The question
When I open Budgets GetReal, I get the following screen that says that my database file “BGRdata.vdb” is missing or has been renamed.
How to resolve this issue
When Budgets GetReal starts it performs a check for all required libraries and then attempts to open your database file “BGRdata.vdb” from the “Database” folder. You will only see the above message if the file is missing. The list of required files shown will depend on your platform (Mac OS X is shown above). The file may be missing for one of the following reasons:
- You are running a copy of the program and the database is located on a USB key or remotely over a network
- You deliberately renamed your database to force the program to restore a previous backup
- You are an Accountant and running a multi-user enabled version of the program. This scenario is discussed in Using Budgets GetReal in Accounting practices.
- You accidentally moved or deleted your database
Note that the Budgets GetReal installer for Windows does not overwrite any existing files. It is impossible to destroy your database by re-running the installer as no files are usually updated. To update your application follow the procedures in Updating your Budgets GetReal application.
Cancel option
Closes the Budgets GetReal application. Use the search facilities for your operating system to find the required “BGRdata.vdb” file. Copy it to the Database folder and restart your application.
Restore option
The restore option allows you to select any backup file and have it recreate your missing BGRdata.vdb file. The selected file must be undamaged and prepared by the Budgets GetReal application. The appearance of the above image may change depending on if backup files are detected.
Backup files are compressed encrypted versions of your database. They can be recognised by the following naming scheme - BGRbackup1000.bak, BGRbackup1001.bak etc. The highest numbered file within a folder is the latest backup file created.
Note that if you are using multiple Backup folders you will need to carefully check the file modification details before using (remembering that different computers may save the files with different time offsets on the recorded modification dates).
1. If your Backups folder exists and at least one valid backup file is detected within it, the above image will be different and will suggest you use the latest backup file within your Backups folder. You can, of course, elect to restore this file or “Find Another” - in which case you can select a backup file from elsewhere on your computer, USB key, on another computer.
Whatever option you select, the chosen backup will be used to create a new BGRdata.vdb file within your Database folder. The application will automatically open using that file.
2. No valid backup files are detected. The options shown in the above image apply. There are however two possibilities on selecting to “Restore” - the outcome of which depends on where the backup file is selected:
If you are an Accountant and running a multi-user enabled version of the program, selection of a file within the structure outlined in Using Budgets GetReal in Accounting practices the backup will create the new BGRdata.vdb within your clients folder and automatically open using that file.
Otherwise the selected backup will create a new BGRdata.vdb file within your Database folder and automatically open using that file.
