Frame Ready Question

[Kirstie]

Hopefully some kind person from FR will see this.

The question came up on another thread.

If a Mac is backing up the data files (and the whole computer) every hour, is it properly backing up those files WHILE THEY ARE IN USE?

We back up at the end of the day but it takes a while and everyone is in a hurry to shut the computers down and leave. We also drop the files on the IDisk for remote pick up and back up off site.

 

[Smile with Style]

Time Machine backup

Kirstie,
Bert has Time Machine on his Mac as well. I will ask him if he has noticed any problems with the backup when FrameReady is running. (He will be in the office tomorrow.)

I also did some research and found documentation stating that Time Machine excludes Aperture Library from the backup while Aperture is running. However, once Aperture is closed, the library is backed up.

I don't know if this is the same for other Mac programs? Aperture was the only program listed.

FileMaker Pro also has the unique distinction of saving data without the need to click on a Save button. I don't know if this will help with Time Machine.

If you were creating your own backup to a USB drive or external HD, I would tell you to make sure that FrameReady was closed before making a copy of the FrameReady folder.

Probably the best thing to do is to test one of your backups. It is always a good idea to test the backup before you really need it. This is often when people find that the backup is only the shortcut, or that it is somewhere in a huge list of files and they cannot determine which is the most recent.

 

[Kirstie]

Thanks Carol! Nice to hear from you. I actually did put the data files on the iDisk for retrieval at home when I left early the other day while the program was still running on three computers. When I got home, there they were in the online storage. And yes, when I put them in the program at home they worked just fine.

Still, I know that backing those data files up when the program has shut down is the best way.

When we shut down the main computer we have to shut down the others first, so getting those files at the end of the day needs to be part of the process. Time Machine is great, but I want off site files as well.

Carol, we love the fact that we can use the data files in the home office. We can now produce corporate quotes from the office, and could even put the program on a lap top to give quotes in the field.
Very snazzy. Thank you.