Better backing up with Q2010 release 4

Downloaded the R4 fix this AM too, Han.

So they fixed the problem that the name of the backup dataset that I complained about not being able to sort by date correctly by putting year-month-day is the name was made. That's cool.

But what's even more interesting is you can NOT open one of these backups via Q! Q brings a dialog panel up asking where you want to 'restore' the backup to. That's probably a good thing, as I usually ended up manually copying the backup I wanted to look at before opening it. So a 'backup' is really a backup now and can not be manipulated directly in Q.

Looks like you still can't change the folder for the automatic backups... is that the case?

But ... Intuit *broke* overwriting the day's backup for those of us who've been appending the date to the filename. Now it appends the date

*and time* (and writes the time in an odd format), so backups no longer get overwritten.

Fortunately I'm able to edit out the time (from the backup path) before completing the backup. Thankfully and strangely enough, I don't have to click the "change" button. I can just select the text I want removed and press Delete.

My new backup filename (with date/time) appended:

-2010-01-08.AM09.38.QDF-backup

Why, oh why, did they add the time? Backup (with overwrites) would have continued to work fine had Intuit not added the time.

Two nitpicks. (1) Intuit should have made appending the time optional ... or left it out entirely. (2) If they insist on adding the time, why not use a standard 24-hour format as they do in the automatic backup filename.

Now ... if Intuit fixes this at all, we'll have to wait for yet another update.

Grrr.

Margaret

See my reply to Han, Andrew. Intuit did indeed fix the date format ... but they added the time (in an odd format). Backup overwriting with date/time appended doesn't happen. You have to edit out the time to make it overwrite daily backups. :-(

I'm able to open a backup file just by double-clicking it in Windows Explorer.

Regards,

Margaret

Yes.

You could start Q from a batch:

1. Start "" /WAIT "C:\Program Files... = Q with a data file spec if desired
2. Copy SRC DST where SRC = backup made by Q, and, DST = second backup location

Eric

Margaret wrote in news:hi7h18$htq$ snipped-for-privacy@news.eternal-september.org:

Yes, it is more difficult for me now too. I now use the change button, and navigate to the file I saved last. Then I will either overwrite that one, or edit it to the next date. I'm a bit confused now, and may modify things again.

I may use Karen's replicator (highly recommended freeware) to copy the backup file from one machine to another from this one (a third machine).

Hi Margaret -

Are you saying that if you double click one of the backup files (it has "QDF-backup' as the filetype in the name) then you immediately open the file as normal? You do NOT get a dialog panel that says "RESTORE FROM BACKUP FILE" and asks you where to 'place' the file you're trying to open??

The 'AM' I assume is the morning in your example. Took me a while to figure that one out when I too saw the weird filename. I agree that they should have made the time optional. The 24 hour thing I can live with, since it's easier for me to figure things out using AM and PM, and fortunately, AM sorts before PM in the alphabet just like real life!

"Andrew" wrote in news:4b48bf4d$0$22516$ snipped-for-privacy@cv.net:

I do a restore from backup dialog prompting for location and name of the restored file.

Han - did you mean "I GET a restore from backup dialog prompting for location and name of the restored file." ; if so, it is working the way I see it on mine as well. I wonder if that is what Margaret is seeing too.

"Andrew" wrote in news:4b48fcee$0$31258$ snipped-for-privacy@cv.net:

Yes, of course, sorry about the brain fart.

Yes, sorry, I was a bit too quick to post on this one.... I attempted to open a Quicken backup file from within Quicken, and I got a message asking if I wanted to close the current Quicken file. I incorrectly assumed Q would simply open the file. It actually goes through the restore prompt. Sorry 'bout that.

Regards,

Margaret

Great - we three are now all in agreement. It is amazing that they threw the time stamp thing in the more I think about this. They UNDID the fix that they fixed by allowing overwrites after originally breaking it. WHEN oh WHEN will software providers understand they should NEVER change established user interfaces (unless unequivocally 'broken') without providing options not to 'accept' change?? Give me an option NOT to put the timestamp in the backup name and the option to allow overridesof the existing file (with just the date stamp) without having to click on "I ACCEPT." Like it was BEFORE!!!

I wholeheartedly agree, Andrew. Yesterday I posted to this effect over on the Quicken Inner Circle. Maybe Intuit will fix their "fix" in the next release? ;-)

Regards,

Margaret