Backup copies?

When you do the backup it will give you the option to override the existing backup. Next time say no and specify a different file name. This will create the additional file you are looking for.

It does create 5 backups for you - all of them of your current file and all of them in the same backup folder. It creates QData1, QData2, ...QData5, with QData1 being the latest. These backups are automatic. If you want/need additional backups, then File->Backup (or Ctrl+B), and specify different folder/drive/media.

Yes, I think you are.

The Quicken preference for number of backup files pertains only to the automatic backup that Quicken makes every 7 days or so, which can be found in the folder BACKUP in the folder where your Quicken data fileset resides. If your file name is QDATA and you tell Quicken to keep 5 backups, after running Quicken enough times in enough days, in the BACKUP folder you will find QDATA1, QDATA2, QDATA3, QDATA4, and QDATA5 (each having several actual files associated, such as QDATA1.QDF, QDATA1.QPH, QDATA1.QEL, etc.). The number of such backups is the only control you have over them, they are otherwise *automatic*. And once there are five of them, subsequent automatic backups will overwrite existing files, oldest first.

You, on the other hand, can create and keep, as many backups as you like, using File > Backup; but only one backup of the same named Quicken fileset can exist in any given folder (which is why Quicken appends the number to the end of the file name). If you wish to save multiple backups, basically you just create different folders for each backup ... the number of folders and their names are up to you. The approach I use is to have folders for each day of the week, and folders for each month of the year. I backup everytime I use Quicken to whichever folders are appropriate, then at reasonable intervals, I copy those folders to a CD.

Ah, things are getting a little clearer now.

The support tech was looking for the backup folder in my Quicken04 folder, but there is none. I have that structure in my old Quicken (98) folder, but the latest of those is 2002 and I've only just switched to 2004.

I was not aware of auto backups and have carried them out manually. It never occurred to me to say No to the prompt 'overwrite'. :-))

I presume that manually backing up, Quicken does not bother with auto backup, as I leave my PC on all the time and for the most part Quicken is running all the time. Perhaps stopped for weekly tape backups.

I have just tried the manual backup but when I get the confirm prompt it just has options OK and Cancel. Cancel just cancels the backup. I do not get an option for another named file.

I th>GasMan wrote:

Please remove obvious from email address if emailing.

There is no relationship between the auto backups and the manually generated ones. You will always get the auto backups ... but I believe it is based on having exited and started Quicken, possibly if you never exit Quicken, Quicken does not start the 7 day clock running ... or perhaps the clock runs, but Quicken does check it. (I think Quicken will also not enter scheduled transactions in the register automatically if Quicken started running before their due date and stayed running through their due date.)

I don't have Q2004 loaded anywhere at the moment, so I can't be certain whether it was different that Q2005, but Q2005 offers the ability to select the file to be backed up (browse) and the folder to backup to (browse).

But as far as I know, every version of Quicken always names the backup file the same as the file being backed up ... and I personally wouldn't want to change that: I have more than one Quicken fileset and I like knowing that when I am looking at a specific Quicken filename (in a Windows search, for example), I am looking at every fileset that is related ... even the auto backups since my searches would be for QDATA* for example.

You can set the number of back up copies and how many times running Quicken to do the backup. It is not a function of the number of days but uses. It does require that you open/close quicken for it to prompt you. I always get prompted as I am closing the program. I don't leave it running 24/7 either.

I have Q2004 basic loaded and it does offer me those 2 browse buttons (source & target locations). It will remember the locations from the last time that you backed up.

What is syncback?

It is a great little program that allows you to backup whatever.

I'm us>

Please remove obvious from email address if emailing.

The reminder (and the number of days between reminders) has nothing to do with Quicken's automatic backup (or the number of days between Quicken's automatic backups). It is nothing more than a reminder to you to do your manual backup.

Thank you.

On Sat 14 May 2005 01:07:56p, Laura wrote in news:08rhe.760751$ snipped-for-privacy@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net:

Another good backup program is Karen's Replicator (I use it) at

It allows you to use parameter/variables such as YY, MM, WW etc. in the naming of your backup paths. I use this when backing up to CD-R so that I have a different directory for each week of the year. Another nice feature is it is free.

Mike L wrote in news:Xns9656A0BBD62DEml@207.115.63.158:

I use Replicator as well. It can be set to run a backup at a predetermined time each day.

On Sun 15 May 2005 08:27:30a, Han wrote in news:Xns96576036423DEikkezelf@130.81.64.196:

I have it set to run some backups to HD every 12 hours; from there to flash disk on Wed and Sat and from flash disk to CD every Saturday with separate copies for every week on rotated CDs.