Minimizing chance of corrupting a database that is copied between2 macs?

M

Mike

I use Entourage on both my home and work computers and copy my database
file back-and-forth to keep my macs synchronized. I have read that there
is a chance that the database could become corrupt as a result of doing
this.

What steps can I take to minimize the chance of corrupting my database
when doing this?

Thanks!!!
 
B

Barry Wainwright [MVP]

I use Entourage on both my home and work computers and copy my database
file back-and-forth to keep my macs synchronized. I have read that there
is a chance that the database could become corrupt as a result of doing
this.

What steps can I take to minimize the chance of corrupting my database
when doing this?

Thanks!!!
Click to expand...

Quit the database daemon before copying. This will ensure that all write
buffers are flushed and the database matches its intended state.

How to do that?

1. turn off office notifications and then quit ALL office apps (including
Word, Excel, PowerPoint & Messenger)

Or

2. run the one line AppleScript:
tell app "Microsoft database daemon" to quit

save this script as a compiled script in the system script menu so it is
accessible from anywhere in the system, whether or not entourage is running.

Or

3. open the 'Activity Monitor' application, find the Database Daemon
process and click on the 'quit' button (not 'force quit -0 that may not
flush the buffers before closing the app)
 
M

Mike

Hi Barry,

From the Activity Monitor I see a Process Name of Entourage.

1. Do I just select this and choose to Quit Process before I copy the
database?

2. Do I need to do anything to start it back up on the mac that I
stopped it on or the mac that it will be copied to?

Thank you.
 
B

Barry Wainwright [MVP]

No, you are looking for a process called "Database Daemon" or, in some older
version of Office, "Microsoft Database Daemon".

Then, you select that and choose 'quit process', but first you MUST quit
other office apps or they are likely to freeze when the daemon stops
running.


--
Barry Wainwright
Microsoft MVP (see http://mvp.support.microsoft.com for details)
The Entourage User's WebLog has moved!
For hints, tips and troubleshooting go to <http://www.barryw.net/weblog/>
 
M

Mike

1.) Ok, I see the "Database Daemon." Do I also need to quit the
"Entourage" process (on a separate line in activity monitor)?

2.) do I need to do anything to start it back up? Or does this happen
automatically on launch?

Thanks!!!!
 
B

Barry Wainwright [MVP]

1.) Ok, I see the "Database Daemon." Do I also need to quit the
"Entourage" process (on a separate line in activity monitor)?
Click to expand...

Yes, but you can quit entourage the normal way, from within the application.
You must do this before you quit the daemon.
2.) do I need to do anything to start it back up? Or does this happen
automatically on launch?
Click to expand...

It will start up automatically when you start any office application (or, if
you have notifications turned on, when you log in)
Thanks!!!!
Click to expand...

You're welcome :)
 
M

Mick

I just did this, however, after quitting Entourage and stopping the
Database Daemon, I am unable to reopen Entourage. When I click on the
icon in my dock, it bounces up, though it never launches. Entourage is
not shown as a "Process Name" in my Activity Monitor.

Any ideas?

Thanks!!!
 
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