How to backup Collanos for re-install on same PC?

[takabanana]

I need to wipe-off and reinstall Windows and don't want to lose any of the Collanos data.

How can I backup and restore the Collanos data (shared Workspace files, discussions, links, etc as well as Collanos application settings)?  Where is the data located and what is the best/right way to backup and restore the data and settings?

Thanks.

[Alexander.Onishko]

Dear Takabanana,

To transfer data you may use Collanos backup feature.

Please do the following:

Before you uninstall Collanos:
----------------------------------------

1. Go to Tools -> Collanos Workplace -> Workplace Data
2. Choose the action "Backup Workplace data to a location I select"
3. Select Location (you should create a special folder for this)
4. Click "Apply"
----------------------------------------

When you reinstall Collanos:
----------------------------------------

5. Log in with your old user name
6. Go to Tools-> Collanos Workplace -> Workplace Data
7. Choose the action "Restore Workplace data from an existing backup"
8. Select Location
9. Click "Apply"
----------------------------------------

[looplab]

If you do that.. all the invitations and shared workspace will be back again or you will need to re-invite ppl?

[Alexander.Onishko]

Normally you will have all workspaces and invitations in place unless something goes wrong.

[VirtualAd3pts]

Regarding this procedure; I performed it a week ago as I migrated from Windows 7 RC to Windows 7 RTM. I choose to do a backup/wipe/reload instead of upgrading. When I restored the data, everything worked correctly. When I disconnected my USB Backup drive, Collanos went crazy and lost all of the data. I discovered that Collanos simply looked at the data on the external USB drive and did not import it back to its local storage on drive C: I was able to manually fix it; by copying all of the data to the C:\Users\<my name>\AppData\Collanosworksplace Here I made a folder called "Data" copied all the content there. I then edited the configuration ini file and told it to look here instead.

I'm wondering what went wrong. I'm positive I went to "Backup Data" within Collanos, then followed up with Restore. Was this a simple glitch or perhaps a windows error?

The program is a wonderful alternative to MS Groove; other than a few instances such above I think it is a great program.

[hannesd]

The restore feature just changes the directory path, it does not copy the workspace data!

I don't use the backup feature at all. I just copy the workspace data to the new PC, then I start Callanos.
If you start Collanos first, it creates a new empty workspace with a new identifier. This identifier is stored in the user database and can not be changed. As a result you have inconsistent ID error and must create a new empty workspace and be uninvited and reinvited into all workspaces.

[looplab]

Please hannesd, can you wirte down step by step what you do ?

[hannesd]

It as Alexander.Onishko described:

Before you uninstall Collanos:
----------------------------------------

1. Go to Tools -> Collanos Workplace -> Workplace Data
2. Choose the action "Backup Workplace data to a location I select"
3. Select Location (you should create a special folder for this)
4. Click "Apply"
----------------------------------------

When you reinstall Collanos:
----------------------------------------

5a. Copy the data to the destination directory on the local drive where you want to have the collanos data.
5b. Log in with your old user name
6. Go to Tools-> Collanos Workplace -> Workplace Data
7. Choose the action "Restore Workplace data from an existing backup"
8. Select Location
9. Click "Apply"

I for myself have created a test user and installed collanos in a virtual machine to try things. It saved my life.