Bank Genie
Software for Managing Bank Accounts

by Ideas for Gardens.com
User Guide - Applies to Bank Genie 4 and Bank Genie Pro 4
Last updated: 28th February 2018

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Index

Introduction

Getting Started

Setting Up

Preferences

User Guide Options

Bank Accounts

Bank Groups

Categories

Category Groups

Tags

Manage Transactions

Standing Orders

Process Standing Orders

Online & Downloads

Transaction Analyser

Net Worth

P&L Years and Groups

P&L Reports

Invoices

Password Protection

Database Protection

Quick Backups

Backups (with history)

Create a New Database

Open another database

Restore

Pack

Importing Data

Broken Transfers

Where is everything?

FAQ

Glossary

Common Controls

Index by Program Name

Acknowledgements

About us

Product support

Sponsored Links

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User Guide

Glossary - Page 5
 

Return to the Glossary Index

Folders and data
In this section

The Core Data folder
When you install Bank Genie, all the necessary DATA files are installed  in one single folder
In documentation, we refer to this folder as the Core Data folder

The core data folder is located under the User Profile.
Since this is different for every installation, Bank Genie features a special program to show you where the data has been installed on YOUR computer.
Read more: Where is everything

If you download updated data files (e.g. Help files, Language set) they must be installed in this folder. The downloads from the Bank Genie Product Support web page do this for you by default.
This ensures that files in this folder are maintained to the latest revision level and file format.
This applies even if you choose to keep your live files in ANOTHER location.

If you dont use the Open another database program to work with data in another location, then the Core Data folder contains ALL the files you need for normal operation. Proceed to read about Backing up files using Bank Genie

Other Data Folders
Bank Genie allows you to work with multiple databases (or you may prefer to call them data sets)
This feature is for advanced users. You need a good working knowledge of folders.
We have created a document for users of our software who are not confident with using Folders.
Working with folders

How to create another Bank Genie Pro database

  • Create an empty folder. This can be on local drive, external drive or Flash disk.
    Use the program Create a NEW database - BS496 to create a new (empty) database in your empty folder.

To work with this new database:-

Static files, Live data files and files with User settings
You need to understand clearly that Bank Genie is designed to continue to use a number of files in the Core data folder, even when you point to another data source.
For this reason, keep the Core data up to date with the latest downloads.
Bank Genie data files belong to three distinct groups:-

  1. Static files
    Files which are used by the system to deliver Help, User Guide links, Language translations etc.
    Bank Genie uses the Static files in your Core Data folder AT ALL TIMES.
    Thus, when you open another database the same language set selected will persist, and Help messages will be delivered from the same set of data files - those in your Core data folder.
    These files can be downloaded (and thus restored) from the Product support Website
  2. Live data files
    These contain the transaction data which you add, edit and delete in Bank Genie.
    Use the Backup programs regularly (as supplied in Bank Genie) to allow restore of all files in a disaster recovery situation.
  3. Files with User settings
    These files contain the settings you select and save as you use Bank Genie.
    e.g. Your preferences (including Font sizes, User names), your screen sizes and positions etc.
    The files which retain the information about your Data Location Records are also included in this group.
    These are explained in the section below.
    NOTE: the same preferences, screen sizes and positions will persist when you open another database

Which files are which?

  • Start the program Backup - BS491
  • Proceed through steps 1 and 2.
  • Click Step 3 - Test and continue
  • Examine the list of files included in the backup list
    The  files are identified as either Static or Live.

Backing up files using Bank Genie
Always use one of the Bank Genie programs to do a backup.
User either the program Quick Backup - BS481 or the program Backups - BS491
Advantages:

  • The programs know exactly where the data files are located.
    This eliminates the risk of backing up the wrong set of files.
  • ALL data files are backed up (ALL types as described above)
  • Database stamps are written, and the backup date and time is added to History
  • After the backup, you can open (to view and indeed to edit) the backup database at any time (use the program Open another database - BS426)

Restoring a database using Bank Genie
Always use the Bank Genie program Restore - BS493  to do a data restore, as opposed to manually copying data from a CD or other medium.
The Bank Genie programs ensures:

  • that you restore the live data
  • that you do not overwrite static files in the Core data folder
    The latest version of static files se can be downloaded
    All you have to do is click a few buttons to do a restore.
    You dont have to worry about the technicalities - its all taken care of by Bank Genie.


  • The following information is for advanced users, to explain what happens behind the scenes.
  • Restoring to the Core data folder
    When you opt to restore to the Core data folder, the restore program protects the Static files in the Core data folder, and also protects the file structures of the Live files in that folder.

    To achieve that objective, this program runs a special Import procedure (in Screen BS493S03) which copies data records to the Core data files.
    i.e. one file becomes populated with the data from another.
    Heres what happens:
    Live data files - Live data files are restored
    Static files
    Static files are not restored. They should be at the very latest level.
    If a Static file is damaged, it can be replaced by downloading the latest set of Static files from the Bank Genie Product support website.
    Files with User settings

     
  • Restoring to another folder (not the Core data folder)
    When you opt to restore to another folder, Bank Genie executes a simple file replacement process (Screen BS493S02).
    i.e. one file replaces another file.
    This is a contrasting procedure to above.

    Heres what happens:
    Live data files - Live data files are restored
    Static files
    Static files are not restored. They should be at the very latest level.
    If a Static file is damaged, it can be replaced by downloading the latest set of Static files from the Bank Genie Product support website.
    Files with User settings - Files with User Settings are not restored.
    See the section Restoring Files with User Settings

Restoring Files with User Settings
uld

To Summarise:

  • Keep the Static files in the Core database up to date with the latest downloads.
  • Every backup created with BS481 or BS491 contains ALL types of data files - 1) Static Files, 2) Live data files, and 3) Files with User Settings.
  • Static files in the Core data folder are ALWAYS used.
    They are used when you start Bank Genie.
    They continue to be used when you open another database
     

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