Last Revised: 3/21/02 By: REW
Keywords:
backup,
batch file, .bat, server, scheduled tasks
This application note describes how to use a batch file (with file extension .bat) to make regular backups of your Quickie98™ database to a server.
Batch
File
To
make the local backup, create a batch file that saves a copy of the q98dbase.mdb
file to a location on the server.
The batch file can be created by typing the desired text into a
text-editing program, such as Microsoft® Notepad. When saving the file, use the extension
.bat instead of .txt, and it will automatically be designated as a batch
file. The following is an example
of the text of a batch file created by Stephen Computer Services, Inc that
copies the database to a server and then launches the Quickie98™ program. The batch file text may need to be
edited using Microsoft™ Notepad to fit your exact
situation.
Copy
C:\progra~1\Quicki~1\q98data\q98dbase.mdb
I:\Quicki~1\Q98bac~1\*.*
C:\Progra~1\Quicki~1\Quicki~1.exe
Notice folder names exceeding 8 characters have ~1 as the seventh
and eighth characters. That is
because MS-DOS cannot read entries with more than eight letters. The actual default file location of the
original Quickie98™ database is C:\Program
Files\Quickie98\q98data\q98dbase.mdb.
You may save your file in any location. The folder the programmer saved the
backup file in our example was I:Quickie98\Q98backup. Also note, the destination location of
the file begins with “I:\”. This is
a mapped drive leading to the server.
This drive must be mapped before running the batch
file.
Running the Batch
File
There are several options for running the batch file:
· An icon can be created on the desktop. Using this method, users can double-click the icon to open the Quickie98™ program. It will execute the batch file, first making the q98dbase.mdb backup, and then running the Quickie98™ program every time the icon is selected.
· Microsoft® Windows has a built in feature called “Scheduled Tasks”. From the desktop, you can access the Scheduled Tasks by clicking the “Start” button and selecting PROGRAMS/ACCESSORIES/SYSTEM TOOLS/SCHEDULED TASKS. Double click “Add scheduled tasks” to run the “Add Task” wizard. In the select program screen, press “browse” and select the batch file you created. In the next screen, enter a name for the task and decide how often you wish to run the backup. Next, select the exact time for the backup to run. The task wizard will then finish setting up the backup plan, or you may setup further advanced options. The backup will then run on a regular basis without user intervention. In this case, you may wish to change the batch file so it does not include the second line, which launches the Quickie98™ program.
Quickie98™ Application Note
Compliments of Stephen Computer Services,
Inc.
Control Number: 92