BACKUP UTILITY FOR TIMEFORCE
The "Backup Utility" for TimeForce automatically creates a backup of the information stored in the program database.
Backups can be performed manually, or the TimeForce Scheduler can be used to schedule database backups.
The following instructions walk you through setting up and using the Backup Utility.
Installation Instructions
The installation for the Backup Utility is included on the main TimeForce installation disk.
1. Insert the TimeForce installation disk into your computer's CD-ROM drive. The main "Install Menu" should automatically appear. If it does not, open My
Computer or Windows Explorer and double-click on the icon for your CD-ROM drive (usually D:/).
2. From the main "Install Menu," click on the [UTILITIES] icon, and then on [BACKUP UTILITY].
3. A dialog box opens which reads "This will install TimeForce Backup. Do you wish to continue?" Click on the [YES] icon.
4. The InstallShield Wizard opens with a "Welcome" screen. See Figure BACKUP-1.
5. The "Destination Directory" screen opens. See Figure BACKUP-2.
Figure BACKUP- 2: Destination Directory
Select the directory where you would like the program files to be installed. It is recommended that you allow the utility to be installed to its default location of "C:\Program Files\Qqest Software Systems\TimeForce\Backup." Select the desired directory and click on the [NEXT] icon to continue.
Select the directory in the Windows Start Menu where you would like the program icons to be installed. The default folder is "TimeForce." Click on the [NEXT] icon to continue.
7. The "Current Settings" screen opens. See Figure BACKUP-4.
Figure BACKUP- 4: Current Settings
Review the displayed installation information. Click on the [BACK] icon to make any desired changes. Click on the [NEXT] icon to begin the program installation. 8. Once the installation is completed, click on the [FINISH] icon to exit the
InstallShield Wizard.
9. From the "TimeForce Installation Menu," click on the [RETURN TO MAIN MENU] icon and then on [EXIT].
Setting Up the Backup Utility
The following instructions walk you through entering the setup information required before you will be able to use the Backup Utility.
Figure BACKUP- 5: Login Screen 2. In the SQL Login field, enter the SQL login username.
Note: Leave this setting blank to use the default MSDE username of "sa". This
setting works well for most users. You only need to specify a different setting if you are using the TimeForce system with SQL Server 2000 and have mapped the program database to an existing SQL instance.
3. Enter the SQL Password. Leave this setting blank to use the default MSDE login password. You only need to change this setting if you are using the TimeForce system with SQL Server 2000 and have mapped the program database to an existing SQL instance.
4. Enter the path to the SQL Server. Leave this setting blank to use the default setting of "(local)\TIMEFORCE."
5. In the Backup Path field, enter the path to the directory where you would like your program database backups to be stored. Click on the icon to browse to the desired directory.
6. There are two options for the Backup Name drop-down menu:
• Based on Explicit Date: With this option selected, the backup file will be named based on the actual date on which it was created. With this option selected, backup files are not overwritten on a weekly basis. Note that if you backup more than once a day the existing backup file will be appended.
Example: "qqest_2006-02-14.bak."
You should now be able to use the Backup Utility to create manual and automatic backups of the TimeForce database.
Performing a Manual Backup
The Backup Utility allows you to perform manual backups of the TimeForce database, and to schedule automatic backups. Use the following instructions to perform a manual database backup.
1. Open the Backup Utility. From the Windows Start Menu go to Programs | TimeForce and click on "TimeForce Backup." See Figure BACKUP-5 above. 2. Ensure that the specified setup information is correct.
3. From the row of icons located in the lower right-hand section of the screen, click
on .
4. A dialog box opens which reads "Backup the TimeForce Database?" Click on the [YES] icon.
5. A message appears which reads "Performing Backup. Please wait..." Once the backup has completed a dialog box appears which reads "Backup complete." Click on the [OK] icon.
The database backup has been stored in the directory specified in the Backup Path field.
Note: If you backup your database more than once a day, the existing backup file will be
appended.
Scheduling Automatic Backups
When you install the Backup Utility, the TimeForce Scheduler is also installed, allowing you to set up schedules for your TimeForce database to be automatically backed up. The TimeForce Scheduler can be opened from the Windows Start Menu, or by right-clicking anywhere in the main Backup Utility window and selecting "Load TimeForce Scheduler..."
Note: If the TimeForce Scheduler is already running, a message will appear which reads
Figure BACKUP- 6: TimeForce Scheduler
Creating a New Schedule
2. In the Title field, enter a name for this schedule. Ensure that there is a check-mark in the Active option. With this option de-selected the schedule will not run, but will be retained by the system for future re-activation.
3. The Program field contains the path to the executable that the scheduler will run at the specified times. This setting is automatically populated by the program. 4. The Execution Time field is where you enter the time at which you would like
the scheduled backup to be performed. Either place your cursor in the field and type in the desired time of day, or click on the up and down arrow icons located at the end of the field.
5. If you would like to specify a starting date for this schedule, put a check-mark in the box next to the Start Date field. Click on the down arrow icon at the end of the field to select the desired starting date from a calendar.
6. If you would like to specify an ending date for this schedule, put a check mark in the box next to the End Date field. Click on the down arrow icon at the end of the field to select the desired ending date from a calendar.
7. The Schedule Type field allows you to select how many days should pass between scheduled backups. The following options are available:
• Daily: This schedule type backs up the database every day, based on the "Execution Time" and "Start / End Date."
• Weekly: This schedule type executes the scheduled backup on a weekly basis. Put a check mark in the box next to each day of the week on which you would like to backup the database.
Click on the [OK] icon at the top of the screen to save the schedule.
Existing Schedules
Existing schedules are displayed on the main "TimeForce Scheduler" screen. See Figure BACKUP-6 on page 6.
• The Event column displays the chosen name for the schedule. A icon is displayed next to active schedules. If a schedule has a icon next to it, this means that the schedule has been disabled. To activate a schedule, click on the
icon and put a check-mark in the Active option. See step #2 in the section above for more details.
• The Program column displays the executable that the scheduler will run at the scheduled times. This setting is automatically populated with
"TimeForceBU.exe."
• The Last Run column displays the date and time on which this scheduled backup was last performed.
To edit an existing schedule, select the desired schedule from the list and click on the icon. To remove a schedule from the system, select the desired schedule and click on .
Notes:
• The bar along the bottom of the Scheduler screen displays the current status. When no event is currently running, a message appears which reads “Idle / Next Event: Event Name (Date / Time).”
• The TimeForce Scheduler will not run while the Backup Utility is open. A message appears at the bottom of the Scheduler screen which reads “Paused / Events will resume when TimeForce Backup is closed.”
Restoring a Backup
The following instructions walk you through restoring a database backup.
1. Open the Backup Utility. From the Windows Start Menu go to Programs | TimeForce and click on "TimeForce Backup."
2. Click on the icon located at the bottom of the screen. The directory specified in the Database Path field opens by default.
3. Select the database backup file that you would like to restore. A message appears which reads "Restore the TimeForce Database Backup?" Click on the [YES] icon.
Note: If you backed up the database more than once on the date of the selected
backup file, a list will appear allowing you to select which backup you would like to restore.
4. A message appears which reads "Performing restore, please wait." Once the restore has been completed, you can exit out of the Backup Utility.
Note: Each time a database restore is performed, the current database is backed up to the
