Copyright: (c) 2000-2002, Timberline Software Corporation. All rights reserved.


Tsftools Project Notes

Modular Project information

This subsidiary modular project is included in the index and contents of PEWin all editions, PEWin Viewer, and PTWin. It is also included in the index and contents of many accounting and management Help projects. Changes to this file must be compatible with both accounting and management products and estimating products guidelines. Refer to Estimating Pubs Help for details on compiling this project.

External Topics

There are external links to this project from other Help projects. Please notify the estimating products writers of any changes to the topic listed below.

Topic ID	Linked to External topic
9870_0	Projects: PEWin, PEWin (Viewer), PTWin Topic: File Tools command
Editions

This help project is part of several versions of help for PEWin and must be translated as indicated below. Refer to the Estimating Pubs home page for details about translation.

ENU - Yes

ENG - Yes

ESM - Yes


Overview

File Tools allows you to perform selected operations on Timberline data files. You can apply full security to the File Tools utilities just as you can to any other Timberline application that accesses sensitive data files. The Backup and Restore operations in File Tools use the industry standard ZIP archive technology to compress and uncompress files.

While File Tools can adequately back up and restore portions of your database, you should establish a regular full-backup procedure to protect your entire database in case of computer failure. There are many third-party backup products on the market that can copy your files to external media, such as magnetic tapes or zip disks.


File Tools

Use to back up, restore, copy, delete, move, or rename Timberline data files.


File Tools operations

Use these operations to back up, restore, copy, delete, move, or rename Timberline data files. Each operation uses the same window but with a different set of steps based on the task being performed.

To start File Tools:

•	In accounting and management products, select File Tools from the Tools menu.

•	In estimating products, select File Tools from the File menu.

Click any button below to learn how to use a File Tools operation.

 Selection

 Back up

 Restore

 Copy

 Delete

 Move

 Rename

 Progress

 Finish

Warning

•	Do not use Windows Explorer to manage individual Timberline files. Because of Timberline's Pervasive.SQL database structure, you must use File Tools to manage individual Timberline files.

You can use Windows Explorer or third-party backup software, but only if you manipulate entire data folders (no manipulation of individual files).

File Tools requirements

File Tools instructions for Inventory, Purchasing, and Service Management


Selecting a File Tools operation

  1	In the list box at the right of the File Tools window, click the operation to be performed.

  2	Click [Next>].

Related Topics


Backing up files

For your primary backup method, use third-party software to regularly back up all files to external media. For example, make nightly backups to a tape drive.

If you need an immediate backup and third-party software is not available, use File Tools, but make sure that you meet the File Tools requirements. If you use Inventory, Purchasing, or Service Management, please review special instructions.

Follow these instructions to back up files with File Tools:

  1	Use the Look In: box to select the folder that contains the files to back up.
 How?

  2	In the list of files eligible for backup, select one or more files to back up.
 How?

  3	Click [Next>]. This displays the second window of the backup operation.

  4	Use the Destination: box to select the location of the backup file and its name.
 How?

  5	Enter a comment of your choice in the Description: box. The comment is attached to the backup zip file and is displayed if you restore this backup.

  6	Click [Next>] to advance to the Progress window.

Notes

•	If you click [Cancel] before you click [Next>] in step 6, the operation will stop and File Tools  will close. Results of any previous operations already successfully completed will remain in effect.

•	If there is a TS.ctl file in the folder that you select in step 1, it may be included automatically in the backup depending on the type of files that you back up. The log file will indicate whether TS.ctl was added to the zip file.

Related Topics


File Tools requirements

In Windows Explorer, you must show file extensions for known file types. If you hide file extensions for known file types, File Tools does not recognize the files with hidden extensions. This results in an incomplete File Tools operation, such as an incomplete backup. You cannot rely on File Tools if you hide file extensions.

To show file extensions for known file types, follow these steps:

  1	Start Windows Explorer.

  2	From the Tools menu, select Folder Options.

  3	Click the View tab.

  4	Clear the Hide file extensions for known file types check box.

Note

•	You must show file extensions on all workstations and servers that use File Tools.

File Tools operations

File Tools instructions for Inventory, Purchasing, and Service Management


File Tools instructions for Inventory, Purchasing, and Service Management

Please follow these instructions when you use File Tools with Inventory, Purchasing, and Service Management.

•	To perform file tools operations on Inventory or Purchasing files, be sure to start File Tools from Inventory or Purchasing. These applications use a different version of File Tools from the one in TS-Main.

•	To perform File Tools operations on Service Management files, start File Tools from TS-Main or another accounting application. You cannot start File Tools from Service Management.

•	Your Service Management data may be in a subfolder of one of Timberline's data folders. In a File Tools window that has a Select Files box, be sure to browse to your service management data folder, double-click the folder, and then select files.

File Tools operations

File Tools requirements


Selecting folders for backing up files

Use one or more of the following procedures to select the folder whose files are to be backed up by File Tools:

•	In the list box below the Look in: box, double-click the drive or folder under which the files to be backed up are located. If the files are more than one level down, continue double-clicking the "parent" folder(s) until you reach the source folder that contains the files.

•	Use the down arrow (wedge) at the right edge of the Look In: box to open a list of available drives and folders. You can then navigate to a higher folder on the same drive or change the search to another drive by clicking on the applicable drive or folder.

•	You can navigate one level upward by clicking [image] at the right of the Look In: box.

Notes

•	If you click [Cancel] before clicking [Next>] in step 6, this operation will cancel and the File Tools command will end. Results of any previous operations already successfully completed will remain in effect.

•	In accounting and management products, if there is a TS-CTL file in the folder selected in step 1, it may be included automatically in the backup depending on the type of files being backed up. The log file will indicate whether TS.CTL was added to the zip file.


Selecting files for backup

Use one or more of the following procedures to select the files to be backed up by File Tools:

•	In the list box below the Look in: box, highlight each data file to be backed up. Be sure to hold down the [Ctrl] key to select additional files after the first. To highlight a file, click its name. To remove the highlight, click it again.

•	To highlight all listed files, click [All]. To remove all highlights, click [None].

•	To select a range, highlight the first file, then hold down [Shift] and click the last file in the range.


Selecting backup location

Use either or both of the following procedures to select the destination for the files being backed up:

•	Enter the drive, path, and zip file name for the files being backed up in the Destination: box. A ".tszip" suffix is provided automatically if you omit the suffix.

•	You can click [Browse] to help find an appropriate location and zip file name. After finding or entering the file name in the File name: box, click [Open] to accept the name.

Note

•	If you select a location that already contains a backup file with the same name as the new zip file, a warning will be issued. You must select a different location or name to continue the backup procedure.


Restoring files

Use this File Tools operation to restore selected Timberline data files from backup. The Restore operation uses the industry standard ZIP archive technology (not to be confused with WinZip) to uncompress files.

  1	Use the Source: box to select the folder and zip file that contains the files to be restored.
 How?

  2	Click [Next>]. This displays the second window of the Restore operation.

  3	In the list of files eligible for restoring, select one or more files to be restored.
 How?

  4	In the Destination Folder box, enter the target location for the restored files
 How?

  5	Click [Next>] to advance to the Progress window. If any of the files being restored already exist in the destination folder, a warning will display for each one. Click one of the following options for each warning:
[Yes]--Overwrite this file whose name is shown in the warning.
[Yes to All]--Overwrite this file and any additional files that already exist and have duplicate names of those being restored.
[No]--Do not overwrite; remove this file's highlight from the list of those being restored.
[No to All]--Do not overwrite this file nor any additional files that already exist and have duplicate names of those being restored. No more warnings will be issued. Duplicate files previously specified to be overwritten will still be overwritten.

Notes

•	If you click [Cancel] before clicking [Next>] in step 5 this operation will cancel and the File Tools command will end. Results of any previous operations already successfully completed will remain in effect.

•	In accounting and management products, if a TS.CTL file is in the backup zip file, it will restore automatically if any "data" file is also restored and there is no TS.CTL file currently in the destination folder. To force a restore of the TS.CTL file when one already exists in the destination folder, be sure to select the one in the zip file and click [Yes] when you are asked if you want to overwrite the existing file.

Related Topics


Selecting folder and zip file for restoring

Use either of the following procedures to select the folder and zip file that contains the files to be restored by File Tools:

•	In the Source: box, enter the drive, folder(s), and name of the zip file that contains the files to be restored.

•	You can click [Browse] to help find the zip file. To find a zip file that does not have a .tszip or .zip extension, use the down arrow (wedge) at the right of the Files of type: box to select All Files. After finding or entering the file name in the File name: box, click [Open] to accept the name.

When a valid backup zip file is located, its description entered when the file was created appears in the Description: box. You cannot change the description in this box.


Selecting files for restoring

Use the following procedures to select the files to be restored by File Tools:

•	In the list box, highlight each data file to be restored. Be sure to hold down the [Ctrl] key to select additional files after the first. To highlight a file, click its name. To remove the highlight, click it again.

•	To highlight all listed files, click [All]. To remove all highlights, click [None].

•	To select a range, highlight the first file, then hold down [Shift] and click the last file in the range.


Selecting restore location

Use either or both of the following procedures to select the destination for the files being restored:

•	In the Destination Folder: box, enter the drive, folder(s), and zip file name for the files being restored.

•	You can click [Browse] to help find an appropriate location. After finding the destination in the Select Folder window, click [Select Folder] to accept the destination.


Copying files

Use this File Tools operation to copy selected Timberline data files.

  1	Use the Look In: box to select the folder that contains the files to be copied.
 How?

  2	In the list of files eligible for copying, select one or more files to be copied.
 How?

  3	Use the Destination Folder: box to enter where the files will be copied.
 How?

  4	Click [Next>] to advance to the Progress window. If any of the files being copied already exist in the destination folder, a warning will display for each one. Click one of the following options for each warning:
[Yes]--Overwrite this file whose name is shown in the warning.
[Yes to All]--Overwrite this file and any additional files that already exist and have duplicate names of those being copied.
[No]--Do not overwrite; remove this file's highlight from the list of those being copied.
[No to All]--Do not overwrite this file nor any additional files that already exist and have duplicate names of those being copied. No more warnings will be issued. Duplicate files previously specified to be overwritten will still be overwritten.

Note

•	If you click [Cancel] before clicking [Next>] in step 4, this operation will cancel and the File Tools command will end. Results of any previous operations already successfully completed will remain in effect.

Related Topics


Selecting folders for copying files

Use one or more of the following procedures to select the folder whose files are to be copied by File Tools:

•	In the list box below the Look in: box, double-click the drive or folder under which the files to be copied are located. If the files are more than one level down, continue double-clicking the "parent" folder(s) until you reach the folder that contains the files.

•	Use the down arrow (wedge) at the right edge of the Look In: box to open a list of available drives and folders. You can then navigate to a higher folder on the same drive or change the search to another drive by clicking on the applicable drive or folder.

•	You can navigate one level upward by clicking [image] at the right of the Look In: box.


Selecting files for copying

Use one or more of the following procedures to select the files to be copied by File Tools:

•	In the list box, highlight each data file to be copied. Be sure to hold down the [Ctrl] key to select additional files after the first. To highlight a file, click its name. To remove the highlight, click it again.

•	To highlight all listed files, click [All]. To remove all highlights, click [None].

•	To select a range, highlight the first file, then hold down [Shift] and click the last file in the range.


Selecting copy files destination

Use either of the following procedures to select the destination for the files being copied:

•	In the Destination Folder: box, enter the destination drive and folder(s) for the files being copied.

•	You can click [Browse] to help find the location. After finding the destination in the Select Folder window, click [Select Folder] to accept the destination.


Deleting files

Use this File Tools operation to delete selected Timberline data files.

  1	Use the Look In: box to select the folder that contains the files to be deleted.
 How?

  2	In the list of files eligible for deletion, select one or more files to be deleted.
 How?

  3	Click [Next] to advance to the Progress window.

Note

•	If you click [Cancel] before clicking [Next>] in step 3, this operation will cancel and the File Tools command will end. Results of any previous operations already successfully completed will remain in effect.

Related Topics


Selecting folders for deleting files

Use one or more of the following procedures to select the folder whose files are to be deleted by File Tools:

•	In the list box below the Look in: box, double-click the drive or folder under which the files to be deleted are located. If the files are more than one level down, continue double-clicking the "parent" folder(s) until you reach the folder that contains the files.

•	Use the down arrow (wedge) at the right edge of the Look In: box to open a list of available drives and folders. You can then navigate to a higher folder on the same drive or change the search to another drive by clicking on the applicable drive or folder.

•	You can navigate one level upward by clicking [image] at the right of the Look In: box.


Selecting files for deleting

Use one or more of the following procedures to select the files to be deleted by File Tools:

•	In the list box, highlight each data file to be deleted. Be sure to hold down the [Ctrl] key to select additional files after the first. To highlight a file, click its name. To remove the highlight, click it again.

•	To highlight all listed files, click [All]. To remove all highlights, click [None].

•	To select a range, highlight the first file, then hold down [Shift] and click the last file in the range.


Moving files

Use this File Tools operation to move selected Timberline data files.

  1	Use the Look In: box to select the folder that contains the files to be moved.
 How?

  2	In the list of files eligible for moving, select one or more files to be moved.
 How?

  3	Use the Destination Folder: box to select where the files will be moved.
 How?

  4	Click [Next>] to advance to the Progress window. If any of the files being moved already exist in the destination folder, a warning will display for each one. Click one of the following options for each warning:
[Yes]--Overwrite this file whose name is shown in the warning.
[Yes to All]--Overwrite this file and any additional files that already exist and have duplicate names of those being moved.
[No]--Do not overwrite; remove this file from the list of those being moved.
[No to All]--Do not overwrite this file nor any additional files that already exist and have duplicate names of those being moved. No more warnings will be issued. Duplicate files previously specified to be overwritten will still be overwritten.

Note

•	If you click [Cancel] before clicking [Next>] in step 4, this operation will cancel and the File Tools command will end. Results of any previous operations already successfully completed will remain in effect.

Related Topics


Selecting folders for moving files

Use one or more of the following procedures to select the folder whose files are to be moved by File Tools:

•	In the list box below the Look in: box, double-click the drive or folder under which the files to be moved are located. If the files are more than one level down, continue double-clicking the "parent" folder(s) until you reach the folder that contains the files.

•	Use the down arrow (wedge) at the right edge of the Look In: box to open a list of available drives and folders. You can then navigate to a higher folder on the same drive or change the search to another drive by clicking on the applicable drive or folder.

•	You can navigate one level upward by clicking [image] at the right of the Look In: box.


Selecting files for moving

Use one or more of the following procedures to select the files to be moved by File Tools:

•	In the list box, highlight each data file to be moved. Be sure to hold down the [Ctrl] key to select additional files after the first. To highlight a file, click its name. To remove the highlight, click it again.

•	To highlight all listed files, click [All]. To remove all highlights, click [None].

•	To select a range, highlight the first file, then hold down [Shift] and click the last file in the range.


Selecting move files destination

Use either of the following procedures to select the destination for the files being moved:

•	In the Destination Folder: box, enter the destination drive and folder(s) for the files being moved.

•	You can click [Browse] to help find the location. After finding the destination in the Select Folder window, click [Select Folder] to accept the destination.


Renaming files

Use this File Tools operation to rename a Timberline data file. Only one file at a time can be renamed.

  1	Use the Look In: box to select the folder that contains the file to be renamed.
 How?

  2	In the list of files eligible for renaming, select the file to be renamed.
 How?

  3	Use the New file name: box to enter the new name of the file. If you omit the three-character file extension following the period in the file name, it will be provided automatically. You cannot change the file extension.

  4	Click [Next>] to advance to the Progress window. If a file with the new name you entered already exists in the selected folder, an error message will appear. Click [OK] to clear the message, then return to step 2.

Note

•	If you click [Cancel] before clicking [Next>] in step 4, this operation will cancel and the File Tools command will end. Results of any previous operations already successfully completed will remain in effect.

Related Topics


Selecting a folder for renaming a file

Use one or more of the following procedures to select the folder in which the file to be renamed exists:

•	In the list box below the Look in: box, double-click the drive or folder under which the file to be renamed is located. If the file is more than one level down, continue double-clicking the "parent" folder(s) until you reach the folder that contains the file.

•	Use the down arrow (wedge) at the right edge of the Look In: box to open a list of available drives and folders. You can then navigate to a higher folder on the same drive or change the search to another drive by clicking on the applicable drive or folder.

•	You can navigate one level upward by clicking [image] at the right of the Look In: box.


Selecting a file for renaming

Use the following procedure to select the file to be renamed by File Tools:

•	Highlight the data file to be renamed. To highlight a file, click its name. To remove the highlight, click it again.


File Tools Progress

Use this File Tools window to confirm and begin the operation selected. A summary of the operation to be performed appears at the top of the window. Click one of the following buttons:

[<Back]--Return to the previous operation window without starting the operation.

[Start]--Begin the operation selected. The progress of the operation appears in the bottom half of the window, then the Finish window appears after the operation is complete.

[Cancel]--Cancel the current operation and exit File Tools. Results of any previous operations already successfully completed will remain in effect.

Related Topics


File Tools Finish

This File Tools window appears after an operation has finished. The results of the operations appear in the window and also are retained as a log text file, Tsftools.log.

•	In accounting and mangement products, Tsftools.log is located in the misc folder (for example, \TIMBERLINE OFFICE\Accounting\misc).

•	In estimating products, Tsftools.log is located in the folder where you installed the software (for example, \TIMBERLINE OFFICE\Estimating).

After viewing the results, click one of the following buttons:

[<Back]--Go back to the Selection window of File Tools.

[Finish]--Close File Tools and return to the previous active window.

Related Topics


Data file structure

Timberline uses a transactional database engine manufactured by Pervasive Software to maintain your data files. Although the names of Timberline data files are separate, identifiable entities, each file's records and their fields are contained in a series of specially formatted files. These files can be manipulated only by the data file programs provided to you by Timberline. The File Tools command gives you access to these programs.

Notes

•	None of the Timberline-generated log files (.log). print files (.prn), and HTML files (.htm) are part of the transactional database. These files can be manipulated through the use of Windows Explorer and other third-party software, which can open and read them directly.

•	The Timberline database is ODBC compliant. For detailed information about using the Timberline database through ODBC, refer to the "Getting Started with Timberline ODBC" pamphlet on the Timberline software release CD. The pamphlet is in "PDF" format, which can be read by the Adobe® Acrobat Reader. A free copy of the reader is also on the CD.

Related Topics


Data file paths

The Timberline database uses a transactional database engine developed by Pervasive Software, Inc. This program maintains the Timberline data in a series of files, each with a suffix of ".MKD". These files are located by default in the following folder:
X:\Your company data folder\PVData\name_suffix
where:
"X:" is the letter of the drive where the data is stored,
"Your company data folder" is the parent folder of the folders and files for the data being processed,
"PVData" is the literal name of the next folder in the path, and
"name_suffix" is a folder name corresponding to the name of the file whose data is being stored.

 Example: Accounting and management products

 Example: Estimating products

Related Topics


Accounting and management product data file path example

New Accounts Payable invoice transactions for the OKBuilders company would be stored as .MKD files under:
X:\OKBuilders\PVData\new_api\Api_r1.mkd, ...Api_r2.mkd, ...etc.

Keep in mind that if you specified a different location for a specific file type in the File Locations window, the PVData folder and its subfolders will be located under that specific location.

Warning

•	There is an important relationship between the particular folder that contains a set of .mkd files and the file with a similar name located directly under the company folder. Using the example above, there is a new.api file directly under OKBuilders and a new_api folder under PVData. The new.api file and the new_api folder are directly related, and this relationship must not be broken by changing or moving either one using Windows Explorer. The only correct method to manipulate files in the Timberline database is by using the File Tools command on the Tools menu.


Estimating product data file path example

A new estimate for the OK Remodel project would be stored as .MKD files under:

X:\Estimates\PVData\OKRemodel_pee\Pee_a12.mkd, ...Pee_h1.mkd, ...etc.

Warning

•	There is an important relationship between the particular folder that contains a set of .mkd files and the file with a similar name located directly under the company folder. Using the example above, there is an OKRemodel.pee file directly under the Estimates folder and an OKRemodel_pee folder under PVData. The OKRemodel.pee file and the OKRemodel_pee folder are directly related, and this relationship must not be broken by changing or moving either one using Windows Explorer. The only correct method to manipulate files in the Timberline database is by using the File Tools command on the File menu.


Managing the File Tools log file

  1	Rename the log file (Tsftools.log) on a weekly basis using the week-ending date (for example, FT071100.log.

In accounting and management products, the file is located in the misc folder (for example, \TIMBERLINE OFFICE\Accounting\misc).

In estimating products, the file is located in the folder where you installed the software (for example, \TIMBERLINE OFFICE\Estimating).

  2	Back up log files with your weekly and monthly backups.

  3	Delete log files as needed. You can use File Tools itself to delete any of the File Tools log files.

Related Topics


Overview

Because the log file size can grow to be very large and is an important auditing resource, you may find it helpful to actively manage the log file. Renaming the log file allows weekly entries to be grouped together. This eliminates the need to page through a lengthy log file for a two-month old item, for example. Instead, go directly to the log file for that week and quickly find the desired item. Backing up and deleting log files is important especially when disk space is a consideration.


Viewing and printing the File Tools log file

Because the log file is a text file, you can use any text editor to view and print the file. The following steps use the Microsoft program Notepad.

  1	On the Start menu, Program sub-menu, click Accessories and select Notepad.

  2	On the File menu, click Open.

  3	Navigate to the folder where Tsftools.log is located.

In accounting and management products, usually this is the MISC folder where you installed your accounting and management products.

In estimating products, usually this is in the folder where you installed your estimating products.

  4	In the File name box, enter Tsftools.log (or the name of the file if you have changed it).

  5	Click [Open]. The file should display in the Notepad window.

  6	To print the file, use the Print command on the File menu.

Related Topics


Overview

The File Tools log file traces user activity in File Tools by date, time, and the activities that occurred. The log file is a good device for tracking manual changes made to your data files.

If you use accounting and management products and estimating products, you will have two File Tools log files. File Tools activity is tracked in both log files. For example, when you move a file using estimating products File Tools, the activity is tracked in the estimating products and accounting and management products File Tools log files.


File Tools Help--version 8.3.0