Previously, I explained how to "Time Machine" your Identity. Guy, one of the commenters, pointed out a way to easily add your Identity to your Time Machine backup without the hourly/daily additions.
The previous tutorial could be used by Tiger and Leopard users, but this is Leopard only.
- Exclude the Microsoft User Data folder in the Time Machine options, which will stop it backing up every hour.
- Create an "Entourage Backup" folder - which is not excluded. It's OK to use your Documents folder for this.
- Create a timed action. See tutorial but start with Step 3, which will copy the entire Entourage database to the backup folder, at the interval required - every day, every week, or whatever. This should overwrite the previous backup each time, as Time Machine has taken care of duplicating the last copy.
Thanks Guy for a great tip!
Comments (9)
Posted on February 10, 2008 11:56
TonyL:Start with step 3 with the alternative do you also mean end in step 3.
Posted by TonyL | February 10, 2008 11:56 AM
Posted on February 10, 2008 16:39
dianerHi Tony, No, you start with step 3. No need to use the folder action to use this method to backup your database to Time Machine. You do need to copy it to another folder so you only get it backed up once a day.
Posted by dianer
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February 10, 2008 4:39 PM
Posted on March 27, 2008 09:40
Karen:Hi: I just got a Mac and after using it for about a week I woke up one morning and everything in Entourage was gone. I was able to restore my info via Time Machine. I've since learned how to exclude Entourage from the Time Machine backup and it seems to be working. I decided to try the alternative method you suggested. I found a folder called Main Identity, is that the right one to add? Actually I had 3 Main Identity folders, is that bad? I'm very new to all of this and don't understand a lot but am trying my best to learn. Please help!!
Posted by Karen | March 27, 2008 9:40 AM
Posted on April 6, 2008 20:40
dianerYou need to add the entire Office 2008 Identities folder.
You can have multiple Identities in the Office 2008 Identities folder, but they all must have different names. Do the names have a number added after Main? The Finder requires all files have different names in the same folder.
Posted by dianer
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April 6, 2008 8:40 PM
Posted on May 6, 2008 00:27
Robin:One of the things that puzzles me is that an earlier Microsoft article states that aside from the size issues, one of the reasons Time Machine can't back the Entourage Database up properly is that the Microsoft Database Daemon holds the file open, and that any backup obtained would be corrupt as a result.
If that's the case then surely the same would be true when simply copy/pasting the file to another folder, or using an automated script? The copy wouldn't be able to lock the file and the copy would then be corrupt in some way?
Does taking Entourage 'offline' get around this, or does the daemon still hold the file open even then?
Posted by Robin | May 6, 2008 12:27 AM
Posted on May 6, 2008 00:47
Diane RossTime Machine backs up hourly. There is no way to put Entourage into an "offline" state hourly. When you use a script or copy, you select a time that Entourage is not in use. For example, at the end of the day, I put Entourage "offline". My backup script runs at 3AM.
If you were to use the alternative Time Machine method, It is copying a database that is not in use so it's can't be corrupted.
Posted by Diane Ross
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May 6, 2008 12:47 AM
Posted on May 6, 2008 01:11
Robin:Ah, my confusion stems from a statement made in the original article at http://blog.entourage.mvps.org/2008/03/microsoft_ditch_the_entourage_database.html which says:
"The Microsoft Database Daemon is constantly using the Entourage Database so that it can remind you of events, create Spotlight caches for searching and monitor the health of the Database itself. Even if Entourage is not running, the daemon is still using it.
If Time Machine or any other backup utility were to copy the Database file while it’s in use then the backup would be corrupted (although your original is still just fine)."
This implies that even if Entourage is shut down, this Microsoft Database Daemon is still active, holding the Entourage database open, and that any attempt to copy the database file would result in a corrupt copy. The only solution then would be to close Entourage AND kill the Microsoft Database Daemon process before running a copy.
I just checked on my Mac (Office 2008 on Leopard 10.5.2) and even though Entourage isn't running, the Daemon is.
Sorry if I've missed the point completely =;-)
Posted by Robin | May 6, 2008 1:11 AM
Posted on May 9, 2008 15:28
Diane RossIn the alternative method, you are backing up a copy of Entourage. The daemon cannot keep this copy open. It's only the database in your Microsoft User Data folder that the daemon can control.
Does this help?
Posted by Diane Ross
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May 9, 2008 3:28 PM
Posted on May 15, 2008 12:00
Matthew YoheDiane,
I think you might be missing what Robin is saying.
The main issue with Time Machine and the Entourage database isn't because it is backed up every hour filling up hard drives, but because the database daemon is running at all times and could do some garbage collection during a copy and end up corrupting your copy.
While this seems to be a helpful tip, at this point, I wouldn't trust the backups it creates. And the likelihood of a backup being corrupted is directly proportional to the size of your database. As the database increases, the amount of time the system requires to copy that file increases, thus more time is allowed for the daemon to corrupt things.
Honestly, I still have yet to find a well tested solution.
Posted by Matthew Yohe
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May 15, 2008 12:00 PM