If you are using Public Folders version 4.6.3 or older, please consult this User's Manual.
Creating and restoring backup copies
CodeTwo Public Folders database is modified in real-time and reflects all the changes made by users via their Outlook Add-ins. It is possible that we lose our database (or just a part of it) due to, for example, a malfunctioning local disk drive. Some vital items from the database can also get accidentally removed. To prevent essential data loss, backup copies need to be regularly created. In Public Folders it is possible to manually create a backup database copy at any given moment or schedule automatic backup copy creation in specified time intervals.
Database backup management is done in Backup copy tab in the Administration Panel (Fig. 1.). In order to access this feature, go to Start, Programs, CodeTwo, Public Folders - Syncing Master, Administration Panel and click the Backup copy tab.
Fig.1. In the Backup Copy tab you can manually create a database copy or schedule automatic backup copy creation.
The List of available backup copies window displays all the database copies currently stored by the program. Here you can find useful information about your backup copies - their creation date, size, location and whether they were created manually or automatically.
In order to manually create a backup database copy you only have to press the Create a new backup copy button. After specifying the desired backup file location the copy will be saved and displayed in the list of all available copies.
The Automatic backup section allows you to schedule automatic creation of backup database copies. When you check the Enable automatic backup option, you will have to specify the settings in the subsequent fields, which will become capable of being edited. Point to the location, in which your automatically created backup copies will be stored (click the Browse button). Make sure, that there is enough disk space in the location you specified. Define the maximum number of backup copies - this number shows how many copies at once can be stored on your drive. In case this number will be exceeded, the oldest copy will be removed and replaced by the newest one.
The last step is to specify the frequency of automatic database backup copy creation. In the Create backup copy field you can choose whether the backup copy should be created once a day, once a week or once a month. When making your backup schedule you can even point to a specified day of the week or month, or even to a given hour.
If necessary, you can overwrite the existing database using any of your backup copies. In order to do that, select the chosen copy in the List of available backup copies window and then click the Restore a backup copy button. You will see a warning window telling you that all the data from the current database will be overwritten (Fig. 2.). You can still cancel this action by clicking the No button. If, however, you decide to restore the backup copy, the whole database of your program will be reverted to the state from the restored backup copy. All the data that has been changed or edited later will be lost, so this option should be only used as a last resort.
Fig.2. Warning message about overwriting the existing database with a backup copy
With the Delete a backup copy option you can remove the selected backup copy when it is no longer necessary - it will be permanently removed from your hard drive and no longer displayed on the list.
