How do I use a timer to backup database

[Jason H]

I have a script that uses "Save a Copy as" to save a copy of the database to a specific network drive.

this is working great....but I want it to happen at a specific time every day automatically.

 

I've been reading up on onTimer but I'm still missing some important pieces to make it work.

 

There are also some some questions I have about it. If I assign a timer to a layout and there are 7 people in the database, does the back up happen once or 7 times?

 

What's the best way to do this?

Jason

[bcooney]

Buy FileMaker Server!

[Wim Decorte]

If you have 7 users in the database, you really should be thinking about deploying FileMaker Server.  Then this problem goes away and you can use the FMS schedules for backups.

 

Peer-to-peer sharing in 13 is limited to 5 users max.

[Jason H]

I would still like to know how the timer works.

Thanks

[Wim Decorte]

http://www.filemaker.com/help/13/fmp/en/html/scripts_ref1.36.18.html#1044171

 

You can set an interval but not a specific date and time.  Obviously you can have the script check for what day and time it is and do the "save as" on the desired day and time and do nothing for the other runs.

 If I assign a timer to a layout and there are 7 people in the database, does the back up happen once or 7 times?

 

 

You assign an OnTimer to a window, not a layout.

 

It will run everywhere you install the timer on.  So if you install it in each user's session then it will run in each user's session.

[comment]

 I want it to happen at a specific time every day automatically.

 

I don't think installing an OnTimer script is a good way to handle this. I'd suggest you look into OS scheduling instead, using an "opener file" to trigger a script in the "real" file.