Q: I want to backup my TAP database files regularly (Fixed Facility Database, coverage studies, etc.). How do I do that?
A: TAP uses several interrelated databases for setting up fixed and mobile facilities, coverage study setup information, results of coverage studies, etc.
Since a lot of work usually goes into these files (facility information, coverage studies you have run, etc.) regular backups are a very good idea.
All of these files are stored in folders located immediately below where TAP is installed, typically the SWTAP folder. For example, if you open the SWTAP folder in Windows Explorer or My Computer, you will see folders such as SYSTEM, WORK, MAPPING, ANTENNAS, LINES, NADCON, INTERMOD, etc.
To backup these inter-related databases, the easiest way is to select all of the folders below SWTAP and copy them to a backup location, such as a folder on a network drive. If you use a tape backup system, you can select those folders to be backed up on the tape.
The files that are in the "top level" folder of your TAP installation (the SWTAP folder in this example) do should not be included in the backup. These files are generally the application (.exe) files and related components (.dll, .ocx, etc), or configuration (.ini) files. In the event that you need to restore your TAP system, those application and component files should not be simply copied to a new disk or new machine. The Windows Registry keeps track of those files and the TAP Setup program (when you install from one of our CDs or from the UPDATE file from our web site) creates or updates these Registry entries. Simply copying those files will cause confusion in the Windows Registry and unpredictable operation of TAP.
Similarly, the .ini configuration files contain references to disk drives, network paths, etc., that TAP creates and updates as you use the software. Copying these configuration files to a new or restored system can cause confusion, for example, if you backup your TAP system from the C: drive, but later restore to a new machine with TAP installed on the D: drive. You can use the "TaskZIP" function as a part of the backup process to save copies of the configuration files for future reference if needed.
The "Moving TAP" article describes the process of using the TAP Setup program to install the software, then copying the folders you have backed up to restore the facilities, coverage studies, etc.
For more information on the contents of the specific databases and files in the TAP folders, see the "Moving TAP Databases" article. Please remember that editing these files outside of TAP or moving some files but not others can result in improper operation of the TAP software if the internal relationships between the files (which are maintained by normal TAP operation) are confused.
 |
Copyright 2002 by SoftWright LLC