Backup Data Files

Backing up your files and data are crucial and should not be taken lightly. Computerize Your Assets has provided functionality to completely backup the entire system. This backup includes the entire set of data files as well as the executables and provides the ability to copy a single file to an external storage source, such as a CD to be stored in a safe place separate from the working computer. This could be a home safe, a safety deposit box at your bank or any other place you feel comfortable with.

Clicking on the "Backup Data Files" menu selection from the main menu or the "Backup" button on the menu tool bar activates this process.

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Complete Backup - Check this option to have the backup procedure compress your entire CYA folder contents in the backup. This includes all the program files, entire data set and all images. HINT - The entire contents of your CYA folder, including all sub folders and contents are included in this backup. You can create your own folders under your CYA install folder and anything you place in these folders will be included in the backup.

•	Data Files Only - Check this option to include only your data files and images in your backup.

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Create Self Extracting Executable - CYA backup, by default creates a standardized ZIP file that can be accessed by any ZIP program, such as WinZip. In some rare instances a suitable program to access these ZIP files may not be available on the computer you are restoring to. To instruct CYA to create a "Self Extracting Executable" that can be run on the computer and extract all the files automatically, check this option.

The next screen to appear after clicking the "Continue" button will prompt you for a location and a name for the file.

We suggest you create a folder called "Backups" beneath the folder where you installed Computerize Your Assets. Each time significant changes are made to your data files create a new backup folder beneath the "Backups" folder using the current date for the name of the folder as seen in the example above in the "Save In" field. Your folder structure would then look similar to the example below:

This accomplishes two objectives. Not only will you have copies of previous backups, the backup procedure will include all previous backups in the new backup.

You may, however, choose to backup your files directly to your external storage device if it is available from the folder selection window. If the zip file is larger than the storage disk, the file will be spanned across the number of disks required to complete the backup. As an example, if you chose the A: (Floppy Disk) drive it could require several disks to complete the backup.

Although Computerize Your Assets will not generally be able to copy the file directly onto your CD, it is a simple task to copy the archive file from the folder you selected and burn it onto a CD. The CD Rom hardware technology and operating systems are so varied that it would be nearly impossible to include this functionality and guarantee the outcome.

Once you have selected a destination and entered a name for the current backup click on the "Save" button to begin the process. The screen below illustrates the progress screen that is displayed during the backup.

After clicking the "Continue" button you will see the results of the files being included you backup archive as they are being compressed.

Upon completion of the backup, a message screen will display informing you of the results.

If you requested a "Self Extracting Executable, upon completion of the file creation, a message screen will display informing you of the results.

As circumstances dictate, you should copy this single compressed ZIP file to an external storage source such as a zip disk or CD and secure it in a safe storage location as explained above.