SYMPTOM:

We often restore data from backup with default options. This Article attempts to refresh ideas on the input parameters for the 'Restore' process. For instance, in case you do not intend to use the default Cabinets that PERKS provides, then for optimum performance you should take a decision at the time of restoring data. Here, you can find a few more Pointers:

• On Security Groups

• Suppose that, you have two Companies installed. You wish to restore some data on one of the Companies. You have made some recent changes on the privileges of a Security Group, which is present in the data backup as well. What should be the approach for restoring data?

• While copying Security Groups, does the System copy the related users as well?

• You are purely interested about the data on the Company, itself, and you do not want to increase the System Overhead with any data that are maintained outside the Company.

• In order to preserve Disk Space, someone decides to take a data backup, which only includes data on the concerned Company. While restoring the backup, you proceed to restore data with default Settings, where the checkbox Restore security groups is turned on. Will there be any Problem in future?

• On Cabinets & Folders

• You maintain your HR data using the default Cabinets supplied by PERKS. You take a backup, and then, someone restores the data with default options, i.e., with the checkbox labelled Create Default Folders unmarked. Can there be some problem?

• You maintain your HR data using the default Cabinets supplied by PERKS. You take a backup, and someone restores the data marking the checkbox labelled Create Default Folders. Will the System create fresh Cabinets, overwriting previous data?

RESOLUTION:

Here is a discussion on the behaviour of the input parameters:

1. About Restore Security Groups

In case, a data backup was taken with the Security Group information as well, then, if you restore the data with this checkbox turned on, all the Security Groups that are stored in the backup will be restored, provided there is not any existing Security Group by the same name. In other words, the System will only add Security Groups. it will not modify (or 'overwrite') any existing Security Group.

While a Security Group stands for a collection of User Rights or Privileges, a User is a separate entity. Restoration of Security Groups do not imply restoration of the Users (who possibly have Rights on specific Companies existing on a specific installation). Hence, Users will not be created automatically upon restoration of data.

If you are entirely interested about the data itself, and not the Security Privileges, you may prefer restoring data with this checkbox unmarked.

However, even if the data backup was taken without including information on Security Groups, and you attempt to restore Security Groups from this data, i.e.,  with the checkbox Restore Security Groups turned on, then no existing Security Group will get modified.

The scope of Security Group spans the entire installation across all the Companies. However, other than the 'Default' (i.e., Menu Level) Rights, the other additional  layers are data specific. For instance, consider that you may have issued Rights, which are specific to a report design or Head of Pay (HOP). Should these kinds of data specific Rights be restored by the System? Yes, it does.

2.           About Create Default Folders

Whatever information for Cabinets / Folders, which go into the backup, will definitely be restored. If the backup happens not to contain the 'Default' Cabinets (it can have other Cabinets defined anyway), they will be created automatically, if this option is turned on.

The Default Folders (Cabinets) are:

A) AWARDS RECEIVED

B) PROMOTIONS

C) RECRUITMENT

D) TRAINING NEEDS

E) TRANSFER DETAILS

F) YEARLY APPRAISAL

In case, data are 'attached', i.e., a Company is being incorporated into a particular installation by specifying the Path of the data, these 'Default' HR Folders (or, Cabinets) are automatically created. If required, these Cabinets may be deleted just as any other Cabinets/Folder. While creating default Folders, the System will not overwrite any existing Folder.