Configuration and trace files

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4D v16.3

Backup journal

To make following up and verifying database backups easier, the backup module writes a summary of each operation performed in a special file, which is similar to an activity journal. Like an on-board manual, all database operations (backups, restores, log file integrations) are logged in this file whether they were scheduled or performed manually. The date and time that these operations occurred are also noted in the journal.

The backup journal is named “Backup Journal.txt” and is placed in the "Logs" folder of the database.

The backup journal can be opened with any text editor. To make parsing easier, information in the journal is separated with tabs and each line of information ends with a carriage return.

Management of backup journal size

In certain backup strategies (for example, in the case where numerous attached files are being backed up), the backup journal can quickly grow to a large size.
Two mechanisms can be used to control this size:

Automatic backup: Before each backup, the application examines the size of the current backup journal file. If it is greater than 10 MB, the current file is archived and a new file is created. The archived files are renamed “Backup Journal[xxx].txt”, where xxx is a number from 1 to 999. Once file number 999 is reached, the numbering begins at 1 again and the existing files will be replaced.
Possibility of reducing the amount of information recorded: To do this, simply modify the value of the VerboseMode key in the Backup.xml file of the database. By default, this key is set to True. If you change the value of this key to False, only the main information will be stored in the backup journal: date and time of start of operation and any errors encountered. The XML keys concerning backup configuration are described in the XML Keys-Backup manual (PDF).

Backup.xml

The backup preferences of 4D are available as an XML file associated with the database. 4D uses the data of this file to set the backup options (options found in the Database Settings dialog box) when each backup is launched. This file can also be used to read or set additional options, such as the amount of information stored in the backup journal.

The XML backup configuration file is named Backup.xml. It is automatically created at the following location :

DatabaseFolder/Preferences/Backup/Backup.xml

... where DatabaseFolder is the folder containing the database structure file. The Preferences/Backup subfolders are automatically created when necessary.

The XML keys concerning backup configuration are described in the 4D XML Keys Backup manual.