I had thought that simply copying the data file and putting a copy of it into our new annual phone directory folder would allow me to save last year's database unchanged as I create the new one this year. I discovered that this does not work. All changes made in the new copy of the database are reflected in all of the old ones as soon as I make the changes.
What is the easiest way to create "this year's" database and keep last year's unchanged? Is it necessary to use "Create a New Database" in the File Menu and do imports of all the old data, and then make the changes?
Hi,
Kate here.
Hmmm. That seems very strange :) What you are doing should work. The only thing I can think of that might cause a database to retroactively update itself would be if you:
Opened the current database and made some changes.
Then switched to the previous version of the database, having exactly the same name as the new one.
You've got the Automatic Restore option selected in your Backup & Restore settings. In that case, CatBase might think that you've deliberately reverted to a backup copy and automatically apply the log file to it, thus updating it with the latest amendments - because the name of the backup log file matches the name of BOTH database versions.
See the Backup & Restore Tutorial for detailed info about the automatic backup feature.
Do you rename the backup copy? Maybe name it "Data 2017" and name this year's one "Data 2018" or something like that?
HTH! (Let us know if not)
Kate
CatBase support
Our Catbase is version 7.2r24 and we run it on Mac OS 10.8.5