Client Maintenance

Facts

Add a sample client and enter client information. Rename the client. Copy the client and give it a different client number. Backup both sample clients. Delete the sample clients from your current database. Restore the backup copies into your current database.

Use the following information for the original sample client:

Rename the client using TUTOR5 as the new client number.

For Copy, use TUTOR6 as the client number. Backup both clients to C:\TUTORIAL\DATA. Restore both TUTOR5 and TUTOR6 to your current data path.

Program Considerations

All client maintenance functions should be done from within the program.

Caution: It is very important that you use the functions on the Client menu as opposed to DOS commands, Windows Explorer or batch files to perform all client maintenance. If you use any form of file management or transfer other than the Lacerte Backup, Restore, Delete, Rename, and Copy features, you may inadvertently overwrite your client database file and/or lose important data.

If you use a tape (or CD) backup system, be sure to perform a full backup each time (as opposed to an incremental backup). Also, when restoring from tape, restore client files to a temporary subdirectory on the hard drive, then use the Lacerte Restore feature to bring the client files into your permanent data subdirectory.

How?

To Renumber a client:

1. At the Clients tab, highlight client TUTOR4.
2. On the Client menu, click Renumber.



3. Type TUTOR5 for the new client number.
   
   
4. Click OK. The program assigns the client file the new number.

To Copy a client:

1. At the Clients tab, highlight TUTOR5.
2. On the Client menu, click Copy.
   
   
3. Type TUTOR6 for the new client number.
   
   
4. Click OK. The program makes an exact copy of the client file and assigns it the new number.
   
   

   Note: If a client with the same client number already exists, the program asks you if you want to overwrite the existing client with the one being renamed or copied.

To Backup client(s):

1. At the Clients tab, select TUTOR5 and TUTOR6.
2. On the Client menu, click Backup.
   
   
3. In the Backup Clients box, type C:\TUTORIAL\DATA.



4. Click OK to begin the backup.
5. If this is a new directory, the program prompts you to create it.
   
   
6. Click Yes.
   
   

   Note: If the client already exists in the destination directory, the program asks you if you want to overwrite the existing client with the one being backed up.

To Delete client(s):

1. At the Clients tab, highlight TUTOR5 and TUTOR6.
2. On the Client menu, click Delete.
   
   
3. The program prompts you to confirm that you want to delete the selected client.
   
   
4. Click Yes to All to delete all the selected clients at once or Yes to confirm each deletion.

To Restore client(s):

1. On the Client menu, click Restore.
   
   
2. In the Restore Clients box, type the path for the backed up client files, or click Browse to view existing directories. The program remembers the last backup directory.
   
   
3. Select the clients to restore.
4. Click OK.
   
   

   Note: If the client already exists in the destination directory, the program prompts you to overwrite the existing client with the one being restored.

Tips & Shortcuts

You can find the shortcut keys for these functions on the Client menu:

Also, you can use the Add a client icon, Delete selected client(s) icon, Backup selected client(s) icon, and Restore one or more clients icons on the toolbar to quickly access these functions.

Review

You should have been able to to use the client maintenance functions on the Client menu to backup and restore the sample client files.

Troubleshooting

Problem: I can't backup clients.

Solution: You must be able to write to the backup location. If using a floppy disk, make sure the disk is not write-protected. If using a network drive, make sure you have the necessary rights to that drive.

Problem: No clients are listed when I select Restore.

Solution: The program defaults to the last directory used for backup or restore. If the desired location is different, you can type it or browse to it.

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