frequently asked questions

how can i copy data between pc's or restore data?

The following steps assume that you are familiar with using Windows Explorer and understand files and folders. If not, you will need to involve someone who does (e.g. a family member or a local PC support person). 

background - the artworks data and where it needs to be

• ArtWorks has a database file, named ArtWorks.dat, which has all your data (works, clients, history). However images are not stored in the database - instead all the image files are stored in a separate folder named 'Images'.

• When you install ArtWorks it always goes in a folder called 'C:\Program Files\ArtWorks' as shown below.

1. to copy your existing data 

• copy to a usb drive or network folder

Use the ArtWorks 'Backup Data' menu (from 'Tools'). Click 'Browse' and select the USB drive (or network folder). 

If you want to create a new folder on the drive, you can right click and select 'New' - 'Folder'. Then click OK to select that drive/folder as the destination.

After returning to the 'Backup' window. click 'Backup' to start the copy.

Once that has completed the destination folder will contain -

   a)  The database file, ArtWorks.dat
   b)  A sub-folder called Images, which contains all the image files

• copy to a cd

Insert a blank CD, then use Windows Explorer to navigate to the ArtWorks folder, which is C:\Program Files\ArtWorks

Copy the database file

(i) If you are running Windows XP, copy the ArtWorks.dat file to the CD drive letter

(ii) If you are running Windows Vista or Windows 7, Windows uses its own 'virtual' copy of the database. To get to  that, navigate first to C:\Program Files\ArtWorks then click the 'Compatibility Files' button on the Windows Explorer top toolbar. You will then see a folder containing ArtWorks.dat. Copy that one to the CD

Copy the Images sub-folder i.e. C:\Program Files\ArtWorks\Images (and its contents) to the CD drive letter

Finally burn the CD by navigating to it, then right clicking and selecting 'Write these files to CD'

2. to install artworks on the new pc

• Install ArtWorks on the new PC by running the setup file ArtWorksInstall.msi (if you don't have this you can download it from our web site at www.artworkspro.com/downloads/artworksinstall.msi)

Note that you cannot just copy the whole ArtWorks folder across from the old PC and have it run - it won't work that way (you will get error messages when you try and start ArtWorks) - you must install it from the setup file

• You will need a new product serial number - please contact support@artworkspro.com 

• When you first start ArtWorks (from either the desktop icon or the 'Start' - 'Programs' menu) you will see the demo data (the dogs). 

• To replace this with your existing data you just need to copy across two things - the database file and the Images folder.

3. copy from a backup folder or cd

Follow this procedure if you are either transferring to a new PC, or have had a system crash or other problem and need to restore your data from a backup folder or CD.

• Let us assume that backup is stored on a USB drive F:\ArtWorks Backup

The folder will contain -

    An ArtWorks.dat file; and
    An 'Images' folder (which contains all your image files)

(If your backup was created by a Windows backup application, as well as the database file and Images sub-folder, the backup will also contain various program files. Just ignore those). 

• Then, to restore just follow the instructions below.

Important: If you are running Windows Vista or Windows 7, these  now use a 'virtual store' copy of the ArtWorks database. Before restoring any data you must first delete the virtual copy. In Windows Explorer navigate to the C:\Program Files\ArtWorks folder. On the top toolbar you will see a button 'Compatibility Files'. Click that and delete the ArtWorks.dat file you see there. 

Now copy the database file - 

F:\ArtWorks Backup\ArtWorks.dat to C:\Program Files\ArtWorks\ArtWorks.dat and

F:\ArtWorks Backup\Images to C:\Program Files\ArtWorks\Images (note that this is a folder and will contain all your image files)

In both cases you will see a confirmation message indicating that the file and folder already exist - 'Would you like to replace the existing file'. Click "Yes'

• That's it. Now when you start ArtWorks you will see your own data

common problems

After copying, if you still see the demo data instead of your own data there can be several causes of this -

a) On Vista and Windows 7 you may have -

Copied the wrong database file ArtWorks.dat from the source PC. The one you need is located in the 'Compatibility Files' folder, NOT the C:\Program Files\ArtWorks folder; or

Not deleted the 'Compatibility Files' database file on the target PC before you restore the file.

b) You may have copied to the wrong folder. Double check. (Also check the file size of the ArtWorks.dat file as an indicator of whether this is the right file. The demo data is about 548Kb, your own database should be larger than that)

c) You may have named the database incorrectly. This occurs quite often and is usually caused because your Explorer settings are not showing the file extensions. The end result is that you can accidentally name the database ArtWorks.dat.dat

If the ArtWorks folder looks like this -

then you need to go to 'Tools' - 'Folder Options' and select the 'View' tab. Un-check the setting 'Hide Extensions for known file types' i.e.

 

Remember: ArtWorks only EVER looks in its own folder for the database, so if it is not showing your data you have done something wrong.