I am doing backups directly to my C drive and they do not have a qdata extention - it simply uses the date with the ext QDF - should I be copying these somewhere else? I see a QData file in my recyle bin but can't tell what it in there if anything.... Thanks!
The extension is QDF - which stands for Quicken Data File. The filenames can be anything you like. Quicken defaults to opening the file qdata.qdf - although you can use the File command to open any Quicken file you wish.
When you create the backup file, you have the option to add the date to the filename. Most likely your backup filename is something like qdata_20070828.
You should be fine.
Hi, Terri.
A Quicken "file" is actually a set of related files, all with the same name and different extensions. The number of files in the set, and the extensions, can vary, depending on how YOU use Quicken. There will always be a file with the extension .qdf; there may also be files with extensions like .qel or .qtx and others; I also have .idx and .qph. In any case, Quicken refers to the set of files as "a file".
The default name for all the files is QDATA, but you can choose any name you like. Your main file might be Terri.qdf, with other files named Terri.qel, for example. In addition to backups that you make, Quicken will automatically create a backup set each week; these will be in a folder that Quicken creates and names BACKUP (all CAPS) as a subfolder under the folder that holds your main data set (Terri.qdf ? ).
In addition to the automatic backups, you may (and should) make periodic backups to one or more locations of your choice. At least one backup set should be on saved separately from your computer. This can be on a CD, a USB thumb drive or a removable hard drive - or even on a floppy, if your fileset is small. Your backup can be in a separate folder or on a separate hard drive in your computer, but if your computer gets stolen, your backup is gone, too. :>(
RC
Which is why I believe a Quicken "file" is a misnomer. See What is a Quicken database (AKA Quicken file)?
Ask yourself the following question: Why are you doing backups? The answer probably is: Because I want my data to be safe! I assume your Quicken database is on your C drive already. So my question becomes, if your C drive throws a shoe and is unreadable, what do you do?
About now you're probably saying to yourself, "gee if my C drive goes I guess my backup is gone too!". That'll lead you to your answer. Back it up somewhere else (if possible).
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