IMPORTANT: How To Backup Your Forecasts

Question:

I would like to backup my forecasts.

Explanation:

Currently Forecast 5 is not a cloud-based solution which means that each client is responsible for their own data. We do not have access to your data unless consciously provided.

Please ensure that you have arranged for your Forecast 5 database to be regularly backed up and stored in a safe location. Should something happen to your PC or Server, you will be able to restore the backups and recover your data.

Solution:

The are currently two ways to make copies of your Forecasts in case something happens.

Option One:

The first way is within Forecast 5 from the "Open Forecast" screen.

Select the Forecast you wish to export and click on the "Export Forecast" button

You will then be able to save the individual Forecast in a desired location.

Option Two:

The second way is to take a backup of the entire Forecast 5 database.

This is done via the Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio.

From within SQL Management Studio, connect to the server and instance (by default: (LocalDB)\MSSQLLocalDB) and locate your Forecast 5 Database, by default this is called "Forecast5v3_2015".

You can find the name of your database by seeing the login screen of Forecast 5:

Once you have found your F5 database, right click on the database and select Tasks > Backup.

You will then need to select a location to save your backup:

Click Add to define your save location.

Next select the [. . .] to browse to a location

Once you have a location and file name, Click Ok.

The backup will complete.