Learn how to back up and restore the ARES Electrical database when it uses SQL Server, and where to find the local files that must also be copied.
When ARES Electrical is configured to use a SQL Server database (instead of the local database), it is important to know how to back up and restore that database correctly, as well as where the complementary local files that also need to be copied are located. This article provides step-by-step instructions for both operations.
How to back up a database
In SQL Server Management Studio, right-click the database;
Go to Tasks > Back Up...;
Select the Full backup type;
Set the destination path for the backup file;
Click OK to start the backup.
⚠️WARNING: Not every folder has write permission for SQL Server to save the backup. A folder that normally has permission is the root of the C: drive.
The process is fast even for large databases (a ~1 GB database, for example, takes almost no time to copy). When it finishes, a message confirms that the backup was completed successfully.
ARES Electrical local files
In addition to backing up the database itself, you must also back up the ARES Electrical local files, which are stored outside SQL Server.
📖INFO: These files are NOT located in the AppData folder, but in: C:\ProgramData\AE\ElectricalDB
The correct folder to copy is always the one that contains the QCCFG and dados subfolders. This folder must be copied in its entirety.
⚠️WARNING: A backup of the SQL database alone is not enough. Always back up both the SQL database and the local files folder (Electrical DB). If either one is missing, the backup is incomplete and may cause loss of project information when restoring.
How to restore a database
In SQL Server Management Studio, right-click the database;
Go to Tasks > Restore > Database...;
In the window that appears, select the desired backup file;
Confirm to restore the database.
📖INFO: After restoring the database, you need to reconnect ARES Electrical to it. Starting with ARES Electrical 2027 SP0, the database connection dialog box has been redesigned and now supports multiple engines (SQLite, SQL Server, LocalDB and MDB), allowing you to view recent databases, validate the connection and check the database version. See the complete step-by-step instructions in the article New Database System Connection.
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