I have a series of databases hosted by a company in California.

This company is not particularly customer-centric so, unless you are an IT person, it is difficult sometimes to get a question answered.

I'm trying to download a copy of these databases for some offline development but cannot figure out how to get a copy off the server platform.

The attached screenshot shows how far I have been able to get.

Can somebody tell me what the next step is to make this happen?

Thanks,

Jarvis

Uhh, your hosting company won't answer a question like that in a timely manner? Sounds like maybe time for a new provider. Have a look at our services:

http://www.pointinspace.com/

In the interim, they should have provided you some sort of file transfer mechanism to your server, whether it be FTP, VNC or the likes. You would either close the database then download, or perform a backup and download accordingly.

- John

The Console does not provide for a download capability. That would raise an entire range of issues.

How is it that you do not have the original of the files that you sent them to host?

Steven

Several of these databases were launched in a rudimentary format a couple of years ago.

I did most of the development on the served file, rather than developing offline then uploading for use on the server.

Is this a backwards approach?

Should I do all the development work first then upload to the server?

How would you then harvest any data for subsequently re-designed or augmented databases?

As Steven says there is no download facility through FMS Admin console.

Your hosting company need to send you the file(s), or give you ftp access to a point where the backups are stored.

Is this a backwards approach?

Should I do all the development work first then upload to the server?

How would you then harvest any data for subsequently re-designed or augmented databases?

Essentially, yes, it is backwards. Especially for versions before 10 it is also somewhat dangerous.

As for the data issue, the best procedure is to separate the data from the UI and business logic.

Steven

You can continue to develop locally and then IMPORT the data from the server at each milestone. You can script the import routines and develop those as you move the solution onwards.

With FMS console you can close/remove the server file and then upload the newer version.

Thanks guys.

I think I understand my options now.