FoxPro Commands That Create Backup (.BAK & .TBK) Files

Last reviewed: April 29, 1996
Article ID: Q93328
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Visual FoxPro for Windows, version 3.0
  • Microsoft FoxPro for MS-DOS, versions 2.0, 2.5, and 2.5a
  • Microsoft FoxPro for Windows, versions 2.5 and 2.5a
  • Microsoft FoxPro for Macintosh, versions 2.5b, 2.5c, and 2.6a

FoxPro creates backup files prior to performing certain operations that can corrupt the database if the operation fails. The backup file is created in the same directory as the original file and has the .BAK extension.

FoxPro creates a backup file before performing any of the following operations:

   APPEND FROM
   MODIFY STRUCTURE
   PACK
   UPDATE ON

If the database has an associated memo file, the backup copy of the memo file has the .TBK extension.

The PACK command deletes the backup file once the operation has been completed successfully.

To restore information from a backup file, delete or rename the .DBF file with the same name, then rename the backup file so that is has the .DBF file extension. The .BAK file may also be used as a database if the user specifies the complete filename (including the extension) in the USE command.


Additional reference words: VFoxWin 3.00 FoxDos FoxWin 2.00 2.50 2.50a
table FoxMac
KBCategory: kbprg
KBSubcategory: FxprgGeneral


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Last reviewed: April 29, 1996
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