ConQuest Q-Series/Q-500
Manual Backups of Projects
These is done on a project level. This will Zip all elements of the Project except and Online Enquiry Sendouts or and Take Off Projects. (Zipped projects must be exported from the application correctly to be imported back in at a later date)
Tools, Zip, Current Project will create a Zip file for the Current live project
Projects, Export, will Zip any highlighted project in the Register.
Local Installation - Complete Backup
Backups of the entire ConQuest setup should be taken from time to time, and in particular after you have made changes to your library or contacts database. By far the easiest way to achieve this is to simply place a copy of your entire ConQuest application directory onto your backup device.
Before you begin make sure that Q Series is not running.
Open Windows Explorer and locate the Q Series directory. Right click on it and select Copy from the context menu. Do not select Cut…
Now navigate to your external drive and right click in the white space in the right panel of the screen. Select Paste from the context menu. This will take at least a few minutes to complete. The total time depends on the amount of material in your Q Series directory.
When the directory has finished copying right click on it (the new copy on your external drive). Select Rename from the context menu.
Change the name to something meaningful. We recommend the following:
Full Backup - Todays Date -- The Time NowAfter you have finished you may want to delete the help files contained in Q Series from your backup to save space. Double click on your backup folder, then on the Help folder it contains. You will now see a single file called HelpContent. Right click on this and select Delete from the context menu. Click the Yes button on the confirmation screen that is displayed.
If you are running a local SQL Express Database you will need to make sure you back up the Database. Either open SQLMMS and complete a backup or locate the folder (may vary from this path name slightly)
C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL14.SQLEXPRESS\MSSQL\DATA
and take a copy of the ConQuest.mdf and .ldf files and Take Off.mdf and .ldf files (if running TakeOff)
Network / Multi-User Backups
When working as part of a network or multi-user setup the ConQuest data will be stored on network locations. Backup and restore of these should be handled by your IT department but we will highlight the important things that must be backed up.
Database
ConQuest connects to a back-end SQL database which holds the contacts, Q-dims, comparisons and project information. This database will be located on a server in your network and backup/restore should be maintained by your IT. The frequency of this backup should be at least once a day. There are a number of free tools available for backing up SQL.
File Share
ConQuest stores its main project information in a number of files, this is usually on your 'Q:' drive. This drive also holds libraries, user configurations and setup files. The share will be stored on a network server and your IT should be backing it up at least once a day. You should also speak to your IT about ‘Windows Previous Versions‘ which takes regular copies of file data and allows you to look back on a number of version of it.
On Screen Take Off
Manual/ Single User Backups
You cannot export Take Off projects in the same way you can projects in Q Series. The projects and measurements you take are stored in a single database file located on your machine.
To backup this data simply have to copy the following folder and contents to your backup location.
%systemroot%\Program Files\ConQuest\On-Screen TakeOff\Shared Database
Note that should you wish to backup any documents that you have used for Take Off you will need to copy these from their original file location too.
If you are running a local SQL Express Database you will need to make sure you back up the Database. Either open SQLMMS and complete a backup or locate the folder (may vary from this path name slightly)
C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL14.SQLEXPRESS\MSSQL\DATA
and take a copy of the ConQuest.mdf and .ldf files and Take Off.mdf and .ldf files (if running TakeOff).
Network / Multi User Backups - Database
Take Off connects to a back end SQL database which holds all project, measurement and BIM information. This database will be located on a server in your network and backup/restore should be maintained by your IT. The frequency of this backup should be at least once a day. There are a number of free tools available for backing up SQL.
Drawing Files
Each project you create in Take Off will have one or more drawing files associated with it. These drawing files remain in the location it was in at the point you uploaded it into the Take Off project. For complete backup security, these files should be backed up too. It is advised to store all of these drawings on a network share that can then be backed up by your IT at least once a day. You should also speak to your IT about ‘Windows Previous Versions‘ which takes regular copies of file data and allows you to look back on a number of version of it.