PCLaw Scheduled Backup

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1 Contents About PCLaw Scheduled Backup Enabling Connection Settings Creating a Backup Schedule Viewing Backup Logs PCLaw Scheduled Backup About PCLaw Scheduled Backup Use PCLaw Scheduled Backup to automate your backup process. Perform backups whenever it is most convenient for your firm. PCLaw backs up your PCLaw data on a set schedule so you never forget. Configure how frequently you want to create backups, define your routine by calendar day, business day, week, or month. Additionally, specify the time of day to run the process so there are fewer interruptions to your business day. PCLaw Scheduled Backup is configured on the workstation level. PCLaw recommends this action be performed on the workstation of the PCLaw Administrator or another primary workstation or server where PCLaw program files are installed. If the workstation where PCLaw Scheduled Backup is enabled is shut down at the time the backup is scheduled, the backup cannot commence. It is not required to enable PCLaw Scheduled Backup on multiple workstations. PCLaw Scheduled Backup backs up, as part of the PCLaw Backup module, includes PCLaw data files only. Program Files, documents, and station settings are not included in the backup. PCLaw recommends that your external backup system include PCLaw data and document folders, and that external backup media can be stored off-site as the best way to preserve your data. PCLaw Scheduled Backup is available for PCLaw version 10 and higher. Enabling Connection Settings Options > Connection Settings > Connection Settings tab PCLaw Scheduled Backup is a service that performs externally from PCLaw. Its configuration, however, resides within the PCLaw application. As a result, Connection Settings must be enabled prior to creating a backup schedule. A user must be selected, and a password must be added and saved. If Connection Settings is not enabled, PCLaw displays a notification prompt: PCLaw notification prompt

2 Take the following steps to enable Connection Settings: 1. Select on the Options pull-down menu, Connection Settings to display the Connection Settings tab. 2. Check Use This Set of Books when Connecting with Other Programs. Note: Currently, if the firm employs multiple sets of books, Connection Settings can be enabled for only one set of books at a time. 3. Type in the Log as: box, the user name to use for this workstation to launch Connection Manager. 4. Check Store Password: 5. Type the password for the user added to the Log As box. Note: Remember if the password for the user is changed in PCLaw, to also change the password stored on the Connection Settings tab. 6. Click OK to save your settings and return to the PCLaw desktop. Creating a Scheduled Backup Options > Workstation Settings > Other tab PCLaw Scheduled Backup is created on the workstation level. Since the parameters for the scheduled backup is stored locally on the workstation, that workstation must be turned on at the specified time, or else the backup cannot proceed as scheduled. As part of the backup parameters, you are asked to specify the stored location for the backup. PCLaw recommends the backed up data be stored on a server location that is included as part of the external backup process for the firm s network. Take the following steps to create a backup schedule: 1. Select on the Options pull-down menu, Workstation Settings. 2. Click the Other tab to display the System Settings > Other tab. Page 2

3 3. Check Automatic. Note: When PCLaw Scheduled Backup is enabled, users are no longer prompted to back up PCLaw when existing the application, even if Perform Data Copy > Ask when Exiting PCLaw is enabled on this tab. 4. Click the Configure button to display the PCLaw Scheduled Backup window. 5. Select in the Start Time drop down menu, the time for the backup to commence. The drop down menu displays start times in half hour intervals. Times not included on the drop down menu can be typed in manually using the format hh:mma for times in the a.m., or hh:mmp for times in the p.m. 6. Select in the Start Date box, the date that the scheduled backups are to commence. 7. Type in the Every box, the number of calendar units to pass between each scheduled backup. 8. Select the calendar unit from the adjacent list: Calendar Day to perform backups every day of the week including weekends and holidays Business Day to perform backups on workdays only. This option excludes weekends, and days marked as holidays in Calendar if Include Holidays is checked on the Calendar tab of Workstation Settings. Week to perform backups on weekly intervals on a specified day. See Scheduling Backups on Weekly Intervals on page 4. Month to perform backups in monthly increments on a specified day. See Scheduling Backups on Monthly Intervals on page Type in the Destination Path for Back Up Files box, the final location for the.pla file or click the Browse button to select the destination folder. Note: During the PCLaw backup process, the compiling.pla file is stored in a temporary location until the backup is complete. At this point, the full backup file is copied to the final Destination Path location. This prevents a partial backup file replacing the previous file prior to the completion of the backup, and protects the firm should the backup process be interrupted by an external factor such as a power failure. Page 3

4 10. Click the User button to select from the List of Users, those who require notification when a backup completes successfully, or if the backup failed to complete. If the backup fails to complete, the notified users can subsequently view the PCLaw Backup Log to determine the cause of the failure. See Since PCLaw Scheduled Backup operates as a suite of Windows services, when the tool is first enabled, you are prompted for your Windows log in. The log in should be that of the local administrator for the workstation, or at the very minimum, be at a sufficient security level to install a service application to the Windows environment. All services required by PCLaw Scheduled Backup are addressed through this login. Once the services are installed, you will not again be prompted to log on. on page Click OK to save your selections and return to the Other tab of Workstation Settings. Scheduling Backups on Weekly Intervals Options > Workstation Settings > Other Tab > Configure If Week is selected as the Calendar unit, PCLaw provides additional parameters for creating the backup schedule. The PCLaw Scheduled Backup window for weekly backups Select the day(s) of the week below: Select the day of the week for the backup to occur, if performing a weekly backup. Multiple days can be selected. For instance, by selecting Monday and Thursday you are scheduling backups on a semi-weekly basis By typing a number greater than one in the Every box, you are scheduling backups to be performed on a bi-weekly basis Warning: If you select multiple days to perform backups on a weekly interval, do not place a value greater than one in the Every box. Otherwise, you are issuing conflicting commands on PCLaw. Page 4

5 Scheduling Backups on Monthly Intervals Options > Workstation Settings > Other Tab > Configure If Month is selected as the Calendar unit, PCLaw provides additional parameters for creating the backup schedule. Note that when performing backups on monthly intervals, the every box is disabled. Multi-month frequent backups can be scheduled by checking the specific months for the backup. The PCLaw Scheduled Backup Window for monthly backups On XX day Select from the drop down menu, the day of the month for performing the backup. On the XX Select from the drop down menus, the week and day for performing the backup, if you wish to perform the backup at a specific point within the month. of the month(s): Select the months for the backup to occur. Bi-monthly or quarterly backups can be scheduled, by checking every second or third month, respectively. It is not possible to schedule backups semi-monthly. If semi-monthly is the preferred frequency, schedule PCLaw to perform bi-weekly backups. See Scheduling Backups on Weekly Intervals on page 4. Warning: Although PCLaw provides the options to perform backups on a weekly and monthly basis, PCLaw recommends the frequent use of backups as the best method for protecting your data. Logging Onto the Windows Domain Since PCLaw Scheduled Backup operates as a suite of Windows services, when the tool is first enabled, you are prompted for your Windows log in. The log in should be that of the local administrator for the workstation, or at the very minimum, be at a sufficient security level to install Page 5

6 a service application to the Windows environment. All services required by PCLaw Scheduled Backup are addressed through this login. Once the services are installed, you will not again be prompted to log on. Viewing Backup Logs Options > Workstation Settings > Other Tab >Configure > View Logs The PCLaw Backup Logs window lists each backup action as a separate file. Use this window to view individual logs and remove files that are no longer required. Backup log files are stored in the BackupLogs folder, in the PCLaw data directory for that set of books. The location of this file is set by PCLaw and cannot be customized by the user. The PCLaw Backup Logs window View Click to display contents of the highlighted log. Delete Click to remove the highlighted log The file is both removed from this window, and from the BackupLogs folder. Close Click to close this window and return to the PCLaw Scheduled Backup window. Page 6

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