Automatic Database Backup Scheduling

Version: ShipConstructor 2002
Module: Manager

Making backups of your valuable ShipConstructor database is important. The SQL database containing your valuable ShipConstructor data is not like a traditional data file that you can just copy to a CD ROM or another hard drive for safe-keeping. ShipConstructor – Manager provides the tools to perform automatic or manual backups of your ShipConstructor project databases converting them into standard data files that can be copied just like any other file.

You can schedule daily or weekly backups. All backup files will be created in the SQL Server backup folder, which is normally "C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSQL\Backup". For manual backup, the files are named by the project name and the date and time of backup, with the .BAK extension (for example "ShipConstructor2002Demo 05-Apr-02 4.29.02 PM.bak"). For scheduled backups only the project name is used, thus previous backup files will be overwritten. Unfortunately, SQL server does not allow us to add a time stamp to the scheduled backup files.

The backup can be scheduled from any client computer logging into the ShipConstructor project or from the server computer hosting the project. The backup service will be running on the server computer that hosts the ShipConstructor database. Only the server computer needs to be running at the time of backing up.

To schedule a backup:

1. In Manager bring up the Database Manager dialogue (see figure). In the 2002 version projects with scheduled backups are indicated by the icon (Manager 2001 will always show, even if backups are scheduled).
2. Select the project database to back up.
3. Click the Schedule button to bring up the Schedule Maintenance Backup tab (see figure).
4. Set the desired backup parameters.
5. The computer hosting the database has to be running the automatic backup service, which is part of the operating system. Make sure to enable this service using the Service tab. (see figure).

It is recommended practice to schedule your regular file backup after the ShipConstructor backup files have been created. This will ensure that a copy of the backup file is available in the event of a hardware failure.

- Mr. Darren Larkins, Software Developer