Backup Strategy

Your client data is priceless. Learn how to set up bulletproof backups using Time Machine, automatic backups, and manual exports.

10 min Essential

Time Machine

Automatic protection with your existing Mac backup

Automatic

Scheduled backups that run in the background

Manual

On-demand backup anytime you want

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SCREENSHOT: TimeNet Law Preferences → General tab showing the backup configuration section with 'Backup Data' checked, frequency set to daily, and a cloud folder selected

The backup settings in Preferences — your first line of defense for protecting client data

In This Guide

Time Machine Backups

If you use Time Machine on your Mac, your TimeNet Law Database is automatically backed up along with the rest of your files. No additional setup required.

Why It Works

Time Machine backs up your entire Mac, including the TimeNet Law Data folder. This means you can travel back in time to any point and restore your complete database.

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SCREENSHOT: Time Machine interface browsing back through timestamped versions of the TimeNet Law Data folder

Time Machine lets you travel back to any point and restore your complete database

Automatic Backups

TimeNet Law can automatically create timestamped backups of your database. These are easy to recover from and add an extra layer of security.

1 Configure Automatic Backups

Open TimeNet Law and go to Preferences → General.

At the bottom of the window, configure your backup settings:

  • Check Backup Data to enable automatic backups
  • Set the frequency (daily, weekly, etc.)
  • Choose a location to save backups

Default location: ~/Library/Preferences/TimeNet Law Data backups

Off-Site Backups

Set your backup location to Dropbox or iCloud for automatic off-site protection. If TimeNet Law runs on multiple office computers, each will create its own backups—giving you redundancy across multiple hard drives.

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SCREENSHOT: Preferences → General with backup settings highlighted: 'Backup Data' checkbox, frequency dropdown set to 'Daily', and location set to a Dropbox folder

Configure automatic backups to a cloud-synced folder for bulletproof off-site protection

Manual Backups

Create a backup anytime by selecting File → Backup Data. This creates a complete backup you can store anywhere—another drive, USB stick, or cloud folder.

To quickly open your backups folder, select File → Show TimeNet Law Backups.

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SCREENSHOT: File menu showing 'Backup Data' and 'Show TimeNet Law Backups' options, plus a Finder window with timestamped backup folders

Manual backups are one click away — and you can store them anywhere

Restoring from Time Machine

1 Quit TimeNet Law

Make sure TimeNet Law is closed on all computers before restoring.

2 Navigate to Your Data Folder
  • Local Mode (no networking): ~/Library/Preferences
  • Dropbox/Local Networking: Navigate to your TimeNet Law Data folder on the network

Click once on the TimeNet Law Data folder to highlight it.

Safety First

Make a copy of the current folder to your Desktop first. You can delete it after confirming the restore worked.

3 Enter Time Machine

With the folder highlighted, select Enter Time Machine from the Time Machine menu in your menubar.

Use the up arrow to travel back to a point before the problem occurred, then click Restore.

When asked, choose Replace to overwrite the current data.

4 Verify the Restore

Open TimeNet Law and confirm your data looks correct. If the restore doesn't include what you need, repeat the process going further back in time.

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VIDEO COMING SOON: Time Machine restore flow — navigating to the TimeNet Law Data folder, entering Time Machine, scrolling back through dates, clicking Restore, and choosing Replace

Looping video · No audio · ~10-15 seconds

Restoring from Time Machine: navigate, scroll back in time, click Restore — your data is back

Restoring from a Manual or Automatic Backup

Warning

Restoring will overwrite your current database. Make sure you want to replace your existing data with the backup before continuing.

1 Quit TimeNet Law Everywhere

Close TimeNet Law on all computers before restoring.

2 Restore the Backup

Open TimeNet Law and select File → Restore Data.

When prompted, choose the backup "TimeNet Law Data" folder you want to restore.

3 Verify Your Data

Open TimeNet Law and confirm the database looks correct.

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VIDEO COMING SOON: Restore from backup — selecting File → Restore Data, browsing to the backup TimeNet Law Data folder, confirming the restore, and seeing data reload

Looping video · No audio · ~10-15 seconds

File → Restore Data: pick your backup folder and you're back in business

About Your Database

The TimeNet Law Data folder contains invisible files. When copying, always copy the entire folder—not just the visible files inside it.

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