usurper_ii
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Backup Quickbook data to a web site via FTP
This is somewhat of a two-part question, although the important part is the FTP question.
I want to backup QuickBooks data to a web site (or most likely a passworded sub-folder of the web site).
Can anyone recommend an FTP program where I could put an icon on a desktop, have someone click it, and that program automatically ftp the program from the computer to the web site? (Or another very, very easy way, as the person having to do the backup is not very computer literate at all).
And related to the above, is there any difference between the QuickBooks data file that you work on, and the file created when you go to QuickBooks's menu and click on "back up company."
On the second part, based on my experience, I say it is the same file, but someone else is trying to tell me the files are actually different. And it also matters as to where the FTP program will get the data to transfer and the number of steps the person doing the backup will have to go through.
Thanks,
Jay Banks
I want to backup QuickBooks data to a web site (or most likely a passworded sub-folder of the web site).
Can anyone recommend an FTP program where I could put an icon on a desktop, have someone click it, and that program automatically ftp the program from the computer to the web site? (Or another very, very easy way, as the person having to do the backup is not very computer literate at all).
And related to the above, is there any difference between the QuickBooks data file that you work on, and the file created when you go to QuickBooks's menu and click on "back up company."
On the second part, based on my experience, I say it is the same file, but someone else is trying to tell me the files are actually different. And it also matters as to where the FTP program will get the data to transfer and the number of steps the person doing the backup will have to go through.
Thanks,
Jay Banks
I'm not sure the difference between files, but I see problem in backing up either via FTP.
Now, keep in mind that FTP is an UNENCRYPTED protocol and though unlikely, it would be possible for someone to steal the file by sniffing the line. I would strongly recommend compressing the file with a good encryption/compression program. At the least, zip it with a password.
Then for the FTP part, you can just write a script and ftp the file with that. And why make the user do it - setup a scheduled task so it happens automatically. The built in FTP program is easily scriptable.
Now, keep in mind that FTP is an UNENCRYPTED protocol and though unlikely, it would be possible for someone to steal the file by sniffing the line. I would strongly recommend compressing the file with a good encryption/compression program. At the least, zip it with a password.
Then for the FTP part, you can just write a script and ftp the file with that. And why make the user do it - setup a scheduled task so it happens automatically. The built in FTP program is easily scriptable.
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I don't know if it is just me or what, but the first few times I ran this, it acted kind of flaky. The main thing I noticed is that it doesn't seem to log all of the things the script file is telling it to log in the log file.
That being said, however, I did manage to adapt it to a registered version of WinZip with the command line add-on that supports both password protected zip files and encryption from the command line.
Right now, I have the gbmail part commented out, but I downloaded gbmail and will play with that part later.
So far, even though I had to put a lot of time into getting it to work the way I wanted, it does seem to do what I asked for...and I can already think of useful things I can do with this script.
So I must say *thanks* for the help and I will accept your answer.
As a side note, many years ago, back when I used to have a WildCat BBS, I used to have a batch file that could zip files up by date. I lost the script over the years and never could figure out how I did it. I have been doing it now with a little DOS program I found somewhere. I'm happy to have my hands back on script that will do it straight from a batch file without having to call on another program.
Usurper_ii
That being said, however, I did manage to adapt it to a registered version of WinZip with the command line add-on that supports both password protected zip files and encryption from the command line.
Right now, I have the gbmail part commented out, but I downloaded gbmail and will play with that part later.
So far, even though I had to put a lot of time into getting it to work the way I wanted, it does seem to do what I asked for...and I can already think of useful things I can do with this script.
So I must say *thanks* for the help and I will accept your answer.
As a side note, many years ago, back when I used to have a WildCat BBS, I used to have a batch file that could zip files up by date. I lost the script over the years and never could figure out how I did it. I have been doing it now with a little DOS program I found somewhere. I'm happy to have my hands back on script that will do it straight from a batch file without having to call on another program.
Usurper_ii
ASKER
automatically ftp the program from the computer to the web site?
That part should actually read:
automatically ftp the QuickBooks data file from the computer to the web site?
Sorry.
Usurper_ii