I had just migrated to Filemaker Pro 7 and is using network share off a dedicated client. What do you guys & gals do to backup the local database ? I had just used up my complimentary support with FM and they say they dont support command lines or batch files. I basically want to use the scheduler to shutdown FM, run a scheduled backup from my backup exec server and start it first thing in the morning. Im a newbie with FM by the way, so any help would be much appreciated.

you can create a batch file (Backup.bat) and edit the backup.bat file to copy your database files to what ever location you desire. Keep in mind it you are copying to a network share you must first map a drive to the network share then use that assigned drive letter in yout batch file. Next setup your scheduler program to execute the batch file whenever you want.

Creating the batch file is not the problem. How do you shutdown FM automatically before running the batch file and then start it up before the users get in ? I have FM pro 7 (not the server edition).

using network share off a dedicated client.

My first recommendation would be to not do this. If you are sharing the database through the Windows or Mac OS, you are asking for trouble. You're better off using FM's sharing capability, which you can do through opening the database on the host, then from the client, Open Remote File and open the database that way. This is far inferior to having Filemaker Server, but better than what (i think) you are doing.

FM Server does its own backups. But if you use the other method i described above, you can use a script to shut down all FM files but one, and then use that one to call a batch file that backs up the other FM files.

HTH,

Jerry

I ended up creating a script that saves a copy of the database at a mapped drive. I read it somewhere that this can be done as a backup. Now if I can only make my script work properly.

Do it on the host machine instead of using a mapped drive, you'll find that the results are more predictable. For the purposes of your FM installation, you should probably think of the host machine as a server, and act accordingly; that is, make all backups from there, make sure it has enough processing power to handle hits from remote FM users, put it on a UPS, ...

I am sorry about my previous post--i just realized that you would need a plug-in to do as i described (close all files and then use one open file to backup the others). I think you have found the better method. Just be sure to do it on the host computer.

J

I am using the built in function in FMP7. When closing down the database, i am saving a copy of the database on the host

Hi loogi, sorry for the long reply-back time. What if you included the script steps:

If ( DayOfWeek ( Get ( CurrentDate ) ) = "Monday" )