If you require certain data (ie not the entire database) to be restored from a backup of your HandiSoft SQL database, this article will guide you through the process required to access the data contained in a backup, extract that data and then restore it to your live HandiSoft database.
Note: HandiSoft does not administer backups for our clients, nor do we have access to your SA password. It is the sole responsibility of your practice (and your IT technician) to ensure adequate backups of your HandiSoft database are taken and available should you encounter an issue that requires data to be restored.
Before attempting any of the steps contained in this document, ensure you have read the document in its entirety and understand each step required.
If you are unfamiliar with Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio or you are unsure of these steps, you may need the assistance of your SQL Administrator or IT technician before attempting the steps.
To extract missing/deleted data from your SQL HandiSoft database, you will first need to use SQL Server Management Studio to restore the database to another name.
Open SQL Server Management Studio from the Start menu.
Right-click on Databases.
Restore Database as per the following screenshots.
Note: the use of the database name ‘Temporary’.Select Device and click on the ellipse button.
Click Add and locate your SQL Bak Files.
When you have located your file click OK.
VERY IMPORTANT - Database name: Temporary.
Tick Restore and click OK.
You should now have both your current HandiSoft SQL database as well as the restored copy called Temporary showing in SQL Server Manager Studio, and you now need to tell the software how to access the data contained in ‘Temporary’.
You can either choose to use the live/current installation of HandiSoft (your HSoft directory) or make a temporary copy of the HSoft directory for the purpose of accessing the backup database.
If you are performing these steps during work hours - i.e. whilst staff are using the HandiSoft applications- then we advise that you opt to make a temporary copy of the HSoft directory to ensure no disruption to other users.
If you choose to make a copy of the HSoft directory, please copy it into a new directory, e.g. HSoftCopy, ensuring you retain the directory structure - specifically the name of the HSoft folder.
Using the copy of HSoft, please do the following:
Open the Apps folder and locate the file HsSQL.ini - this file contains the information about which SQL database the applications should access.
Edit the HsSQL.ini file (open in Notepad) and change the name of the Database from HandiSoft to Temporary and Save the file:
The HandiSoft applications in this copy of HSoft are now pointing to the Temporary SQL database.
From this HSoft\Apps directory, you will now need to open the respective product and export the required data before importing that data back into the ‘live’ copy of your HandiSoft applications.
Export HandiLedger Data
Open HandiLedger (HLSQLXX.exe) in your backup. This can be found in the HSoft\Apps folder.
Select the Entity you want to export. Go to View, Transactions to check the transactions exist in this backup. If not, you will need to go to an earlier backup.
Go to Tools, Copy Selected Entity to disk, Windows HandiLedger Data, tick the relevant years, click Save and browse to a location you want to save the data on e.g. your Desktop.
The software will export and save to your Desktop/chosen location, a file called HL_CLIENTREF.zip.
Open your live HandiLedger program and go to Tools, Merge Ledger Data From Disk.
Select the exported file, click Ok and Ok again.
The HandiLedger data is now restored.
Export HandiTax Data
Please follow these steps to restore a deleted HandiTax Client from a backup:
Open the HandiTax year (HtSQLXX.exe) in your backup. This can be found in the HSoft\Apps folder.
When you run the file, you will be accessing the HandiTax application as you normally do. Press F6 on your keyboard to View Tagged clients. If any clients are currently Tagged, please Untag All. Note: Any clients that are tagged will be exported.
Find the client(s) you need to extract and Tag each client. Note: If any client has multiple Tax Forms, ensure each Tax Form required is tagged.
From the Tools menu, click Copy tagged clients to disk/email.
Tick Directory/Drive, click Browse and choose a location to save the files (somewhere you will be able to access later when you run your live HandiTax program, E.g. Desktop).
Click Ok, this will export two files to the selected directory, Clients.XXd and Returns.XXd (you will not be able to open either of these files; they need to be imported as per the steps below).
Once you have successfully exported the files from the backup, you can exit the backup and go into your live/current HandiTax application and do the following;
Go to the Tools menu, Merge Files from Disk.
Click the Browse button, and select the location where files were previously exported and saved from the backup version e.g. Desktop. (You won’t be able to select the files themselves, just the location you saved them)
Click Ok to import.
In the Merge Client Data window, tick Prompt before overwriting and Yes to tag merged clients.
Click Ok (This will check that data for this reference doesn’t exist before importing it. If it does find data, it will pop up a message asking if you want to overwrite the current data).
Once this process is complete, your data will be restored.