Backups, updates and moving PC

#Where your data is

Everything is in the _system\data folder inside the app's folder. The installer hides _system to keep things tidy; in File Explorer, turn on View, Show, Hidden items to see it. Open Data Folder in the Control Panel opens it for you.

Downloaded PDFs are also kept in the app's Saved Invoices folder, one folder per client.

#Automatic daily backups

Every day the app copies all your data into a dated backup, and keeps the last 30 days. They are listed in Settings, Backup Management:

• Backup now makes one straight away.
• Restore puts all your data back as it was on that day. It saves what you have now first, so you can go back if it looks wrong. Reload the page afterwards.
• Delete removes one backup to free space.

#Keeping a copy somewhere else

• One click: Create Backup in the Control Panel, or Back up my data in the launcher under More options, saves a ZIP in Documents\FreeGSTBill Backups. Copy it to a pen drive or cloud storage.
• One file you choose: see Export everything to one file.
• Google Drive: see Google Drive.

#Export everything to one file

In Settings, Data Management, Export Backup… lets you tick what to include; everything is ticked to start:

active business profile, all business profiles, invoices, clients, products, expenses, purchase bills, recurring invoices, receipts, terms templates, app settings, and local preferences such as custom units and theme.

Download Backup saves bahikhata-backup-date.json. Tick Also save a copy to my Google Drive if you have connected Drive.

Import Backup… reads a backup file and shows what is in it, with a count for each part, before anything changes. Tick the parts to restore and click Restore selected. Records in the file replace the matching records in the app; anything you did not tick is left alone. Export your current data first, just in case.

#Trash

Invoices deleted from a client's account on the Clients screen go to the trash for 30 days. In Settings, Backup Management, Restore brings one back, and Delete forever removes it and its PDF for good.

#Moving to a new computer

1. On the old computerClick Export for Move in the Control Panel, or Move to another PC in the launcher under More options. It saves your data and settings as one ZIP on your Desktop. Copy it to a pen drive or cloud storage.
2. On the new computerInstall the app as usual.
3. Bring your data inIn the new Control Panel, click Choose Backup ZIP under Restore Backup and pick the file.

You can use an exported backup file instead: export on the old computer, and import it in Settings on the new one.

#Updating

Any of these installs the newest version:

• The Update to v… button that appears in the sidebar when a new version is out. It shows what changed, with Update Now, Remind me later and Skip this version.
• Update Now in Settings, App Updates.
• Update Now in the Control Panel.
• In the launcher, More options, then Update to the latest version.

Every update first saves a backup of your data in Documents\FreeGSTBill Backups, then replaces the app. It never touches your data folder or your saved PDFs. It takes about a minute; reload the page when it finishes.

To update by hand instead: download the ZIP, stop the app, extract the ZIP over your app folder replacing the files, and open the launcher again.

If you extract a new ZIP into a different folder by mistake, its launcher does not install a second copy. It shows Already installed on this computer, with the folder, version and number of invoices, and offers Update the installed copy and Open the installed copy. The update uses the files in the folder you extracted, so it needs no download and works without internet; your invoices, saved PDFs and trash stay as they are. The new folder can then be deleted.

Updating also removes files that older versions left behind, such as launchers under their old names, once their replacements are in place. Your data, backups and Node.js are never touched.