System won't restore
Very unhappy. I have Moneydance synched with other platforms. I needed to restore the database and despite unchecking the box on the restore dialogue, it still overwrote the freshly restored file with data that had been synced, leaving me in an impossible position.
I decided to go back further in time and this time it did restore without overwriting. I am extremely annoyed because I now have loads of input to do to forward recover from this situation all because your product doesn't do what it is supposed to do. Surely you can design a restore process that won't behave in this way? It's not rocket science, a user just wants to go back to a safe point in time without data from other devices stomping all over the data that has been restored. It's a good job I also keep a manual journal that I can use to restore from. But I would sooner not spend my time doing this.
You have lost a customer. I will be looking for a replacement product .
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Support Staff 1 Posted by Maddy on 14 Dec, 2022 02:33 PM
Hi,
We are sorry to hear about the problem you have encountered.
Usually, restoring from a backup would stop the syncing process as a new data file is created at restart.
Generally, Moneydance creates an automatic backup file each time you close your file, until the set number exist, then each file will be updated in turn.
When these files are stored in the default location, they're accessible from Moneydance via Help --> Show Backup Folder.
So, my first question to you is: Are your data file and backups stored in the default location
One can also amend the backup file settings, by choosing Moneydance --> Preferences, then select the 'Backups' tab, as outlined in this article of the Knowledge Base.
From this window, you can amend the backup location, and choose the maximum number of backups to be stored. Have you done this at some point?
It is possible to amend the backup location, to ensure the automatic backup files are sent elsewhere. For example, one could choose an external drive, or a shared folder location like Dropbox, iCloud etc. This will make your data accessible from another system, even if you were to encounter complete computer failure, for instance.
You can also create manual backup files whenever you require, and store these files to a location of you choice. To create a manual backup file, you should choose File --> Export Backup. This will create a .moneydancearchive backup file - the same format as the auto backup files.
The files with a - .moneydancearchive file extension can be restored into Moneydance by double clicking them.
Alternatively, you can choose File --> Restore from Backup (or 'Import New Account Set' from the Welcome window). Then navigate to and select the backup file.
When you restore data from a backup file, a new data file will be created for use going forward. If the restored data file is in the default location, it's accessible from Moneydance via Help --> Show Documents Folder.
Any data files stored here are accessible from the program by choosing File --> Open. Any files you've created or restored will be listed here.
Finally, if you were syncing your 'good' file and you wish to sync to that same file, you could achieve this by navigating to File->New->Open Synced File
- select the same sync method you had previously to sync to that file - enter your passphrase and that will be it.
I hope this information is helpful. Please let us know if you have further questions or need more assistance.
--
Maddy, Infinite Kind Support
2 Posted by A Rummery on 14 Dec, 2022 03:46 PM
thank you for your time in replying. I am well aware of the location of data files with this product. My backup files were clearly showing in the location as per the screenshot. When I restored the file created at 13:24 deselecting the option to sync in the restore dialogue, it proceeded to restore the file, then applied sync data to the file which undid what I needed it to do by restoring. I had to go back to the 10th December to get a file without it syncing. You have not explained why that is the case. Why can't the product, in a restore situation, simply force all databases on sync'd platforms to the state of play at the restore, that would be the most logical design. I am wondering if the fact that the file names have become rather lengthy over the time had anything to do with what I experienced, by the sync process only looking at the first so many characters of the file name. I am now going to have to re-input several days' transactions and redo reconciling two bank statements, a total waste of my time.
3 Posted by dtd on 14 Dec, 2022 11:12 PM
just a user - the fact that your data file names are lengthening over time suggests you made a mistake in your restore/backup process on those dates listed (i.e. you restored something with a date attached, and didn't shorten it (and that isn't really the way it's supposed to be done, anyway).
Similarly, other statements you make suggest you may not fully be aware of the correct way to make all this happen. Have you read the kb articles on restore and syncing?
One way to do this that is clean and easy to implement is to disable syncing, restore a datafile, then re implement syncing - that eliminates the older sync, and reestablishes a sync based on the restore - which you state is what you want to happen.
I won't bother to go into more detail about methodologies for restoring, as I am just a user - and you appear to have moved into annoyance and blame versus asking for assistance, which is all I am trying to provide.
System closed this discussion on 15 Mar, 2023 11:20 PM.