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Database Backup Overview
Database Backup Overview
Angel Horowitz avatar
Written by Angel Horowitz
Updated over 4 months ago

These instructions will help ensure that your database information is backed up safely and consistently to preserve data integrity and prevent data loss. It is highly recommended that you make backups of your database frequently. Some businesses make backups every few days, once a day, and some even backup information every few hours. It is also recommended that you save backups to a removable source, such as a USB flash drive or external hard drive, or a cloud-based solution.

The following information IS backed up:

  • Tickets (all sales history and future appointments)

  • Clients

  • Payroll (configuration and previous payrolls)

  • Photos

  • Products and services

  • Employee schedules

  • Gift certificates

  • Gift cards

  • Coupons

  • Close out and cash drawer balance entries

  • Gum label settings

  • Time clock entries

  • Suppliers

  • Quotes

  • Purchase orders

  • General ledger

  • Activity log

  • E-mail reminder configuration

  • Time clock records

The following information IS NOT backed up:

  • Local computer settings

  • Program serial number

  • Database password (if enabled)

  • Employee password protection options

  • Cash drawer settings

  • Receipt printer settings

  • Other miscellaneous information (windows locations, default state and area code, etc.)

Automatic Backup
Your software is capable of making automatic, scheduled backups throughout the day in the background as long as the software is running.. We highly recommend setting up a consistent Automatic Backup schedule to reduce the
risk of information loss or damaged information.

  1. Select Backup and Restore and then Automatic Backup Settings from the File pull-down menu.

  2. The Automatic Backup screen will appear.

  3. Check the Enable automatic backup option.

  4. Either enter an amount, or use the arrows to select how many automatic backups to keep on file. We
    recommend keeping at least 25 automatic backup files. Once Salon Iris has created the set amount of
    Automatic Backups it will begin replacing the oldest backups with the newest backups.

  5. Set the hourly and daily frequency for making backups:

    1. Make automatic backups every |____| hour: choose how often you would like an automatic backup created.

      • 24 hours a day: makes backups for the chosen frequency of hours for 24 hours out of the day

      • From |____| to |____|: makes backups for the chosen frequency of hours between a set time during the day

    2. on the following days: choose the specific days that the auto backups will run.

  6. Check Make a backup when Salon Iris exits if the last backup was more than an hour ago as
    desired.

  7. Choose the location where the backup files save:

    1. You can manually type in the location where you would like the backup files to save.

    2. Click Select to browse for a new location where you would like the backup files to save.

    3. Click Explore to view the folder where the backup files save.

    4. Click Default to switch back to the default location for saving backup files.

  8. Click Backup Now to make an immediate backup if desired.

  9. Click OK to exit.

Database Backup
Configure how often your software reminds you to make a backup. Making regular backups of
your database is very important. We highly recommend making a backup at least once a day, and more if
you are a busy business.

  1. Check or uncheck the box Ask me once a day if I would like to make a backup if it has been more than |____| days since my last backup as desired.

  2. Select how many days you would like to go by before the software reminds you to make a backup. We highly recommend choosing 1 day.

Backing Up to Another Location
It is highly recommended that you save backups an external drive or some other form of external media.

  1. ​Select Backup and Restore and then Backup Database from the File drop-down menu.

  2. The Backup screen will appear.

  3. Click Next.

  4. Select where you would like to save the file.

    • Hard Drive: save a backup to a location on your local disk drive (typically the c:\ drive)

    • USB Flash Drive: save a backup to a removable disk or flash drive

    • External Hard Drive: save a backup to an external or portable hard drive

    • CD/DVD Drive: save a backup to a writable CD/DVD. We do not recommend that you attempt to "burn" a backup directly to a writable CD/DVD. If you would like to save backups on a writable CD/DVD, then you should first save the backup file to your hard drive. After the backup saves you should then write the backup from your hard drive to the CD/DVD using your CD/DVD writing software. We do not provide instructions on how to use your CD/DVD writing software.

  5. Enter a file name for the data or use the suggested default name shown there when the window first
    opens.

  6. Click the Save button.

  7. The All Done screen will appear.

  8. Click OK to finish.

Although it is impossible to guarantee that your database will never be lost, if you follow these instructions, your chance of data loss is greatly reduced.

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