To back up and restore, 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.

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 packed (using the 7-Zip program). All the project data is retained during packing. (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
• 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.

Backup of master data

In EPLAN, you can back up and restore not only complete projects, but also individual master data from the central master data pool. This includes basic projects, symbol libraries, plot frames, outlines, forms, macros, parts data, dictionaries as well as project-independent settings.

In contrast to project data, individual master data cannot be filed off or archived. This means that a copy of the master data is always created and the original master data remains on the hard drive and can be further edited. Only when filing off or archiving of complete projects are the associated master data filed off or archived.

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:

• DXF / DWG
• Image file
• PDF.

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 / 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.

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

When inserting external files (external documents, image files and/or hyperlinks) you decide whether these are copied into the project directory or whether the original storage location is retained and only a reference to the respective file is inserted. When copying into the project, documents and image files are stored in the project directory in separate subdirectories (documents in the subdirectory \DOC, image files by default in the subdirectory \Images).

When backing up projects you can use a setting to specify whether the referenced files are to be copied automatically into the project or not. Only the files located in the project directory are also backed up during the data backup.

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.

Manual and automatic storing of files

Under storing files we understand that documents, image files or hyperlinks are copied from an external source directory into the project. Stored files can also be updated on the basis of a reference to the source directory.

A distinction is made between manual and automatic storage:

• Manual storing always takes place interactively, for example when inserting an image file in the graphical editor. Manually stored files are not automatically overwritten by newer files.
• In the case of automatic storage (for example in the case of a data backup), the external references are also used with preference after storage. Automatic storage is therefore used as a backup if the source file cannot be reached. Automatically stored files (documents, images, etc.) are updated if newer referenced files are available.

You can see which files are stored in a project and what your storage method is by using the [Links] button when backing up projects.

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.

See also

Data Backup

Project Backup