For the Back up and Restore functions, the project must be locked. For this reason, backups are not multi-user capable; all editors must leave the project. Open windows such as the graphical editor or the navigators of the project to be backed up are closed by the program; the project management and page navigator can remain open. Master data is also locked and can only be backed up when it is not being edited.
Several projects can be backed up at the same time. Only when sending projects via e-mail can only one project be sent at a time.
The UNC naming conventions are completely supported by EPLAN. This is a naming convention for the specification of the file paths: The names of the server and directories are included in the file path. "Alias" designations (such as abbreviations) are not used. A file path has, for example, the following form: \\Server_name\Share_name\Directory\Subdirectory\File_name.abc
The backed up files are always zipped (using the 7-Zip program). All the project data is retained during zipping. (When a project is compressed, by contrast, you can remove unused data from the project.) The files have the following extensions:
- Projects: *.zw1
- Basic projects with master data: *.zx1
- Project templates: *.zx2
- Symbol libraries: *.zw2
- Plot frames: *.zw3
- Forms: *.zw4
- Macros: *.zw5
- Parts data: *.zw6
- Dictionaries: *.zw7
- User, workstation data: *.zw8
- Outlines: *.zwa.
A data backup can be opened by double-clicking the file. EPLAN will then automatically start in Restore mode.
EPLAN can split backups into several small data packets and also reassemble them. This is particularly important for data deliveries by e-mail.
Notes:
- Zipped projects are stored in the project directory with an *.elp extension. The zipped files themselves are stored with the extension *.zw0 in order to differentiate them from the backed up projects (*.zw1).
- For data deliveries by e-mail, the split backup files are differentiated by the addition of ".000" up to maximally ".999" in the file names. For restoring the project, these files have to be copied into one common directory. Only the file with the ".000" addition in the file name is displayed in the Restore project dialog. For this reason you should not use file names that contain a three-digit number separated by a dot for data backup.
Example:The project My_Project.elk is backed up as My_Project.zw1.
The symbol library My_Symbols.slk is backed up as My_Symbols.zw2.
For data deliveries by e-mail, the backup files My_Project.000.elk, My_Project.001.elk, and My_Project.002.elk are generated for the project My_Project.elk. To restore the project, copy the three backup files into one common directory and double-click the My_Project.000.elk file. The Restore project dialog only displays the file My_Project.000.elk, the other two backup files are not visible.
Long-term data archiving
For long-term archiving of projects, you should use the EPLAN archiving function that creates a file in ZIP format.
In addition to this, exports in the following database-independent formats are possible:
This allows the archived data to still be analyzed even though the software and hardware environment may change over the years.
You can export the entire project or individual pages.
Graphical reprints
Schematics are usually delivered to the end customer on paper. Since the paper yellows over the course of time, it must be possible to subsequently reprint the plans. For this type of long-term archiving, you can export project pages in common graphic formats, such as TIFF, JPEG, BMP, and DXF.
Data exchange via diskette / CD / e-mail / network
The backup system also allows exchanging of data with subcontractors, end customers, or other employees. All data belonging to the project, such as symbol libraries, plot frames, macros, etc., are present in the external file.
It is also possible to send a project by e-mail.
When restoring projects or master data, a check is performed to see if the data already exists and if it may be overwritten.
When restoring, it is possible to select any desired drive and subdirectory as the target.
External documents and linked data
External documents can be selectively included in the backup and restore processes. Only those documents stored in the project directory (in the \Documents subdirectory) are backed up. Documents in other directories are not backed up with the project. When you insert external documents, you can specify whether these are to be copied to the project directory or are to be retained in the original storage location and only a reference be added to the file. You can thus use the storage location to specify whether a file is to be included in the backup or not. The same procedure applies for image files and hyperlinks. Image files are stored in a separate subdirectory, \Images.
When a project is restored, the files are inserted back into the directory in which they were located at the backup. A warning message, showing which file is newer, is displayed before overwriting.
Converting Projects with non-ASCII Characters in the Master Data Names
A correction function is available for projects from older versions of EPLAN in which "non-ASCII" characters occur in the names of the stored master data (forms, plot frames, parts). This conversion can solve problems that may occur when forwarding projects between different language versions of the same operating system.
When restoring or opening such projects, the prompt Update database index data will open. If you click [Yes], the database indexes required to access master data are updated and the affected file names will be written correctly in the project management database. The project will then be opened. If you click [No], then the project is closed.
Note:
A project converted this way should no longer be edited in an older version of EPLAN. The conversion of the master data names into Unicode characters means that the master data in the older EPLAN versions will no longer be found.
See also