When we retired, we purchased Birder'S Diary Version 2.0 and began to keep a record of our bird sightings, but we never felt we could afford, nor did we see a need, to update the software. Earlier this year, we recorded our 1000th sighting. We always backed up our data on an external hard drive (BIRD_BCK.mdb and BIRD_BCK.ldb). Last month, we had to have the hard drive of our computer reformatted. Subsequently, we successfully reloaded Birder's Diary and attempted to restore our data from the external hard drive, but we have been unsuccessful in doing so. The error message we receive is "Unexpected Error: INSERT INTO statement contains unknown field name 'Comments' (#3127) in:  Bdiary.bas: Restore User Data. Make a note of this error message and contact Thayer Birding Software Support." We are quite distressed that we may lose the life lists of which we are very proud. Please advise the options we have available to us.

Thanks for your help. If I update my Version 2.0 to the basic Version 3.6 of Birder's Diary, is there a reasonable assurance that I will be able to restore my backup data to the program, regardless of how many updates I may have installed over the years?

Hi,

Thanks Steve!

The v2 update you need can be found on this web site, at the bottom of the Product Info :: Upgrading from 2.x or 3.0 page. Apply that update and then retry the Restore function.

Instructions for upgrading to v3.6 from 2.x is, of course, found on that page also. Review that at your convenience. For the purchase price of the upgrade license, I will personally convert your data from our v2 backup file into a full 3.6 database. Before you make that decision, please download 3.6 from the Downloads page and give it a try for a while. You get a fully-functional 30-day demo.

Let's start here. Let us know how this works and if we can assist further.

Jeff

I did not find the v2 update that you mentioned. I must have been looking in the wrong place or didn't recognize it when I saw it.  However, I did download v3.6 from the downloads page and it obviously installed on my computer as a new program, not as an upgrade to v2. i believe I would like to purchase the upgrade as long as I can be assured that I will be able to use my existing data. I am concerned that the instructions for the upgrade from v2.x say specifically that one of the steps is to upload the v2.x database , not a backup copy. All I have obviously is a backup copy, so does this same restriction app;y for upgrading my data to v3.6?

I cannot speak for Jeff, but I know that he has successfully converted several v2.x  database backups to 3.6.

I'd say to let him give it a try.  

Yikes! I got confused mid-sentence. The upgrades on the page I mentioned above are for v3.x - not v2.x. So please ignore that. That is what I get for attempting to answer while watching the Packers on TV. We no longer have the v2.x updates. And I believe Steve is 100% correct, in that this is the Restore problem you are encountering.

Yes - v3.6 installs as a new program and does not update or in any way do anything with your v2 installation.

Before you purchase, let me make sure we can convert your data. So please go ahead and follow the instructions; ZIP and upload your v2 database backup to our site. We will unzip, and convert to 3.6 and confirm success before you purchase.

Sound good?

Jeff

Hi Norm,

Received your database and converted all 3,380 sightings into v3.6 format with no problems.

If you like, you can proceed with the purchase of the 3.6 upgrade license from 2.x. If you also want to purchase any updated/additional taxonomic lists at the same time, I will import them into your database for you so that you do not have to do that when you get it.

Let me know if you have any further questions.

Jeff

p.s. Thanks SteveO!

I purchased the license, but the online store would not let me purchase the world taxonomic list. Can you help me with that?

I've completed the licensing process, so how do I now get back my updated database?

Hi Norm,

I see that you have purchased the upgrade to 3.6 from 2.x license.

But you did not purchase any new tax lists. Was this your intention?

If so, all you need to do is to follow the instructions on the Product Info :: Upgrading from 2.x or 3.0 page on this site. I will send you email with instructions for uploading your new database once I am sure you don't want any new tax lists. (Please respond here to let me know on that one.)

Any other questions?

Jeff

Hello Norm,

I have completed the conversion of your database and imported your purchased Clements 2008 tax list for you.

If you would like my assistance, I can get onto your system and complete the upgrade for you.

Let me know please,

Jeff