Backing up An Access Database

[Sunden]

HellO!
This is a little blurry to me.

When using the W2k built-in backup utility, or any other
3rd party application, research says that this can corrupt
an access database when backing it up, is this so?

I read a Veritas Backup Exec article about OFO (open file
option)or AOFO can be used:

http://seer.support.veritas.com/highlight3.pl?phrase=this%
20file%20cannot%20verify&doc=docs/263784.htm#Summary

Maybe this will prevent "corruption" of database.

Any pointers or information is appreciated.
I just want to backup an access database.

Thanks in advance!

Sunden

 

[Albert D. Kallal]

HellO!
This is a little blurry to me.

When using the W2k built-in backup utility, or any other
3rd party application, research says that this can corrupt
an access database when backing it up, is this so?

No, you will not corrupt the database that users are working with. What is
the problem is that the backup you make *may* not be correct since several
users could be updating the data during the backup. If disk writes are
occurring, then the backup could grab the same part of the database that is
not even finished being updated by a user. Needless to say, that could
certainly cause a bad backup to occur. That would mean that the main
database on the computer is OK, but the backup is corrupted.

So, no, the database will not be harmed...but your backup might not be ok!
On the other hand, if a word or excel document is opened during a backup,
then the backup will not save that data either! Really, you can't try and
make copies of files while open by users. Computers just don't work that
way!

I have many many times made a copy of the back end database with users in
the file. I never had a problem. However, I would not recommend that you
make a copy of the database while users are still working (you have a split
database..right?).

I also placed some code in my database to kick users out after 2 hours,
which is about the time the backup starts after work...

So, between ensuing users are out of the application during the backup, and
the risk that the backup is ok if users are in the file..you usually are
just fine. However, you must take steps to advoied the risk of the backup
occuring when users are in the file.