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Question
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Time Machine is excluding the database file in Time Machine backup of the 2011 Identity

DeniseKetcham asked on
I recently had an issue with Outlook crashing and having to rebuild the database.  After the rebuild was unsuccessful I remember my time machine backup that goes about every hour. I tried to use the Microsoft User Data from my Time Machine but I discovered that it lacks the database file that is included in your identity folder:


This is how it looks on my hard drive:


I have nothing excluded from my Time Machine backup so I am not sure why it excludes this file. I have been backup manually ever since the crash but I wish I didn't have to think about and let Time Machine do the work.  I am running 10.8.5 on a Macbook Pro and I have the latest update for Office 2011. Any ideas?
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The answered status icon Answer

I believe it's by choice that the database file is not being backed-up. It has a flag that tells Time Machine not to back it up.
Restoring the identity therefore triggers a complete and deep rebuild that, in theory, ensures having a restore database in a good state.
Now the problem is that the rebuilding operation sometimes fails… which probably had not been anticipated by whoever came out with this scheme :-\


          Corentin

MVPs do *not* work for MS
Les MVP ne *travaillent pas* pour MS
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The answered status icon Answer
dianeoforegon replied on
Time Machine does not backup the database file. As a result you have to rebuild and rebuild often fails.

If you clone your drive, it does backup the database file. The downside to this is you only have the previous copy Identity. If an Identity is badly damaged, you might need an earlier Identity to restore. I like SuperDuper for clone. CCC is another popular clone software. Both are free for direct erase and clone but for scheduled backups, you need to purchase. CCC has ads if you want to use it as free. 
SuperDuper! — $27.95 http://www.shirt-pocket.com/

You can rebuild a Time Machine backup using the method described here. It requires 14.1.0 and lots of free disk space. Outlook rebuild results in folders named Recovered this works on all types of corruption issues and has never failed me when I rebuild Identities for my clients.

Happy Holidays!
www.officeformachelp.com/
www.needhelp4mac.com/services/
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Joe's answer replied on

Refer the link for more information on how to backup Outlook data using Time Machine.

 

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/mac-outlook-help/automatically-archive-or-back-up-outlook-items-HA102928254.aspx?CTT=5&origin=HA102928236

 

You may also refer to Diane's post which talks about the same.

 

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The answered status icon Answer
dianeoforegon replied on
Time Machine does not backup the database file. As a result you have to rebuild and rebuild often fails.

If you clone your drive, it does backup the database file. The downside to this is you only have the previous copy Identity. If an Identity is badly damaged, you might need an earlier Identity to restore. I like SuperDuper for clone. CCC is another popular clone software. Both are free for direct erase and clone but for scheduled backups, you need to purchase. CCC has ads if you want to use it as free. 
SuperDuper! — $27.95 http://www.shirt-pocket.com/

You can rebuild a Time Machine backup using the method described here. It requires 14.1.0 and lots of free disk space. Outlook rebuild results in folders named Recovered this works on all types of corruption issues and has never failed me when I rebuild Identities for my clients.

Happy Holidays!
www.officeformachelp.com/
www.needhelp4mac.com/services/
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DeniseKetcham replied on

Thanks Diane for the information. That is what I thought but I wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something. I have been doing a manual backup at the end of the day to an external drive. I have used CCC and SuperDuper so maybe I will re-visit those.

Thanks again!
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The answered status icon Answer

I believe it's by choice that the database file is not being backed-up. It has a flag that tells Time Machine not to back it up.
Restoring the identity therefore triggers a complete and deep rebuild that, in theory, ensures having a restore database in a good state.
Now the problem is that the rebuilding operation sometimes fails… which probably had not been anticipated by whoever came out with this scheme :-\


          Corentin

MVPs do *not* work for MS
Les MVP ne *travaillent pas* pour MS
1 person found this helpful

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