Which File is it?

[pitzerwm]

Noobie here. I may not totally understand the process, so the question. When I modify a template, (i.e. navbar) where/what is that actual file on the server? Yesterday a weird thing happen, while I was reading post, all of the files on the server, were wiped out. The Host, was able to replace from backup, but it made me think that I need to back up all my mods in the different templates, so that I have the latest files on my hard drive. I back up the databases to my hard drive each evening, and the host backs up the total server each AM. Hope this makes some sense.

[dyna88]

They are stored in the database.....

[pitzerwm]

Could you be a little more specific, please?

[WhaLberg]

Templates are not files. They are datas that have been stored in the vBulletin database. You can only edit them via AdminCP. If you have made changes in the templates and you are facing errors, simply revert the templates.

How to revert a template?

• AdminCP -> Style Manager -> Drop down the menu and select "Edit Templates" of the style.
• Click once on the template name.
• Click "Revert" button from the menu in the right.

Note that the edited templates will have red colour.

[pitzerwm]

I only modify them through AdminCP. For instance, I have modified the header template, to add my logo and banner system. I'm not getting any errors. I just wondered, when I make a change to the template code, it is on the server but not on my hard drive. If I needed to upload the files again, if there was a server meltdown or someone hacking the files, that I'd have to redo all my code changes by hand, would I not? So I thought that if I backed up my files on the server, I would have my butt covered.

[Dismounted]

You need to backup your database, not only your files.

The only reliable method of backing up and restoring a database is with shell access via telnet or ssh. This is because backing up with a PHP script like that in the Admin CP or phpMyAdmin can result in PHP timeouts errors and an incomplete backup file. Please see the instructions here:

Backup:
http://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/m...nce_ssh_backup

Restore:
http://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/m...ce_ssh_restore

P.S. If you don't have shell access, some people have also reported success with these scripts:

MySQLDumper:
http://www.mysqldumper.de/en/index.php

MySQLHotxcopy:
http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showt...t=mysqlhotcopy

Bigdump:
http://www.ozerov.de/bigdump.php

[pitzerwm]

Thanks. my host gave me a link to "MySQL" and I just click on the database, and say "export" and it backs the whole thing up on my HD. There are 2 databases, I just back up both each night. You are saying that when I do this all my code changes etc, are also included, so no reason to worry, about a code change here and there?

[Dismounted]

Is "code changes" referring to templates?

[pitzerwm]

Yes, like when you add your custom logo & in my case a banner to the header. I change the code in the "header template" at least that is what I think that I'm doing. site: http://forum.autccareforum.com

[Dismounted]

Yes, they are contained in the database.