I upgraded version 7 and upgraded ABA 2012 on my home computer  which went smoothly. I backed up my program. I upgraded both programs on my office computer.  When I tried to open Birders diary on myu office computer, I get the following  error  "Could not find file C:\birdersdiary\data\database.mdb.  Please copy a backup into this directory".  I tried to copy the backup onto the C drive without success.  Please help

Mike

Hi Mike,

When BD opens, it tries to open "C:\Birder's Diary\data\database.mdb" (assuming you installed BD to "C:\Birder's Diary").

This message is telling you that you don't have "database.mdb" in the proper directory - or that you don't have it named properly. Be careful, Windows likes to hide the extension of your files. So, when you think you have named the file "database.mdb", it may really be "Database.mdb.mdb", because it was hiding the final ".mdb" from view.

Start here please. If the answer is still eluding you, then please post a screen capture of that directory from "Windows Explorer's" point of view.

Thanks,

Jeff

how do I copy the file?   I thought is was ctrl-  print screen but that doesnot copy onto this forum

Mike

Hi Mike,

Q. How do I include screen shots in my forum posts like I see in other posts? A. First you need a screen capture tool for capturing areas of your screen. A free one that I use is available at the bottom of the main Forums page. Simply download it, unzip and install. You will want to configure it to capture to a file in JPG format Now you can make screen captures, but how do you get them in your post? When creating a post you are automatically taken to the advanced editor. When replying to a post you can click on one of the reply links, or you can use the Quick Reply feature at the bottom of a post. The Quick Reply feature does not allow for picture embedding, so only use the reply links when you want to embed a picture. While in the Advanced editor, you can use any of the 3 Message Attachments available to you below the editor. This will upload files from your computer and if they are picture files, display them at the end of your post. Clicking on one of the Browse buttons his will bring up another window that will allow you to browse your local computer and select the file you made when you created your screen capture. Click OK, and the file is added to your post.

Hi Mike,

Sorry for the confusion.

Let's go about this another way. On your original computer, you upgraded successfully and then performed a backup.

I assume you then put this backup onto temporary storage, such as a flash drive or memory stick.

Once that is done, all you have to do is to take that temporary storage over to your work computer and copy the backup file off of it to your BD installation directory (by default "C:\Birder's Diary\data") and put it in the \data subdirectory. Then, simply make certain that it's name is "database.mdb". That is all you have to do.

Here is a link to the help topic on keeping BD in sync between two computers. It may help.

If you need help copying and renaming files in Windows, just check the help for Windows and search on 'copy and rename files'.

If you would like for me to get onto your trouble system and get things straightened out for you, please send email to jeff@birdersdiary.com and we can arrange a time.

Jeff

Update: Mike let me onto his system, and indeed the problem was that the database was actually named "database.mdb.mdb".

This is the worst Windows feature ever. Users constantly feel they have correctly named a file only to find out that Windows Explorer is hiding th actual file extension.

This is the default for Windows. "Hide file extension for know file types"

You can get to this setting from Windows Explorer.

1. Alt+T to open the main Tools menu
2. Select Folder options from the dropdown menu (see pic below)
3. Choose the View TAB
4. Uncheck the "Hide extensions for know file types" option (see pic below)
5. Click Ok to close

FYI

Jeff

Thanks for your prompt service. 

Mike

Very welcome Mike. Let me know if anything else comes up.

Jeff