Transfer your Data between Computers

Some users may choose to install DONATION on two computers (for instance, one at work and one at home) and transfer their data back and forth, in order to get work done at home, or for other reasons. That is possible, as long as only one person ever does the entries, on one computer at a time. (Please note that there is no way to merge entries from two computers!)

When you are finished using it on one computer (I'll call it Computer A), use the Database à Backup utility to backup the database file (DONATION4.DB, which gets backed up to a file named DONATION4.DB.gbk) to a diskette, or other transportable medium such as a writeable CD or a USB memory key.

Bring that backup over to the other computer (Computer B). Start DONATION, and use the Database à Restore utility to restore the database from the backup, which copies it over top of the existing database on that computer.

When you want to transfer it back to Computer A again, assuming you have made some further entries on Computer B (not just looked at stuff), just reverse the process - use Database à Backup to copy it from Computer B to a diskette or elsewhere, bring that over to Computer A, and use Database à Restore on Computer A.

Of course, you may prefer to send the database file as an email attachment. To do that, back it up onto your hard drive instead of a diskette. By default, this goes into a user application data directory - the message you get after a successful backup tells you exactly where that is. Of course, you can also select which directory the backup goes to. Email the backed up file (DONATION4.DB.gbk) to the other computer as an attachment. On that other computer, save the attachment to any desired directory, and restore from there.

Obviously, you have to be really careful if you are doing this. Don't get confused and restore the wrong diskette on the wrong machine etc. so you lose some of your work. Also, make sure you make other backups on other diskettes for additional security. Those additional backups also give you something to go back to if you mess up, or if your diskette goes bad, etc.

Transferring Letters Files

If you use the Letters menu options and have customized your letter or receipt files, you will also want to follow the instructions in Backing up and Restoring Letters Files to backup those files on Computer A, bring the backup to Computer B, and restore the files there.

Note on Software Licensing

When you have DONATION installed on two computers for the same organization, you can apply the same License Key to both of them. See the section on Software Licensing and Evaluation for more details on License Keys. Alternatively, you can copy the file donsl.txt from the DONATION program directory of the first licensed computer to the other computer - it contains your licensing information.