answer ID How do I back up and restore my attachments separately from my database?
- Decide whether you wish to password protect the database backup file
- Click OK to begin backing up the following items into a .ZIP file:
- The Database
- Attached Documents (if included in step 5)
- Layouts
- Document Templates
- Report Templates
- Saved Queries
- Once the backup completes and the confirmation window appears, click OK to complete the backup process
Restoring a Database
There are 3 different options for restoring your database. Refer to the section for the option next to the description which applies to you:
- Restore: This option will use the backup to restore the database to its original location only, overwriting the existing database and any file attachments associated with it
- Restore as: This option allows you to restore the database as a copy with a different name to another file location or another computer
- Unpack and Restore Remote Database: This option allows you to unpack a remote database which was created from the main database with the purpose of synchronization from a work station
Using RestoreNote: Use caution when using this option if your database still exists on your computer. Restoring over your database with a backup cannot be undone. Only use this option if you are sure that you need to overwrite the existing database files or if the database was removed from your hard drive.
- Click File > Restore > Database…
- Choose Restore, then click OK
- Click Browse…, browse to and select the database backup file, then click Open
- On the Restore Database window, click OK
- Enter the Administrator user name and password for the database, then click OK
- When the warning appears to let you know that files modified after the backup was made will be overwritten by the backup file, click Yes to continue
- Once the confirmation window appears, click OK
- Open the database from the File menu to proceed with using the database
Using Restore As:Note: This option is not recommended if you are trying to move databases which synchronize with each other, as doing so will break remote synchronization. For information on moving your databases while retaining synchronization, refer to the following knowledgebase article:
How to retain synchronization when the Publisher and/or Subscriber database is moved to a different computer
Answer ID How to retain synchronization when the Publisher and/or Subscriber database is moved to a different computer
- Click File > Restore > Database…
- Choose Restore as, then click OK
- Click Browse…, browse to and select the database backup file, click Open, then click OK
- Under New database name, enter a new name for the database
- If desired, click Browse… to browse to and select a location to restore the database to, otherwise enter the Administrator user name and password, then click OK
- Once the confirmation window appears, click OK
- Open the database from the File menu to proceed with using the database
Using Unpack and Restore:For instructions on unpacking and restoring a remote database, refer to the “Unpacking and Restoring the Remote Database” section of the following knowledgebase article:
How do I set up remote database synchronization in Act!?
Answer ID How do I set up remote database synchronization in Act!?
Related Information:
How to Backup and Restore Personal Files in Act!
Answer ID How to Backup and Restore Personal Files in ACT!
How to Back Up and Restore Your Act! E-mail Database
Answer ID: How to Back Up and Restore Your ACT! E-mail Database