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Data Location Records (DLR’s)
In this section
What is a Data Location Record? (DLR)
A Data Location Record is a unique identifier for a database location AND
the disc where it resides
Screenshot
The elements of a Data Location Record
are:
- A fully qualified Path and Folder name to the data location (or future location if first backup) of a Ideas Genie database (a backup or a new database)
A data location is simply a folder
Use the Browse button and search for a folder.
In this documentation, we refer to
the folder as the Data Location
- The Serial Number of the disc used for storing the database
No need to worry. Ideas Genie looks at your hardware and provides this information
- A short name which the user enters to describe the disc used for storing the database
Optional, and you only have to do this once
e.g. Hard disc, Flash Disk, External Disc
- A short name for the database
Default is the Folder Name
e.g. Backup 1, Backup 2, Personal, Business etc
About Data Location Records
In
Ideas Genie, database locations are rather special.
Screenshot
The system allows you to refer to a Database Location using a
short name, and refer to the device with a name you assign (My name for this disk).
The database location, with your personalised identifiers, are stored on
disk as Database Location Records.
There is another important item included in a DLR which is the prime reason for inventing this concept.
Each backup
you create is essentially another database. Ideas Genie allows you to open it AND use all the standard programs to explore it. You can also Add, edit and delete
records in the backup. Its a fully working database.
Unlike other backups, this feature gives you peace of mind that your backup is reliable.
Ideas Genie
helps you identify each and every database you create.
Complications arise when you use multiple devices to store your backups and new databases.
You can
have multiple Databases on your Hard Disc, Flash drives and External Drives.
You can also have one or more databases on Servers on a Network.
It is
permissable to use the same folder name for a Ideas Genie database on each device.
How do you know (e.g.) which Flash drive or which other device has the
very latest backup?
Ideas Genie keeps track of this using Volume Serial Numbers
Volume Serial Numbers
Fortunately, every device (including Flash Drives!) have a unique identifier known
as a Volume Serial Number
(VSN) assigned by the manufacturer. The VSN cant be changed by the user†
Ideas Genie embraces this technology gracefully.
When doing a backup
(or creating a NEW database) you as a user simply find and select a folder on any device. Ideas Genie will read and provide the Volume Serial Number of the device selected.
The Volume Serial Number is the most important item in your Database Locations Records (DLR's).
† A new The Volume
Serial Number is generated when a device is re-formatted
The primary Data Location Record
The primary (or default) DLR is the location on disk where Ideas Genie data files were saved
when you installed the software.
That record is automatically created for you.
In popups, this primary DLR is called Core data files.
You create a DLR the first time you do a backup, or create a new database.
Thereafter you can reuse the
DLR's by simply selecting them from a popup.
Keeping track of your activities
Ideas Genie keeps track of your activities using the DLR’s
Backups, Restores, Databases opened etc.
e.g. Each time you do a backup, the
following details are saved:
- date and time of backup
- the source of the data
- where the backup was saved
Ideas Genie saves this information using the Data Location Record (DLR).
Ideas Genie refers to the saved information to provide
history of your activities (backups etc)
This information is priceless when you need to do a Restore
Servers on a Network
The path for a local computer or Flash drive begins with a
drive-letter, followed by a colon
e.g. C:, F:, etc
In contrast, Network Servers may use UNC paths instead of drive letters.
A UNC path begins with \\
A UNC path looks something like this:
\\ServerName\ShareName\MyFolder\MyData\
Since each Server name on a network is unique, Ideas Genie uses the
unique part of the UNC path to determine if the Server is ready, rather than the Volume Serial Number.
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