Backing Up LifeJournal Filesby Ruth Folit
written November 16, 2006
Every so
often--actually too often--we receive an e-mail from customers who tell us that
their hard drives crashed and that they hadn't backed up their LifeJournal
files. They frequently tell me that they they've learned their lesson and that
they are going to back up from now on! Here's a heads up so you can avoid this
fate.
First,
let's review the way LifeJournal backs up data automatically. Every time you
close the program there is an automatic backup that occurs in the same
directory as your original LJ files. Your data files are saved (by default)
C:\My Documents\LifeJournal\[YourName].
Nested within that directory is your backup directory called C:\My
Documents\LifeJournal\[YourName]\Backup.
Please don't move these files--I'm just giving you background
information. We have this automatic backup to give you another chance to save
your files in case of hard drive difficulties.
However, we
STRONGLY recommend that you back up to a removable media--most easily to a USB
Flash drive. USB flash drives are small
storage hardware that some people call key chain drives, thumb drives, or
memory sticks. They are relatively inexpensive and you can buy one for under
$20.
Here's how
to back up your LifeJournal files (LifeJournal2, LJ for Writers, LJ for
Educators, Christian LifeJournal and LifeJournal for Staying Sober) to a USB Flash Drive:
- Insert the USB flash drive into
the USB port of your computer.
- Open your LifeJournal program
and go to File menu>Back up Journal Data and a dialog box appears.
- Click the Browse button and
browse to your USB flash drive.
Click OK.
The files
that you should find on your USB flash drive are [YourName].ljd and [YourName].lja.
If you click on these files to open them directly, they won't open. These files are encrypted so that (1) you
can't open them without the LifeJournal program, and (2) you need the password.
If you want
to check that you have successfully backed up the files, compare the file sizes
of the [YourName].ljd and [YourName].lja on your computer and on the USB flash
drives.
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