Introduction
Both the apps and the Windows version contain a backup and a restore possibility. In the apps please always use the latest version. For Windows you require version 6.0 or higher. There are a number of reasons why backing up the Online Bible is a good idea:
- If you have added highlighting or bookmarks, or in WIndows have own Notes, then a backup is the only way to ensure these are not lost if the apps/program have to be reinstalled for whatever reason.
- The titles you have installed when the backup was created can be automatically included when the apps/program is reinstalled, or when you want to copy to a new device. This saves a considerable amount of time if you have downloaded a large number of resources. Without a backup you have to download each resource again separately (unless you have a DVD with them all on).
There are considerable differences between the backups In the apps and the backups in Windows. Please note that a backup for the Mac is currently not available. We have listed the main differences here:
| Smartphone or tablet | Windows desktop or laptop | |
| What is backed up? | Highlights and bookmarks, with the categories, as well as the names of all installed titles. | All personal settings (such as desktops, notes, highlighting and bookmarks) and all installed titles (if that option is chosen). |
| Timing of backup | These can be made automatically when you have added bookmarks or highlighting. They can also be created manually. | There is no automatic trigger, you must remember to make a backup at regular intervals (depends to a large degree on the number of changes you make). |
| Where is backup stored? | On a Cross Link server (so "in the cloud"). If there is no wifi connection when a backup is triggered these are uploaded later. | A location of your choice. It is not a good idea to use the same hard drive as the Online Bible installation. We would suggest a storage place in the cloud if you have access to such a location, such as One Drive. |
| How many versions are kept? | The last five | As many as you want. You will have to delete old ones manually. |
| Restore on different device | Yes, can be on any iOS or Android device on which the app has been installed (and you are logged in). When you restore a backup the latest version of the resources is automatically downloaded if not already present. The backup does not include the resources, only the name. | Yes, on any Windows computer as long as the base package has been installed. The restore includes all resources that were available when the backup was made. These are restored as they were when the backup was made. There is no additional download. |
Backups for Android and iOS
The feature to create a backup can be found on the Info & Settings screen. It is part of the Online Bible Account options. Without an account it is impossible to create a backup, as this is the key for storage in the cloud. An account can be created free of charge. For more information see An Online Bible Account.
Click the Backup feature and at the top of the screen you will see the option to set Automatic backups. You can also choose "Backup Now". Underneath this you will see the existing backups, as well as the device on which they were created and the date. By clicking on one of the backups you will get a list of what is included with the option to restore.
A backup can be restored on any device (iOS or Android), it does not have to be the same, or even the same OS as the one on which it was made.
If you want to restore a backup on a new device, such as a new smartphone, first install the app (which will also install the base package), then log in with the same account. The backups should then be visible and you can restore a backup. Please note that restoring highlights and bookmarks is a merge with any already there. If there is an identical resource and Bible reference then the old one will be overwritten.
Backups for Windows
For the backup feature in Windows version 6.0 or higher is required.
Backing up the data
Before creating a backup, fist decide where it should be stored, and then create a directory in Windows for this. Within the Online Bible program it is not possible to create a new location. the assumption is made that a directory is already available. Then start the Online Bible and in the Tools menu find the Create Backup option.
In the next screen select Browse to find the location you created. That will appear in Target DIrectory.
If you only want to save your own data, and not all the resouces, check the appropriate box. But saving everything makes a complete restore much quicker.
Select OK, and the backup will be made, showing the progress in the bar. If the process has completed normally there should be a file in the directory you selected with a file name like OnlineBibleComputerBackup24-08-27_17.25.OLB. The data and time will distinguish between different backups and also be a quide when the last backup was created. The backup process is now complete and you can continue using the Online Bible
Restoring a backup
To restore a backup the Online Bible has to be installed on the computer. If it is a new computer, first install the Program Starter Pack. Then find the Restore option, under Tools:
You will get a pop-up requesting the target directory. With the Browse button find the location and the file you wish to restore.
Press OK and the files will be restored. The Online Bible will close.
If you are also restoring the resources, these will not be immediately visible in the Online Bible. To register them, you have to open the Online Bible and run Reset Program (in the Tools menu).
Click OK to confirm on the pop-up screen. This will also close the Online Bible, and when you start it again, the program checks what is actually on disk. You will get a few of the standard screens you also get when installing the program. However, while the resources will now be available, they have been removed from your desktops. This should be corrected in a next version, but in the meantime if this is the case, run the Restore step again. You could check the box for just the User Data so it will run slightly quicker, but the restore is alrready quite fast. and Including everything is not a problem. You should not run the Reset step again.
Now the full restore is finished and all resources be available.