QBudget: Backing up your data

Keeping regular back-ups of your important data is important. The following is a brief guide to how to back up your work and - if you're running a virtual machine (VirtualBox, Parallels, Fusion etc.) - how to back this up as well.

Mac Users

You'll have one of the virtualisation systems installed in order to run QBudget under Windows on your Mac. There are two required steps. The first, which you need only run once, is to back up your whole virtual machine and note your serial number/licence info if you're using Parallels or Fusion. (VirtualBox is free so you won't have this). There will be a large disk image (which represents the whole "Windows" computer) on your Mac. Parallels and Fusion store this in a folder in ~/Documents, so if your user account is called "janedoe" then you'd find this at /Users/janedoe/Documents/. VirtualBox puts this in a folder in ~/Library. Back this folder up somewhere safe!

Now fire up your virtual machine and follow the instructions for Windows users...

Windows Users

QBudget stores multiple budgets in databases at C:/Q-B2000/. Most users will be running the default AFVPA database. If you know that you're not using this, substitute your database(s) in these instructions. The main database file is called AFVPA.MDB, but Windows will hide the .MDB by default so it appears simply as AFVPA. You'll also see two other files per database, with .HED and .LDB extensions. You can safely ignore these unless you've customised your header page in which case backup AFVPA.HED after changes as well.

Copy this file somewhere safe on a regular basis. If you are running an automated backup, you must make sure that you quit QBudget before the backup runs, copying an open database could result in the loss of all your budgets.

DISCLAIMER: Your IT Support company should always be consulted about the best way to back up your systems. QBudget accepts no responsibility for data loss.