How to Manage Backups
(Created page with "The information in this Wiki Page applies to '''TANE''', '''TRS19''' and '''Trainz Plus'''. This guide will explain automatic and manual backups in Trainz.<br> <table cellpad...") |
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<tr valign="top"> | <tr valign="top"> | ||
<td>[[file:DotPoint.JPG|link=]]</td> | <td>[[file:DotPoint.JPG|link=]]</td> | ||
− | <td>'''Trainz will automatically backup your current route and session while you work. You can set the number of backups created each day'''</td> | + | <td>'''Trainz will automatically backup your current route and session in Surveyor while you work. You can set the number of backups created each day'''</td> |
</tr> | </tr> | ||
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<td>[[file:DotPoint.JPG|link=]]</td> | <td>[[file:DotPoint.JPG|link=]]</td> | ||
<td>'''Both the manual and automatic backups can be restored to Trainz by Content Manager'''</td> | <td>'''Both the manual and automatic backups can be restored to Trainz by Content Manager'''</td> | ||
+ | </tr> | ||
+ | <tr valign="top"> | ||
+ | <td>[[file:DotPoint.JPG|link=]]</td> | ||
+ | <td>'''You can backup all your user data (built-in assets, DLS downloads, DLC purchases, your own creations)'''</td> | ||
</tr> | </tr> | ||
</table> | </table> | ||
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='''Automatic Backups vs Manual Backups'''= | ='''Automatic Backups vs Manual Backups'''= | ||
<table cellpadding="4" bgcolor=#ffffb0> | <table cellpadding="4" bgcolor=#ffffb0> | ||
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− | |||
− | |||
<tr valign="top"> | <tr valign="top"> | ||
<td> | <td> | ||
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<tr valign="top"> | <tr valign="top"> | ||
<td> </td> | <td> </td> | ||
− | <td>'''Automatic Backups'''</td> | + | <td align="center">'''Automatic Backups'''</td> |
− | <td>'''Manual Backups'''</td> | + | <td align="center">'''Manual Backups'''</td> |
</tr> | </tr> | ||
<tr valign="top"> | <tr valign="top"> | ||
− | <td>'''Pros'''</td> | + | <td align="center">'''Pros'''<br>[[file:checkicon.png|link=|alt=Tick]]</td> |
<td> | <td> | ||
− | *set and forget - no need to remember to perform the backups | + | *'''set and forget''' - no need to remember to perform the backups |
− | *backups are stored in a set location | + | *backups are stored in a '''set location''' |
+ | *'''automatic restore''' after a crash | ||
</td> | </td> | ||
<td> | <td> | ||
− | *you control where the backups are stored | + | *you '''control where''' the backups are stored and '''for how long''' |
− | *you control the backup file names | + | *you '''control the backup file names''' |
− | *assets can be backed up, not just routes and sessions | + | *'''any assets can be backed up''', not just routes and sessions |
</td> | </td> | ||
</tr> | </tr> | ||
<tr valign="top"> | <tr valign="top"> | ||
− | <td>'''Cons'''</td> | + | <td align="center">'''Cons'''<br>[[file:uncheckicon.png|link=|alt=Cross]]</td> |
<td> | <td> | ||
− | *identifying the exact backup file to restore may not be easy | + | *'''identifying the exact backup file''' to restore may not be easy |
− | *only routes and sessions can be backed up | + | *'''only routes and sessions''' can be backed up |
+ | *'''last 7 days of backups only''' are kept | ||
</td> | </td> | ||
<td> | <td> | ||
− | *you have to remember to perform the backup | + | *you have to '''remember to perform''' the backup |
− | *you have to remember where you stored the backups | + | *you have to '''remember where''' you stored the backups |
+ | *'''manual restore''' after a crash | ||
</td> | </td> | ||
</tr> | </tr> | ||
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</tr> | </tr> | ||
</table> | </table> | ||
+ | <br> | ||
='''Automatic Backups'''= | ='''Automatic Backups'''= | ||
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<table> | <table> | ||
<tr valign="middle"> | <tr valign="middle"> | ||
+ | <td>[[file:DotPoint.JPG|link=]]</td> | ||
<td>[[file:LauncherSettingsDailyBackups7.png|link=|alt=Launcher Settings Tabs]]</td> | <td>[[file:LauncherSettingsDailyBackups7.png|link=|alt=Launcher Settings Tabs]]</td> | ||
<td>If you are working on developing a new route or session then '''7''' daily backups could be a suitable number.</td> | <td>If you are working on developing a new route or session then '''7''' daily backups could be a suitable number.</td> | ||
</tr> | </tr> | ||
<tr valign="middle"> | <tr valign="middle"> | ||
+ | <td>[[file:DotPoint.JPG|link=]]</td> | ||
<td>[[file:LauncherSettingsDailyBackups3.png|link=|alt=Launcher Settings Tabs]]</td> | <td>[[file:LauncherSettingsDailyBackups3.png|link=|alt=Launcher Settings Tabs]]</td> | ||
<td>If you are making minor changes to existing routes or sessions then '''3''' or '''4''' daily backups could be a suitable number.</td> | <td>If you are making minor changes to existing routes or sessions then '''3''' or '''4''' daily backups could be a suitable number.</td> | ||
</tr> | </tr> | ||
<tr valign="middle"> | <tr valign="middle"> | ||
+ | <td>[[file:DotPoint.JPG|link=]]</td> | ||
<td>[[file:LauncherSettingsDailyBackups0.png|link=|alt=Launcher Settings Tabs]]</td> | <td>[[file:LauncherSettingsDailyBackups0.png|link=|alt=Launcher Settings Tabs]]</td> | ||
− | <td>If you are not working on any routes or sessions then '''0''' daily backups could be a suitable number.</td> | + | <td>If you are not working on any routes or sessions then '''0''' daily backups could be a suitable number - but '''remember to reset this when you do need the automatic backups again'''.</td> |
</tr> | </tr> | ||
</table> | </table> | ||
− | </td> | + | <table cellpadding="4" bgcolor=#fcbcbc> |
+ | <tr valign="top"> | ||
+ | <td colspan=2><span style="font-size: 17px; font-weight: 700;">Warning:</span></td> | ||
+ | </tr> | ||
+ | <tr valign="top"> | ||
+ | <td>[[file:Stop.PNG|link=]]</td> | ||
+ | <td>'''If you set 0 daily backups then there will be no option to restore your route/session to the latest automatic backup after a crash'''</td> | ||
+ | </tr> | ||
+ | </table></td> | ||
</tr> | </tr> | ||
<tr> | <tr> | ||
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</table> | </table> | ||
<table cellpadding="4" bgcolor=#ffffb0> | <table cellpadding="4" bgcolor=#ffffb0> | ||
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− | |||
− | |||
<tr valign="top"> | <tr valign="top"> | ||
<td> | <td> | ||
<table border="black" cellpadding=2> | <table border="black" cellpadding=2> | ||
<tr valign="top"> | <tr valign="top"> | ||
− | <td>'''Large Number of Daily Backups'''</td> | + | <td align="center">'''Large Number of Daily Backups'''</td> |
− | <td>'''Small Number of Daily Backups'''</td> | + | <td align="center">'''Small Number of Daily Backups'''</td> |
</tr> | </tr> | ||
<tr valign="top"> | <tr valign="top"> | ||
<td> | <td> | ||
− | + | [[file:uncheckicon.png|link=|alt=Tick]] '''more backup storage space''' is needed<br> | |
− | + | [[file:checkicon.png|link=|alt=Tick]] shorter time between backups so '''less work could be lost''' | |
</td> | </td> | ||
<td> | <td> | ||
− | + | [[file:checkicon.png|link=|alt=Tick]] '''less backup storage space''' is needed<br> | |
− | + | [[file:uncheckicon.png|link=|alt=Tick]] longer time between backups so '''more work could be lost''' | |
</td> | </td> | ||
</tr> | </tr> | ||
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Only the '''last 7 days of backups''' are kept and this number cannot be changed. | Only the '''last 7 days of backups''' are kept and this number cannot be changed. | ||
+ | <br> | ||
=='''Restoring Automatic Backups'''== | =='''Restoring Automatic Backups'''== | ||
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<tr valign="top"> | <tr valign="top"> | ||
<td>[[file:Steps.PNG|link=]]</td> | <td>[[file:Steps.PNG|link=]]</td> | ||
− | <td><span style="font-size: 17px; font-weight: 700;"> | + | <td><span style="font-size: 17px; font-weight: 700;">Steps:</span><br> |
+ | [[file:DotPoint1.JPG|link=]] <span style="font-size: 17px; font-weight: 700;">Open The Backups Folder:</span><br> | ||
#using '''Windows File Explorer''', open your '''local data''' folder and then open the '''backups''' folder. | #using '''Windows File Explorer''', open your '''local data''' folder and then open the '''backups''' folder. | ||
#the backups that have been created during the past week will be listed by their dates using the '''YY-MM-DD''' date format. | #the backups that have been created during the past week will be listed by their dates using the '''YY-MM-DD''' date format. | ||
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----</td> | ----</td> | ||
</tr> | </tr> | ||
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− | |||
<tr valign="top"> | <tr valign="top"> | ||
− | <td>[[file: | + | <td> </td> |
− | + | <td>[[file:DotPoint2.JPG|link=]] <span style="font-size: 17px; font-weight: 700;">Identify the Backup to Restore:</span><br> | |
#open the backup folder for the date that you want. A list of backup files and folders created that day will be shown. | #open the backup folder for the date that you want. A list of backup files and folders created that day will be shown. | ||
[[file:LocalDataBackupDaily.png|link=]] | [[file:LocalDataBackupDaily.png|link=]] | ||
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----</td> | ----</td> | ||
</tr> | </tr> | ||
− | |||
− | |||
<tr valign="top"> | <tr valign="top"> | ||
− | <td>[[file: | + | <td> </td> |
− | + | <td>[[file:DotPoint3.JPG|link=]] <span style="font-size: 17px; font-weight: 700;">Restore the Backup To Trainz:</span><br> | |
#open '''Content Manager''' | #open '''Content Manager''' | ||
#drag and drop the selected backup folder from '''Windows File Explorer''' into '''Content Manager''' | #drag and drop the selected backup folder from '''Windows File Explorer''' into '''Content Manager''' | ||
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</table> | </table> | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
− | More details, including tips on troubleshooting, can be found in the Trainz Knowledge Base at '''<span class="plainlinks">[https://support.trainzportal.com/index.php?/Knowledgebase/Article/View/97/0/reinstalling-or-restoring-a-backup-version-of-your-content Restoring Backups]</span>''' | + | More details, including tips on troubleshooting, can be found in the Trainz Knowledge Base at [[file:WikiLink.PNG|link=]] '''<span class="plainlinks">[https://support.trainzportal.com/index.php?/Knowledgebase/Article/View/97/0/reinstalling-or-restoring-a-backup-version-of-your-content Restoring Backups]</span>''' |
+ | <table width="100%"> | ||
+ | <tr valign="top"> | ||
+ | <td align="right">[[file:BackToTop.png|link=#top|alt=Top|Top]]</td> | ||
+ | </tr> | ||
+ | </table> | ||
='''Manual Backups'''= | ='''Manual Backups'''= | ||
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</tr> | </tr> | ||
</table> | </table> | ||
− | + | <br> | |
=='''Creating Manual Backups'''== | =='''Creating Manual Backups'''== | ||
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*right mouse click on one of the highlighted assets and select '''Export to CDP'''. | *right mouse click on one of the highlighted assets and select '''Export to CDP'''. | ||
[[file:ExportToCDP.png|link=|alt=Export to CDP]] | [[file:ExportToCDP.png|link=|alt=Export to CDP]] | ||
− | *select a drive, folder and | + | *select a drive, folder and enter a backup filename. |
</td> | </td> | ||
</tr> | </tr> | ||
</table> | </table> | ||
+ | <br> | ||
=='''Restoring Manual Backups'''== | =='''Restoring Manual Backups'''== | ||
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</tr> | </tr> | ||
</table> | </table> | ||
+ | <br> | ||
+ | =='''Backup Plan Basics'''== | ||
− | =='''Backing Up and Restoring Picklists''' | + | <table cellpadding="4" bgcolor=#c1e7e7> |
+ | <tr valign="top"> | ||
+ | <td>[[file:DotPoint.JPG|link=]]</td> | ||
+ | <td>'''If you are using a manual backup method then devise a simple backup plan and stick to it'''</td> | ||
+ | </tr> | ||
+ | </table> | ||
+ | |||
+ | The most important parts of any backup plan are:- | ||
+ | *'''make regular backups''' - how often will depend on the complexity of the project | ||
+ | *'''keep duplicate sets of backups''' including on offline storage | ||
+ | *'''keep previous backup sets''', not just the latest ones - how many past sets you will want to keep will depend on factors such as available storage | ||
+ | *'''have a simple but consistent file naming system''' to be able to quickly identify the backup you need to restore lost work | ||
+ | <br> | ||
+ | <table cellpadding="4" bgcolor=#ffffb0> | ||
+ | <tr valign="top"> | ||
+ | <td>[[file:NotePad.PNG|link=]]</td> | ||
+ | <td><span style="font-size: 17px; font-weight: 700;">Sample Backup Plan:'''</span><br> | ||
+ | *on a drive that is always attached to your system create a '''Project Backups''' folder | ||
+ | *in this folder create another folder named '''Today''' | ||
+ | [[file:BackupsOnlineFolder.png|link=|alt=Online Project Backups folder]] | ||
+ | *use this folder to store your regular backups for today. For example, when you take a break and exit from '''Surveyor''', start '''Content Manager''' and backup the current project (e.g. a route, a session or both) to the '''Today''' folder | ||
+ | [[file:BackupsOnlineFolderToday.png|link=|alt=Todays Backups folder]] | ||
+ | *name each backup using the name of the project and the time as shown in the example above | ||
+ | |||
+ | <table cellpadding="4" bgcolor=#bbffff> | ||
+ | <tr valign="top"> | ||
+ | <td>[[file:Question.PNG|link=]]</td> | ||
+ | <td><span style="font-size: 17px; font-weight: 700;">Why Keep Separate Time Backups For The Same Day?'''</span><br> | ||
+ | Suppose that after your first backup of the day, at say 07:52, you decided to make some significant changes to your route. The later backups made at 12:30 and 14:10 included this change. By 17:00 you decide that this major change is not working and you need to return the route to its starting state. If your only backup was the last one you had made at 14:10 then you could not restore the route to its starting state. | ||
+ | </td> | ||
+ | </tr> | ||
+ | </table> | ||
+ | |||
+ | *at the end of each day copy the '''Today''' folder to another drive (external or internal) into a folder also called '''Project Backups''' | ||
+ | *rename the '''Today''' folder on the 2nd drive to a format that identifies the date of the backups it contains (using the '''yyyy-mm-dd''' format) as shown below | ||
+ | [[file:BackupsOfflineFolder.png|link=|alt=Offline Project Backups folder]] | ||
+ | *copy this renamed folder to an external detachable drive into its '''Project Backups''' folder - this will give you a second backup copy | ||
+ | *when starting work the next day, delete the contents of the '''Today''' folder on your main drive and make the '''first backup of the day using the project assets in their initial state''' for the day | ||
+ | |||
+ | <table cellpadding="4" bgcolor=#bbffff> | ||
+ | <tr valign="top"> | ||
+ | <td>[[file:Question.PNG|link=]]</td> | ||
+ | <td><span style="font-size: 17px; font-weight: 700;">How Long Should You Keep The Daily Backups?'''</span><br> | ||
+ | The ideal answer is '''until after the project has been finished''' but in reality it will depend on your available storage space | ||
+ | *Once the project has been completed then the backup folders and files can be deleted | ||
+ | *If there is insufficient space to keep a large number of backups, then delete the '''oldest backup folders first''' | ||
+ | If a decision is later made to restart work on the route (e.g. to update it after a new version of Trainz has been released) then it would be considered to be a brand new project and the backup procedure can be restarted from that point.</td> | ||
+ | </tr> | ||
+ | </table></td> | ||
+ | </tr> | ||
+ | </table> | ||
+ | <table width="100%"> | ||
+ | <tr valign="top"> | ||
+ | <td align="right">[[file:BackToTop.png|link=#top|alt=Top|Top]]</td> | ||
+ | </tr> | ||
+ | </table> | ||
+ | |||
+ | ='''Backing Up and Restoring Picklists'''= | ||
<table cellpadding="4" bgcolor=#c1e7e7> | <table cellpadding="4" bgcolor=#c1e7e7> | ||
<tr valign="top"> | <tr valign="top"> | ||
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*'''[[How to Backup a Picklist]]'''<br> | *'''[[How to Backup a Picklist]]'''<br> | ||
</td> | </td> | ||
+ | </tr> | ||
+ | </table> | ||
+ | <br> | ||
+ | ='''Backing Up All Your User Content'''= | ||
+ | <table cellpadding="4" bgcolor=#c1e7e7> | ||
+ | <tr valign="top"> | ||
+ | <td>[[file:DotPoint.JPG|link=]]</td> | ||
+ | <td>'''You can backup ALL your installed content including built-ins and DLC'''</td> | ||
+ | </tr> | ||
+ | </table> | ||
+ | |||
+ | You can make a backup copy of all your installed content (buildings, tracks, rolling stock, trees, routes, sessions, etc, etc). Everything you have downloaded and installed from the '''DLS''' and other web sites, all the '''built-in''' content and all your '''DLC''' packages. Also included will be all the screenshots you have captured and your automatic backups. In short, everything but the program "executables" and utilities that form the Trainz program itself. | ||
+ | |||
+ | All of this data is stored in your '''Local Data Folder'''. | ||
+ | |||
+ | <table cellpadding="4" bgcolor=#fcbcbc> | ||
+ | <tr valign="top"> | ||
+ | <td colspan=2><span style="font-size: 17px; font-weight: 700;">Warning:</span></td> | ||
+ | </tr> | ||
+ | <tr valign="top"> | ||
+ | <td>[[file:Stop.PNG|link=]]</td> | ||
+ | <td>'''Be aware that this could be a very large quantity of data that could take a lot of time and space to backup'''</td> | ||
+ | </tr> | ||
+ | </table> | ||
+ | |||
+ | <table cellpadding="4" bgcolor=#ffffff> | ||
+ | <tr> | ||
+ | <td colspan="2"> | ||
+ | ----</td> | ||
+ | </tr> | ||
+ | <tr valign="top"> | ||
+ | <td>[[file:Steps.PNG|link=]]</td> | ||
+ | <td><span style="font-size: 17px; font-weight: 700;">Steps:</span><br> | ||
+ | [[file:DotPoint1.JPG|link=]] <span style="font-size: 17px; font-weight: 700;">Locate Your Local Data Folder:'''</span><br> | ||
+ | :The name and location of this folder is held in your '''Launcher - Trainz Settings - Install''' tab. The name and location can vary between installations as in the example shown below | ||
+ | [[file:DataFolderTRS19.png|link=|alt=Data Folder location]] | ||
+ | </td> | ||
+ | </tr> | ||
+ | <tr> | ||
+ | <td colspan="2"> | ||
+ | ----</td> | ||
+ | </tr> | ||
+ | <tr valign="top"> | ||
+ | <td> </td> | ||
+ | <td>[[file:DotPoint2.JPG|link=]] <span style="font-size: 17px; font-weight: 700;">Determine the Size of the Folder:'''</span><br> | ||
+ | #Use '''Windows File Explorer''' to locate this folder in its drive as shown in the '''Local Data Folder''' information above | ||
+ | #Right Mouse Click on the folder name and select the '''Properties''' menu option | ||
+ | ::This will display the folder statistics - there may be a delay while the data is collected and displayed. In the example shown below, the '''Local Data Folder''' is just over '''69 GB''' in size | ||
+ | [[file:DataFolderProperties.png|link=|alt=Data Folder properties]][[file:DataFolderSize.png|link=|alt=Data Folder size]] | ||
+ | <table cellpadding="4" bgcolor=#c1e7e7> | ||
+ | <tr valign="top"> | ||
+ | <td>[[file:DotPoint.JPG|link=]]</td> | ||
+ | <td><span style="font-size: 17px; font-weight: 700;">You will need to find a storage device or location, such as an external drive, that has <span style="text-decoration: underline;">more</span> available free space than the folder is using</span></td> | ||
+ | </tr> | ||
+ | </table></td> | ||
+ | </tr> | ||
+ | <tr> | ||
+ | <td colspan="2"> | ||
+ | ----</td> | ||
+ | </tr> | ||
+ | <tr> | ||
+ | <td> </td> | ||
+ | <td>[[file:DotPoint3.JPG|link=]] <span style="font-size: 17px; font-weight: 700;">Copy the Folder:'''</span><br> | ||
+ | #Close the '''Properties Window''' | ||
+ | #Right Mouse Click on the folder name and select the '''Copy''' menu option | ||
+ | #Open the '''Destination Drive''' and select (or create) a suitable backup folder | ||
+ | #Right Mouse Click on the backup folder and select the '''Paste''' menu option - this could easily take a long time (even hours) depending on the size of the data | ||
+ | <br> | ||
+ | <table cellpadding="4" bgcolor=#ffffb0> | ||
+ | <tr valign="top"> | ||
+ | <td>[[file:PencilTips.PNG|link=]]</td> | ||
+ | <td>For very large '''Local Data Folders''' the backup process can take <span style="font-weight: 700; text-decoration: underline;">hours</span> to complete. '''Windows File Explorer''' is not the fastest nor the most efficient method of copying large sets of data files. It may be worth your while to use a specialised file copying utility that can perform the task faster while still providing intelligent copying and data checking</td> | ||
+ | </tr> | ||
+ | </table> | ||
+ | </td> | ||
+ | </tr> | ||
+ | <tr> | ||
+ | <td colspan="2"> | ||
+ | ----</td> | ||
+ | </tr> | ||
+ | </table> | ||
+ | <table width="100%"> | ||
+ | <tr valign="top"> | ||
+ | <td align="right">[[file:BackToTop.png|link=#top|alt=Top|Top]]</td> | ||
+ | </tr> | ||
+ | </table> | ||
+ | |||
+ | ='''Restarting After a Crash'''= | ||
+ | |||
+ | If you experience a system crash, a power failure or a '''CTD''' ('''C'''rash '''T'''o '''D'''esktop) while using Surveyor and <span style="font-weight: 700; font-size: 17px;">the automatic backups are on</span> (<span style="font-weight: 700; text-decoration: underline;">not set</span> to <span style="font-weight: 700; font-size: 17px;">0</span> daily backups) then there is a chance that Trainz has performed at least one automatic backup after your last manual save and before the crash. In this case when you restart Trainz and reload the same route/session into Surveyor you will be informed that '''changes''' to the original route or session have been detected and you will be given the option to <span style="font-size: 17px; font-weight: 700; color: white; background-color: black"> Revert Changes </span> or <span style="font-size: 17px; font-weight: 700; color: white; background-color: black"> Use Changes </span>. | ||
+ | |||
+ | *If you select '''Revert Changes''' then the last '''manually saved''' version of the route/session will be loaded into Trainz and any changes stored in the latest backup that was made since the last manual save will be '''ignored'''. | ||
+ | |||
+ | *If you select '''Use Changes''' then the last '''automatic backup''' version of the route/session will be loaded into Trainz. | ||
+ | <table width="100%"> | ||
+ | <tr valign="top"> | ||
+ | <td align="right">[[file:BackToTop.png|link=#top|alt=Top|Top]]</td> | ||
</tr> | </tr> | ||
</table> | </table> | ||
---- | ---- | ||
---- | ---- | ||
+ | |||
='''Trainz Wiki'''= | ='''Trainz Wiki'''= | ||
<table cellpadding="4" bgcolor=#ffffff> | <table cellpadding="4" bgcolor=#ffffff> |
Revision as of 06:13, 27 March 2020
The information in this Wiki Page applies to TANE, TRS19 and Trainz Plus. This guide will explain automatic and manual backups in Trainz.
Main Points: | |
Trainz will automatically backup your current route and session in Surveyor while you work. You can set the number of backups created each day | |
You can use Content Manager to manually create backups of routes, sessions and assets as often as you need | |
Both the manual and automatic backups can be restored to Trainz by Content Manager | |
You can backup all your user data (built-in assets, DLS downloads, DLC purchases, your own creations) |
Contents |
Automatic Backups vs Manual Backups
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Automatic Backups
Creating Automatic Backups
In Summary: | |
Only a set number of backups are created each day | |
Only 7 days of backups are kept |
This is a Set and Forget operation. You simply tell Trainz how many backups you want created each day and the program takes care of the rest.
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Steps:
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Only the last 7 days of backups are kept and this number cannot be changed.
Restoring Automatic Backups
The automatic backups are stored in a backup folder in your Trainz local data folder. The location of this folder is held in your Launcher - Trainz Settings - Install tab.
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Steps: Open The Backups Folder:
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Identify the Backup to Restore:
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Restore the Backup To Trainz:
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More details, including tips on troubleshooting, can be found in the Trainz Knowledge Base at Restoring Backups
Manual Backups
In Summary: | |
You control the number and frequency of backups | |
You control the backup location and filenames | |
Assets, not just routes and sessions can be backed up |
Creating Manual Backups
Manual backups are stored as .CDP files | |
Many assets can be stored in a single .CDP file |
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Steps:
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Restoring Manual Backups
Simply drag and drop the backup CDP file or files into Content Manager |
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Steps:
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Backup Plan Basics
If you are using a manual backup method then devise a simple backup plan and stick to it |
The most important parts of any backup plan are:-
- make regular backups - how often will depend on the complexity of the project
- keep duplicate sets of backups including on offline storage
- keep previous backup sets, not just the latest ones - how many past sets you will want to keep will depend on factors such as available storage
- have a simple but consistent file naming system to be able to quickly identify the backup you need to restore lost work
Sample Backup Plan:
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Backing Up and Restoring Picklists
Picklists have to be exported and imported as text files |
Picklists cannot be backed up manually using .CDP files. They must be exported as text files.
Detailed instructions on backing up and restoring Picklists as text files can be found on the Trainz Wiki Page at:- |
Backing Up All Your User Content
You can backup ALL your installed content including built-ins and DLC |
You can make a backup copy of all your installed content (buildings, tracks, rolling stock, trees, routes, sessions, etc, etc). Everything you have downloaded and installed from the DLS and other web sites, all the built-in content and all your DLC packages. Also included will be all the screenshots you have captured and your automatic backups. In short, everything but the program "executables" and utilities that form the Trainz program itself.
All of this data is stored in your Local Data Folder.
Warning: | |
Be aware that this could be a very large quantity of data that could take a lot of time and space to backup |
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Steps: Locate Your Local Data Folder:
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Determine the Size of the Folder:
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Copy the Folder:
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Restarting After a Crash
If you experience a system crash, a power failure or a CTD (Crash To Desktop) while using Surveyor and the automatic backups are on (not set to 0 daily backups) then there is a chance that Trainz has performed at least one automatic backup after your last manual save and before the crash. In this case when you restart Trainz and reload the same route/session into Surveyor you will be informed that changes to the original route or session have been detected and you will be given the option to Revert Changes or Use Changes .
- If you select Revert Changes then the last manually saved version of the route/session will be loaded into Trainz and any changes stored in the latest backup that was made since the last manual save will be ignored.
- If you select Use Changes then the last automatic backup version of the route/session will be loaded into Trainz.
Trainz Wiki
More Tutorials and Guides to Using Trainz |
This page was created by Trainz user pware in January 2020 and was last updated as shown below.