In this dialog, define how and where the selected projects are to be backed up.

Overview of the main dialog elements:

Selected projects:

The projects selected for backup are displayed in this list.

Description:

In this field you can enter a text description (for example storage location), which is stored with the project and that can be displayed from within EPLAN during backup and restore operations.

Method:

Define the manner in which the project is to be backed up. The settings affect whether the source project can be further edited and the format of the backup file.

• Save additionally: The project is backed up to another storage medium. More than one project can be selected. They will be saved in sequence. Multiple selection of projects is possible in the project management tree view. The *.elk project remains in the same directory. A *.zw1 backup file is also created in the selected backup directory.
• File off for external editing: The project is saved on a different storage medium and the source project becomes write-protected. All data from the filed-off project remains in the original location. The *.elk project becomes a *.els project in the same directory. A *.zw1 backup file is also created in the selected backup directory.
• Archive: The project is saved onto a different storage medium and, apart from a single information file, the source project is completely deleted from the hard drive. The *.elk project becomes a *.ela project in the same directory. A *.zw1 backup file is also created in the selected backup directory.

Backup file name:

This is where you enter the name of the backup file. The project name is used by default. Click [...] to open the Select backup file dialog and then navigate to the desired directory, or create a new one.
If the project is located either directly in the project directory or in a directory outside the project directory, the project name will be suggested automatically. If the project is in a subdirectory of the project directory, the project name is first suggested in the drop-down list, while the file path below the project directory (separated by dots) and the project name are the second suggestion.
If several projects are backed up, it is not possible to edit this field, and the project names in each instance will be used as the backup file names.
A maximum of 260 characters is permitted for the file name including file path.

Backup medium:

Define whether the project is to be backed up to a storage medium (hard disk, removable media, etc.) or sent via e-mail. The file name is assigned automatically during the backup and cannot be changed.

• Storage medium: If this option is selected, the project is backed up to a storage medium.
  Enter the storage location into the Backup directory field. You can specify any drive and subdirectory as the target for the data backup. If you selected a directory in the Backup file name field, this directory is displayed here.
  Click [...] to open the Select directory dialog and then navigate to the desired directory, or create a new one.
  You can use the Insert path variable popup menu item to branch to the dialog Select path variable where you can select one of the available path variables.
• E-mail: If this option is selected, the project is sent as e-mail. You can only send one project at a time via e-mail. Once the function has been called up, the project is zipped using the internal zip program and your installed e-mail editor is started.
  From the Split size drop-down list select the maximum size for an individual e-mail file. The possible values are 1 MB to 10 MB in 1 MB increments, or you can select "Unlimited". EPLAN automatically creates the number of e-mail files required to send the whole project. All individual mails in the group will have this text in the subject line: "<Project name> n/m". "n" is the number of the individual e-mail file and "m" is the overall quantity of the files.

Options:

Specify here the actual scope of projects you want to save.

• Back up entire project: If this check box is selected, all files are backed up in the project directory. This includes files that contain redundant information and provide rapid access to the project data. This will increase the size of the backup file somewhat, but the project may be restored quicker.
  If the check box is deactivated, only the data really necessary are backed up. Files that only serve to provide rapid access to the project data are not backed up; they are recreated when the project is restored.
  The stored master data will always be backed up regardless of whether the check box is selected or not. External documents and image files will only be backed up if the corresponding checkboxes are selected.
• Copy referenced data: If this check box is selected, referenced external documents and image files are stored in the project. The corresponding files are copied into the subdirectories ...\<Project name>\DOC\*.* and ...\<Project name>\Images\*.*. The check boxes Back up stored external documents and / or Back up stored image files or the check box Back up entire project must also be selected in order to back up this data.
• Back up stored external documents: Select this check box so that external documents that are stored in the project and located in the ...\<Project_name>\DOC\*.* subdirectory are backed up with the project.
• Back up stored image files: Select this check box so that image files that are stored in the project and located in the ...\<Project_name>\Images\*.* subdirectory are backed up with the project.

[Links]:

Opens the dialog Copy external files to project; here you can copy image files and external documents referenced in the project or associated master data to the current project.

See also

Data Backup

Project Backup

Backing up Projects

File Name Extensions and Icons for Projects

Restoring Projects

Exchanging Projects via E-mail