News and backup

The "News and Backup" batch file is a batch file on each laptop used to back up data.

Backup using the file

To back up, double-click on the "News and Backup" shortcut on your desktop.

When do Data Collectors Run this?

The shortcut is on your desktop.

• Run while connected to the network at least at the following times:
  • at every shift start before data entry (to ensure you have the newest version of the program)
  • at every shift end (to ensure your data is backed up to the server)
  • before deleting any files sent from your laptop to regional server
• Run when disconnected from the network as often as you want; this creates additional intermediate backups only on your SD card

The Main office has the opportunity to get stuff from these backups if there is a problem. Example of this is June 7.13 when new program was rolled out, postal code and color for overstay in TMP was being sent to TMPV2.mdb as "chinese type" letters. Main office was able to retrieve from regional server for site that backed up their data.Trish Ostryzniuk 17:00, 2013 June 10 (EDT

Off line mode

When not hooked up to the network the batch file will backup data to the SD Card

On-line mode

When hooked up to the network, the batch file will perform the off-line work, but also back-up the data to the regional server and copy down a new version of CCMDB.mdb if available.

Operation of the file

For the most up-to-date workings of this file see the file itself and the change log News and Backup Change Log

The "News and Backup" batch file is a batch file on each laptop which does the following:

• checks if there is a newer version of itself (technically it's the caller batch file that does this...)
• back up c:\ccmdb_data\ccmdb_data.mdb to the SD card
• back up to server w 20 versions
  • delete Regional Server\Programs\<hosp>_<ward>\ccmdb.20
  • rename ccmdb.19 to ccmdb.20, ccmdb18 to ccmdb.19, ... ccmdb.1 to ccmdb.2, ccmdb.mdb to ccmdb.1
  • copy c:\ccmdb_data\ccmdb_data.mdb to Regional Server\data\<hosp>_<ward>
• check if there is a file Regional Server\Programs\<hosp>_<ward>\ccmdb.mdb; if so,
  • move the file from the regional server to c:\ccmdb_program
  • open the wiki to Log to show what has changed

Setting up the file on a laptop

If the laptop is set up according to Laptop Setup then the batch files and shortcuts will be copied down as part of the process. The only thing to do locally would be to edit parameters for location.

Master file location

If not already done during Laptop Setup, copy from master file location

• Regional Server\maintenance\laptop batches\* --> c:\batches

Edit parameters for location

To edit a batch file, right-click and edit the file. Don't double-click because that would RUN the file

batstart.bat contains lines that serve as parameters for the file to work in different locations. For the most part, all possible entries are present in the file, with the ones not applicable for a location "commented out". To comment out a line, put a ":" (without the quotes) in front of the line you don't want to run.

• edit parameters - only the "Location Specific Parameters" section of c:\batches\batstart.bat

if the shortcut is missing...

see All shortcuts fixer.bat

Testing News and Backup

After initial setup test that the backup works:

• make some change in ccmdb.mdb to update date stamp of file on the client laptop
• execute the News and Backup batch file to perform the process
• check that ccmdb.mdb file with new stamp is on sd card
• check that ccmdb.mdb file with new stamp is on Regional Server/data/<hsp>_<ward>

Information about the batch files

A two-file system is used to allow batstart.bat to actually look for a new backup.bat on regional server\programs\<location> before each run, allowing a central update of that file if necessary. This allows for centralized updating/tweaking/etc of the laptops.

Batstart.bat uses Robocopy, sort of an improved version of xcopy, which is available from Microsoft as part of one of their Server SDKs.

Updating the file

BatStart.bat looks on an update to backup.bat in regional server\programs\<location>; that file will replace the local one.

Make sure News and Backup Change Log is updated with any changes.

I will need to test that the update still works since we had to cheat the system to get the new regional server hooked in. Ttenbergen 18:23, 2013 March 21 (EDT) Template:Discussion

• Is this fixed now?-Trish Ostryzniuk 16:55, 2013 June 10 (EDT)
  • I am confirming that as I visit laptops. Oaks, Grace and Vic for sure use the new file now. This will make no difference unless I need to roll out a change to news and backup, which is rare. Because I am aware of that, it is OK to fix these as we come across them. Ttenbergen 11:06, 2013 June 12 (EDT)
    • still confirming further locations... Ttenbergen 15:02, 2013 June 24 (EDT)

Error checking

• How does the Data Collector know if running News & Backup has successfully backed up the data on the Regional Server? We have been told that our backup has not worked since April, but no blatant error messages have occurred at any time to indicate a problem. We even have new laptops that were installed mid May, yet no backups are on the server.
  • There is no built-in error checking. Generally these files either work or they don't. What has gone wrong with the backups in the problem locations is that we set up new laptops and missed a step. I will change the file so that the thing we missed will raise an error if we miss it again. Will update here when done. Ttenbergen 11:09, 2013 June 12 (EDT)
    • to prevent any similar issues in the future would it be an idea for someone at your end to doublecheck each week/month or whatever time frame is reasonable to use, to make sure some data has in fact been backed up from each site/laptop on the Regional Server?
      • There is a program in ADMIN folder on the Regional Server called: Backup_Checker.vbs. Anyone can run it and see when the last backup was done for each Hosp_location.

1. July 16.13 - Change Priorities Dawna, Gra MICU, is having trouble with the news & backup for the ICU laptop. The error message that comes up each time is that a duplicate file name exists or the file cannot be found. I believe she emailed a screenshot of the message to you yesterday but it is still happening. After the error message repeats multiple times, it claims to be starting the backup to the SD card but then it stalls and goes no further. Is there a quick fix for this? Thanks-stephanie Cortilet.