How to Manage Backups

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<td><span style="font-size: 17px; font-weight: 700;">Steps:'''</span><br>
 
<td><span style="font-size: 17px; font-weight: 700;">Steps:'''</span><br>
 
[[image:LauncherSettingsTabs.png|link=|alt=Launcher Settings Tabs]]<br>
 
[[image:LauncherSettingsTabs.png|link=|alt=Launcher Settings Tabs]]<br>
−
#To set the number of backups, select '''Trainz Settings''' from the '''Launcher''' and then click the '''Dev''' tab.
+
#To set the number of backups, select '''Trainz Settings''' from the '''Launcher''' and then <span style="font-weight: 700; font-size: 15px; background-color: lightcyan;">Left Click</span> the '''Dev''' tab.
 
#One data entry box in this tab will be named '''Daily backups to keep''' and it will have a default value of 7. Set it to the number of backups you want each day.
 
#One data entry box in this tab will be named '''Daily backups to keep''' and it will have a default value of 7. Set it to the number of backups you want each day.
 
<table>
 
<table>
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</tr>
 
</tr>
 
</table> <!-- END Nav Buttons Table -->
 
</table> <!-- END Nav Buttons Table -->
−
<br>
 
−
 
−
='''Manual Backups'''=
 
−
<table cellpadding=2 bgcolor=#c1e7e7>
 
−
<tr valign="top">
 
−
<td colspan=2><span style="font-size: 17px; font-weight: 700;">In Summary:</span></td>
 
−
</tr>
 
−
<tr valign="top">
 
−
<td>[[image:DotPoint.JPG|link=]]</td>
 
−
<td>'''You control the number and frequency of backups'''</td>
 
−
</tr>
 
−
<tr valign="top">
 
−
<td>[[image:DotPoint.JPG|link=]]</td>
 
−
<td>'''You control the backup location and filenames'''</td>
 
−
</tr>
 
−
<tr valign="top">
 
−
<td>[[image:DotPoint.JPG|link=]]</td>
 
−
<td>'''Assets, not just routes and sessions can be backed up'''</td>
 
−
</tr>
 
−
</table>
 
 
<br>
 
<br>
 
=='''Creating Manual Backups'''==
 
=='''Creating Manual Backups'''==
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<td>[[image:Steps.PNG|link=]]</td>
 
<td>[[image:Steps.PNG|link=]]</td>
 
<td><span style="font-size: 17px; font-weight: 700;">Steps:'''</span><br>
 
<td><span style="font-size: 17px; font-weight: 700;">Steps:'''</span><br>
−
*open '''Content Manager''' and use a search filter to identify the assets to be backed up. Some examples:-
+
<table>
 +
<tr valign="top">
 +
<td width=25>[[image:DotPoint1.JPG|link=]]</td>
 +
<td>open '''Content Manager''' and use a search filter to identify the assets to be backed up. Some examples:-
 
<table>
 
<table>
 
<tr>
 
<tr>
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</tr>
 
</tr>
 
<tr valign="middle">
 
<tr valign="middle">
−
<td>[[image:DotPoint.JPG|link=]]</td>
+
<td width=10>[[image:DotPoint.JPG|10px|link=]]</td>
 
<td>[[image:FilterToday.png|link=|alt=Today Filter]]</td>
 
<td>[[image:FilterToday.png|link=|alt=Today Filter]]</td>
−
<td>to show all assets that have been altered today.</td>
+
<td>to show all assets that have been altered today</td>
 
</tr>
 
</tr>
 
<tr valign="middle">
 
<tr valign="middle">
−
<td>[[image:DotPoint.JPG|link=]]</td>
+
<td>[[image:DotPoint.JPG|10px|link=]]</td>
 
<td>[[image:FilterRouteSelfInstalled.png|link=|alt=Launcher Settings Tabs]]</td>
 
<td>[[image:FilterRouteSelfInstalled.png|link=|alt=Launcher Settings Tabs]]</td>
−
<td>to show all installed routes that are yours.</td>
+
<td>to show all installed routes that are yours</td>
 +
</tr>
 +
</table>
 +
</td>
 +
</tr>
 +
<tr valign="top">
 +
<td>[[image:DotPoint2.JPG|link=]]</td>
 +
<td>highlight the asset or assets (more than one asset can be included in each backup file)</td>
 +
</tr>
 +
<tr valign="top">
 +
<td>[[image:DotPoint3.JPG|link=]]</td>
 +
<td><span style="font-weight: 700; font-size: 15px; background-color: lightcyan;">Right Click</span> on one of the highlighted assets and select '''Export to CDP'''<br>
 +
[[image:ExportToCDP.png|link=|alt=Export to CDP]]</td>
 +
</tr>
 +
<tr valign="top">
 +
<td>[[image:DotPoint4.JPG|link=]]</td>
 +
<td>select a drive, folder and enter a backup filename</td>
 
</tr>
 
</tr>
 
</table>
 
</table>
−
*highlight the asset or assets (more than one asset can be included in each backup file).
 
−
*right mouse click on one of the highlighted assets and select '''Export to CDP'''.
 
−
[[image:ExportToCDP.png|link=|alt=Export to CDP]]
 
−
*select a drive, folder and enter a backup filename.
 
 
</td>
 
</td>
 
</tr>
 
</tr>
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</table>
 
</table>
  
−
<table cellpadding=2 bgcolor=#ffffff>
+
<table width=1000 cellpadding=2 bgcolor=#ffffff>
 
<tr>
 
<tr>
 
<td colspan="2">
 
<td colspan="2">
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<td>[[image:Steps.PNG|link=]]</td>
 
<td>[[image:Steps.PNG|link=]]</td>
 
<td><span style="font-size: 17px; font-weight: 700;">Steps:'''</span><br>
 
<td><span style="font-size: 17px; font-weight: 700;">Steps:'''</span><br>
−
#open '''Content Manager'''
+
<table>
−
#open '''Windows File Explorer''' and locate the backup folder
+
<tr valign="top">
−
#highlight the '''.CDP file or files''' to be restored
+
<td width=25>[[image:DotPoint1.JPG|link=]]</td>
−
#'''drag and drop''' the file or files from '''Windows File Explorer''' into '''Content Manager'''
+
<td>open '''Content Manager'''</td>
−
#if the assets being restored are already installed in '''Content Manager''' then their status will be '''Open for Edit'''. Submit the assets.
+
</tr>
 +
<tr valign="top">
 +
<td width=25>[[image:DotPoint2.JPG|link=]]</td>
 +
<td>open '''Windows File Explorer''' and locate the backup folder</td>
 +
</tr>
 +
<tr valign="top">
 +
<td width=25>[[image:DotPoint3.JPG|link=]]</td>
 +
<td>highlight the '''.CDP file or files''' to be restored</td>
 +
</tr>
 +
<tr valign="top">
 +
<td width=25>[[image:DotPoint4.JPG|link=]]</td>
 +
<td>'''drag and drop''' the file or files from '''Windows File Explorer''' into '''Content Manager'''</td>
 +
</tr>
 +
<tr valign="top">
 +
<td width=25>[[image:DotPoint5.JPG|link=]]</td>
 +
<td>if the assets being restored are already installed in '''Content Manager''' then their status will be shown as '''Open for Edit'''. Select and submit those assets.
 
[[image:RestoreFromCDP.png|link=|alt=Restore from backup]]
 
[[image:RestoreFromCDP.png|link=|alt=Restore from backup]]
 
</td>
 
</td>
 
</tr>
 
</tr>
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<tr>
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</table>
−
<td colspan="2">
+
</td>
−
----</td>
+
 
</tr>
 
</tr>
 
</table>
 
</table>
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The most important parts of any backup plan are:-
 
The most important parts of any backup plan are:-
−
*'''make regular backups''' - how often will depend on the complexity of the project
+
<table>
−
*'''keep duplicate sets of backups''' including on offline storage
+
<tr valign="top">
−
*'''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
+
<td width=10>[[image:DotPoint.JPG|10px|link=]]</td>
−
*'''have a simple but consistent file naming system''' to be able to quickly identify the backup you need to restore lost work
+
<td>'''make regular backups''' - how often will depend on the complexity of the project</td>
 +
</tr>
 +
<tr valign="top">
 +
<td>[[image:DotPoint.JPG|10px|link=]]</td>
 +
<td>'''keep duplicate sets of backups''' including on offline storage</td>
 +
</tr>
 +
<tr valign="top">
 +
<td>[[image:DotPoint.JPG|10px|link=]]</td>
 +
<td>'''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</td>
 +
</tr>
 +
<tr valign="top">
 +
<td>[[image:DotPoint.JPG|10px|link=]]</td>
 +
<td>'''have a simple but consistent file naming system''' to be able to quickly identify the backup you need to restore lost work
 
<br>
 
<br>
 
<table width=1000 cellpadding=2 bgcolor=#ffffb0>
 
<table width=1000 cellpadding=2 bgcolor=#ffffb0>
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<td>[[image:NotePad.PNG|link=]]</td>
 
<td>[[image:NotePad.PNG|link=]]</td>
 
<td><span style="font-size: 17px; font-weight: 700;">Sample Backup Plan:'''</span><br>
 
<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
+
<table>
−
*in this folder create another folder named '''Today'''
+
<tr valign="top">
−
[[image:BackupsOnlineFolder.png|link=|alt=Online Project Backups folder]]
+
<td width=25>[[image:DotPoint1.JPG|link=]]</td>
−
*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
+
<td>on a drive that is always attached to your system create a '''Project Backups''' folder</td>
−
[[image:BackupsOnlineFolderToday.png|link=|alt=Todays Backups folder]]
+
</tr>
−
*name each backup using the name of the project and the time as shown in the example above
+
<tr valign="top">
 +
<td>[[image:DotPoint2.JPG|link=]]</td>
 +
<td>in this folder create another folder named '''Today'''<br>
 +
[[image:BackupsOnlineFolder.png|link=|alt=Online Project Backups folder]]</td>
 +
</tr>
 +
<tr valign="top">
 +
<td>[[image:DotPoint3.JPG|link=]]</td>
 +
<td>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<br>
 +
[[image:BackupsOnlineFolderToday.png|link=|alt=Todays Backups folder]]</td>
 +
</tr>
 +
<tr valign="top">
 +
<td>[[image:DotPoint4.JPG|link=]]</td>
 +
<td>name each backup using the name of the project and the time as shown in the example above
 +
</td>
 +
</tr>
 +
</table>
  
 
<table cellpadding=2 bgcolor=#bbffff>
 
<table cellpadding=2 bgcolor=#bbffff>
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</tr>
 
</tr>
 
</table>
 
</table>
−
 
+
<table>
−
*at the end of each day copy the '''Today''' folder to another drive (external or internal) into a folder also called '''Project Backups'''
+
<tr valign="top">
−
*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
+
<td width=25>[[image:DotPoint5.JPG|link=]]</td>
−
[[image:BackupsOfflineFolder.png|link=|alt=Offline Project Backups folder]]
+
<td>at the end of each day copy the '''Today''' folder to another drive (external or internal) into a folder also called '''Project Backups'''</td>
−
*copy this renamed folder to an external detachable drive into its '''Project Backups''' folder - this will give you a second backup copy
+
</tr>
−
*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
+
<tr valign="top">
 +
<td>[[image:DotPoint6.JPG|link=]]</td>
 +
<td>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<br>
 +
[[image:BackupsOfflineFolder.png|link=|alt=Offline Project Backups folder]]</td>
 +
</tr>
 +
<tr valign="top">
 +
<td>[[image:DotPoint7.JPG|link=]]</td>
 +
<td>copy this renamed folder to an external detachable drive into its '''Project Backups''' folder - this will give you a second backup copy</td>
 +
</tr>
 +
<tr valign="top">
 +
<td>[[image:DotPoint8.JPG|link=]]</td>
 +
<td>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</td>
 +
</tr>
 +
</table>
  
 
<table cellpadding=2 bgcolor=#bbffff>
 
<table cellpadding=2 bgcolor=#bbffff>
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<td><span style="font-size: 17px; font-weight: 700;">How Long Should You Keep The Daily Backups?'''</span><br>
 
<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.
 
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
+
<table>
−
*If there is insufficient space to keep a large number of backups, then delete the '''oldest backup folders first'''
+
<tr valign="top">
−
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>
+
<td width=10>[[image:DotPoint.JPG|10px|link=]]</td>
 +
<td>Once the project has been completed then the backup folders and files can be deleted</td>
 
</tr>
 
</tr>
−
</table></td>
+
<tr valign="top">
 +
<td>[[image:DotPoint.JPG|10px|link=]]</td>
 +
<td>If there is insufficient space to keep a large number of backups, then delete the '''oldest backup folders first'''</td>
 +
</tr>
 +
<tr>
 +
<td colspan=2>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>
 +
</td>
 +
</tr>
 +
</table>
 +
</td>
 
</tr>
 
</tr>
 
</table>
 
</table>
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</tr>
 
</tr>
 
</table> <!-- END Nav Buttons Table -->
 
</table> <!-- END Nav Buttons Table -->
 +
<br>
 
='''Backing Up and Restoring Picklists'''=
 
='''Backing Up and Restoring Picklists'''=
 
<table cellpadding=2 bgcolor=#c1e7e7>
 
<table cellpadding=2 bgcolor=#c1e7e7>
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<td>[[image:DotPoint2.JPG|link=]]&nbsp;<span style="font-size: 17px; font-weight: 700;">Determine the Size of the Folder:'''</span><br>
 
<td>[[image:DotPoint2.JPG|link=]]&nbsp;<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
 
#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
+
#<span style="font-weight: 700; font-size: 15px; background-color: lightcyan;">Right Click</span> 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
 
::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
 
[[image:DataFolderProperties.png|link=|alt=Data Folder properties]][[image:DataFolderSize.png|link=|alt=Data Folder size]]
 
[[image:DataFolderProperties.png|link=|alt=Data Folder properties]][[image:DataFolderSize.png|link=|alt=Data Folder size]]
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<td>[[image:DotPoint3.JPG|link=]]&nbsp;<span style="font-size: 17px; font-weight: 700;">Copy the Folder:'''</span><br>
 
<td>[[image:DotPoint3.JPG|link=]]&nbsp;<span style="font-size: 17px; font-weight: 700;">Copy the Folder:'''</span><br>
 
#Close the '''Properties Window'''
 
#Close the '''Properties Window'''
−
#Right Mouse Click on the folder name and select the '''Copy''' menu option
+
#<span style="font-weight: 700; font-size: 15px; background-color: lightcyan;">Right Click</span> on the folder name and select the '''Copy''' menu option
 
#Open the '''Destination Drive''' and select (or create) a suitable backup folder
 
#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
+
#<span style="font-weight: 700; font-size: 15px; background-color: lightcyan;">Right Click</span> 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>
 
<br>
 
<table bgcolor=#000000 width=900>
 
<table bgcolor=#000000 width=900>

Latest revision as of 14:10, 22 April 2023

The information in this Wiki Page applies to TANE, TRS19, Trainz Plus and TRS22. This guide will explain automatic and manual backups in Trainz.

Main Points:
DotPoint.JPG Trainz will automatically backup your current route and session in Surveyor while you work. You can set the number of backups created each day
DotPoint.JPG You can use Content Manager to manually create backups of routes, sessions and assets as often as you need
DotPoint.JPG Both the manual and automatic backups can be restored to Trainz by Content Manager
DotPoint.JPG You can backup all your user data (built-in assets, DLS downloads, DLC purchases, your own creations)


Contents

  Top   Next Down Bottom

[edit] Automatic Backups vs Manual Backups

  Automatic Backups Manual Backups
Pros
Tick
  • set and forget - no need to remember to perform the backups
  • backups are stored in a set location
  • automatic restore after a crash
  • you control where the backups are stored and for how long
  • you control the backup file names
  • any assets can be backed up, not just routes and sessions
Cons
Cross
  • identifying the exact backup file to restore may not be easy
  • only routes and sessions can be backed up
  • last 7 days of backups only are kept
  • you have to remember to perform the backup
  • you have to remember where you stored the backups
  • manual restore after a crash


  Top Next Up Next Down Bottom

[edit] Automatic Backups

[edit] Creating Automatic Backups

In Summary:
DotPoint.JPG Only a set number of backups are created each day
DotPoint.JPG 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.

Steps.PNG Steps:

Launcher Settings Tabs

  1. To set the number of backups, select Trainz Settings from the Launcher and then Left Click the Dev tab.
  2. One data entry box in this tab will be named Daily backups to keep and it will have a default value of 7. Set it to the number of backups you want each day.
DotPoint.JPG Launcher Settings Tabs If you are working on developing a new route or session then 7 daily backups could be a suitable number.
DotPoint.JPG Launcher Settings Tabs If you are making minor changes to existing routes or sessions then 3 or 4 daily backups could be a suitable number.
DotPoint.JPG Launcher Settings Tabs 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.
Warning:
Stop.PNG 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
Large Number of Daily Backups Small Number of Daily Backups

Tick more backup storage space is needed
Tick shorter time between backups so less work could be lost

Tick less backup storage space is needed
Tick longer time between backups so more work could be lost

Only the last 7 days of backups are kept and this number cannot be changed.

[edit] 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.

DBR EDBR31.png
Steps.PNG Steps:
DotPoint1.JPG Highlight the Local Data Folder address and copy to your OS clipboard - press  Ctrl   C 
DotPoint2.JPG Open Windows Explorer and paste ( Ctrl   V ) the address into the Address Bar


This folder can also found using Windows Explorer by following a similar folder path as shown below.

BackupsBuildFolder.png

Where  idname  is the first 5 characters of your Windows logon name and  random  will be a random sequence of letters and numbers identifying the Trainz Build Number.

NotePad.PNG Notes:
DotPoint.JPG The drive letter (C:) and the path will be different if you have previously moved your User Data Folder to a different drive and/or location. If this is the case then use the folder address from the Launcher Install TAB
DotPoint.JPG If you are using TANE or TRS19 then that will be shown instead of TRS22
DotPoint.JPG If you are using Trainz Plus then its folder will be shown as TRS22
The TANE/TRS19/TRS22 folder may have several different build folders. If so then select the one that has a Date Modified entry that matches the date/time of your last route modification.

BackupsDifferentBuilds.png


NotePad.PNG Notes:

The "usual" method of dragging and dropping the backup folder into Content Manager to restore it no longer works. Instead the following method is recommended.


Steps.PNG Steps:
DotPoint1.JPG Open The Backups Folder:
 
BackupsN3VFolders.png
Using Windows File Explorer, open your local data folder and then open the backups folder.
DotPoint.JPG the backups that have been created will be listed by their dates using the YY-MM-DD date format
DotPoint.JPG only daily backups from the last 7 days will be kept
  DotPoint2.JPG Identify the Backup to Restore:
  Open the backup folder for the date that you want. A list of backup files and folders created that day will be shown.


LocalDataBackupDaily.png
 
DotPoint.JPG if you know the time of the backup then sort the entries by date and time
DotPoint.JPG if you know the kuid of the backup (it will be the same as used by the route/session) then sort the entries by name (but there may be several files with the same kuid)
  DotPoint3.JPG Restore the Backup To Trainz:
  1. select the .tzarc file that contains your backup (e.g. the last created version by date and time)
  2. copy it into the Editing folder - this folder will be directly under the same build <number> folder that contains your backups
    BackupsEditFolder.png
  3. if the .tzarc filename is followed by a number sequence (e.g. kuid 45176 100893.tzarc_323888034) then rename the file to remove all the characters AFTER the .tzarc so kuid 45176 100893.tzarc_323888034 becomes kuid 45176 100893.tzarc
  4. open Content Manager
  5. run a database repair


More details, including tips on troubleshooting, can be found in the Trainz Knowledge Base at WikiLink.PNG Restoring Backups

  Top Next Up Next Down Bottom


[edit] Creating Manual Backups

DotPoint.JPG Manual backups are stored as .CDP files
DotPoint.JPG Many assets can be stored in a single .CDP file
Steps.PNG Steps:
DotPoint1.JPG open Content Manager and use a search filter to identify the assets to be backed up. Some examples:-
DotPoint.JPG Today Filter to show all assets that have been altered today
DotPoint.JPG Launcher Settings Tabs to show all installed routes that are yours
DotPoint2.JPG highlight the asset or assets (more than one asset can be included in each backup file)
DotPoint3.JPG Right Click on one of the highlighted assets and select Export to CDP
Export to CDP
DotPoint4.JPG select a drive, folder and enter a backup filename


[edit] Restoring Manual Backups

DotPoint.JPG Simply drag and drop the backup CDP file or files into Content Manager
Steps.PNG Steps:
DotPoint1.JPG open Content Manager
DotPoint2.JPG open Windows File Explorer and locate the backup folder
DotPoint3.JPG highlight the .CDP file or files to be restored
DotPoint4.JPG drag and drop the file or files from Windows File Explorer into Content Manager
DotPoint5.JPG if the assets being restored are already installed in Content Manager then their status will be shown as Open for Edit. Select and submit those assets.

Restore from backup


[edit] Backup Plan Basics

DotPoint.JPG 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:-

DotPoint.JPG make regular backups - how often will depend on the complexity of the project
DotPoint.JPG keep duplicate sets of backups including on offline storage
DotPoint.JPG 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
DotPoint.JPG have a simple but consistent file naming system to be able to quickly identify the backup you need to restore lost work


NotePad.PNG Sample Backup Plan:
DotPoint1.JPG on a drive that is always attached to your system create a Project Backups folder
DotPoint2.JPG in this folder create another folder named Today
Online Project Backups folder
DotPoint3.JPG 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
Todays Backups folder
DotPoint4.JPG name each backup using the name of the project and the time as shown in the example above
Question.PNG Why Keep Separate Time Backups For The Same Day?

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.

DotPoint5.JPG at the end of each day copy the Today folder to another drive (external or internal) into a folder also called Project Backups
DotPoint6.JPG 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
Offline Project Backups folder
DotPoint7.JPG copy this renamed folder to an external detachable drive into its Project Backups folder - this will give you a second backup copy
DotPoint8.JPG 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
Question.PNG How Long Should You Keep The Daily Backups?

The ideal answer is until after the project has been finished but in reality it will depend on your available storage space.

DotPoint.JPG Once the project has been completed then the backup folders and files can be deleted
DotPoint.JPG 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.


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[edit] Backing Up and Restoring Picklists

DotPoint.JPG 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.

LinkWiki.PNG

Detailed instructions on backing up and restoring Picklists as text files can be found on the Trainz Wiki Page at:-


[edit] Backing Up All Your User Content

DotPoint.JPG 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:
Stop.PNG Be aware that this could be a very large quantity of data that could take a lot of time and space to backup
Steps.PNG Steps:

DotPoint1.JPG Locate Your Local Data Folder:

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

Data Folder location

  DotPoint2.JPG Determine the Size of the Folder:
  1. Use Windows File Explorer to locate this folder in its drive as shown in the Local Data Folder information above
  2. Right 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

Data Folder propertiesData Folder size

DotPoint.JPG You will need to find a storage device or location, such as an external drive, that has more available free space than the folder is using
  DotPoint3.JPG Copy the Folder:
  1. Close the Properties Window
  2. Right Click on the folder name and select the Copy menu option
  3. Open the Destination Drive and select (or create) a suitable backup folder
  4. Right 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


PencilTips.PNG For very large Local Data Folders the backup process can take hours 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


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[edit] Trainz Wiki

TrainzWiki.png

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.

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