Jana,

This is potentially REALLY dangerous and I highly recommend just
recovering from the entire backup - just trash your current damaged copy
and restore from the backup.  

Here's why.  If anything in the files has changed since you last backed
up, the old names file doesn't necessarily jive with the other
associated files.  Here's a simple example of what I'm talking about. 
Let's say you've added a new name and payment into the database before
the crash.  Your old names file won't have that record in it, but the
active database will have a payment associated with that person's record
number (let's say it's #2310 in the damagaed names file).  Remember, the
payment info lives in a different file than the names.  Now, as you
re-enter data, you may put a different name into the record #2310 spot. 
Now, voilla, that old payment info for a different person will be
attached to this new person who perhaps hasn't given yet.  Other similar
problems can occur with actions or source code records, etc. In
addition, there are three other files that work int he background that
keep summary data on each record that can get majorly messed up if you
re-assign record numbers for names.

Multiply these problems by however many changes you may have made to the
database between backups and you can see how complicated this problem
can become.  You save yourself MANY headaches by just restoring the
entire database.

This problem also highlights the importance of backing up the entire
database, not just the names and/or payments data.  

Carl


pwf wrote:

Our Ebase was not properly closed. When opening Ebase, that message
appears
and then a message stating the Names file was damaged. I removed the
names
file from the Ebase.102 then copied a backup of names back into Ebase.
It
seems to have worked. But, is this a bad way to go�.just replacing one
file
rather than using our entire backup copy? Could other files be damaged
too
(i.e. payments, etc), even though things seem to be working fine? Shall
I
proceed differently?
Thank you

Jana Reister
Professional Women's Fellowship
206-382-7276
[EMAIL PROTECTED]


-- 
Carl Paulsen
New Hampshire Rivers Council
54 Portsmouth Street
Concord, NH  03301
603-228-6472
603-228-0423 Fax
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

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