Backup and restore database

Backup and Restore Database

Your database is constantly evolving as you add, update, and delete contacts. At some point, you may need to recover deleted contacts or notes, whether due to accidental or intentional deletions.

Restoring your database is simple, even in the event of a computer or hard drive failure — provided you have a backup file. You can manually back up the database to a secure location or set up automatic backups for added protection.

Backup Database

To manually back up the database, go to Database > Backup in the main menu. This opens the standard Save File dialog, allowing you to choose a backup location.

EZ Contact Book stores data in a single database file named CONTACTS.DB. When you create a backup, the program generates a copy of this file, automatically appending a date stamp to the filename in the format CONTACTS_YYYYMMDD.DB.

By backing up regularly, you can restore your data easily using the same process as importing from other sources - without any extra mapping.

Auto-Backup

The program includes an auto-backup feature (enabled by default), eliminating the need for manual backups. It automatically saves a copy of your database at scheduled intervals (daily, weekly, or monthly), appending a date stamp to the filename for easy tracking.

By default, auto-backup files are stored in: %APPDATA%\E-Z Contact Book\Backup folder.

This folder is secure and inaccessible to other Windows users (similar to your main contacts database). However, you can choose a different backup location, such as an external drive, network storage, or a flash drive. This ensures your contacts remain safe even in the event of a system crash.

Auto-backup files follow the format: CONTACTS_AUTO_BACKUP_YYYYMMDD.DB*.

Info

The *YYYMMDD in the filename represents the backup date. For example, CONTACT_20130517.DB means the file was saved on May 17, 2013.

Restore Database

EZ Contact Book can only restore data from its own backup files (*.DB).

Important

*.DB files created by other software are not compatible with EZ Contact Book and cannot be restored.

To restore from a backup:

• Select Database > Restore from the main menu and choose a backup file in the Open File dialog.

After selecting a backup file, you’ll be prompted to choose how to import (restore) your contacts:

Because older backup files may contain different data than your current database, you’ll need to decide whether to add, merge, or replace contacts - in other words, resolve conflicts. See how to resolve conflicts between current data and imported data for full details.

Cleanup Database

Over time, database operations — such as adding, deleting, and updating contacts — can leave behind empty space or "free" database pages. This can cause the database file to grow larger than necessary, potentially slowing down program performance.

To optimize the performance and reduce the database size, select Database > Cleanup from the main menu. This action will rebuild the database and reclaim unused space.