User Guide
Open another database - Program GA626
 

Starting the program
On the Main Menu, click the File tab then click:
Open another database - GA626
The initial screen GA626S01 looks like this:
Screenshot

In this section

• About the program
• Opening another database
• Next time you use this program
• A backup is just another database
• Protecting a database
• Make this my START UP folder
• HELP! Ive lost my external drive with my START UP database
• Static files

About the program
This program allows you to open any Ideas Genie Pro database.
The database may have been created using the Create New Database program (GA696) or the Backup program (GA681)
Once opened, the database can be used as normal using all the programs in Ideas Genie.

Opening another database

1. Open a known database
   Use the Select a Known Database popup to select a database known to the computer.
   
   -OR-
    
2. Open a database not known to the computer
   If you have transported a database from another computer using an external drive then click the Find a New database button.
   Screen GA626S03 appears
   Screenshot
   Click the Get a folder button.
   Locate and select a folder containing a Ideas Genie database
   Complete and Add the new Data Location Record
   The initial screen GA626S01 reappears
   The new Data Location record is now shown and automatically selected in the Select a Known Database popup

When a database has been selected, click the Step 2 - Open button
When opened, the database can be used as normal using all the programs in Ideas Genie.

Next time you use this program
When you open this program, the Select a Known Database popup automatically selects the most recently opened database.
Simply click Step 2-Open to re-open the database

A backup is just another database
When you do a backup using either of the Backup programs, the backup you create is fully usable with Ideas Genie. Open your backup database as described above and view as normal.
This is also useful if you need to restore a database. It also gives you peace of mind that you have a secure backup.

Protecting a database
Observe the Protect this database against overwrite check box when using this program
Screenshot
The current Database Protection status is shown when you make a selection in the pop-up.
You can change the setting. The new setting is not saved until you click the Step 2-Open button

Database Protection can be reset at any time using the program Set Database Protection - GA604

Make this my START UP folder
This check box only appears if Advanced User is checked in the program Preferences - GA698.
Screenshot
To make this apply to a database - Check the checkbox Make this my START UP folder , then click the Step 2-Open button to open the database AND save the new setting.
Next time you start Ideas Genie, this database will be opened.

WARNING: Use this option with caution, particularly if the database to open on Start up is on an external drive!

HELP! Ive lost my external drive with my START UP database
Ideas Genie has been programmed to deal with the problem when the Start Up database cannot be opened for any reason (in the event where a Start Up database is on an external drive)
A series of error messages will appear as you start Ideas Genie with the required database missing.
See this Screenshot
Simple click OK to each message.
Ideas Genie will open the Core database in this eventuality.

You can then exit Ideas Genie and connect the device with the database to be opened.

If the device with the database is lost, do this:

1. The Core database is currently open. Do not close Ideas Genie during these recovery steps
   Use this program (GA626) to Open another database (say a backup)
   If you don’t have a backup, use one of the backup programs to create a backup
2. A Backup (say) is now open
   Start this program (GA626) again
3. The Core Database will be selected (if not, select it)
4. Check the checkbox Make this my START UP folder
   Remember: Preferences (GA698) must be set to Advanced User to make this checkbox visible
5. Click Step 2- Open to open the CORE database
   Ideas Genie will save the new settings and will revert to looking for the Core database each time it starts up

Static files
When you open another database, Ideas Genie continues to use a number of common files in the Core Database (the database created at start up)

A simple example is the files used to store your user preferences.
By using the user preferences settings (Font, Fontsize etc) in the core database your preferences are unchanged as you open other databases.
The static files can be seen when doing a backup using GA681
Screenshot