Configuration backup
From PsiWiki
Once in a while you may come to a conclusion that you need to backup and restore your Psi configuration, for example while reinstalling your operating system or moving to another computer.
Contents |
Backing up
Configuration
First of all, you need to locate where your configuration files are.
If you don't set the environment variable PSIDATADIR Psi uses the following default location to store its files:
- Linux, MacOS X and other Unices
- ~/.psi/
- Windows NT, 2000, XP, Server 2003, Vista and Server 2008
- %UserProfile%\PsiData\ (usually C:\Documents and Settings\username\PsiData )
- Windows 95, 98 and Me
- %ProgramFiles%\Psi\PsiData\ (usually C:\Program Files\Psi\PsiData )
where:
- %UserProfile%
- Your home folder in Windows NT/2000/XP/Server 2003/Vista/Server 2008 (usually C:\Users\loginname on Windows Vista/Server 2008, C:\Documents and Settings\loginname on Windows 2000/XP/Server 2003, C:\WINNT\Profiles\loginname on Windows NT); note that this is not the same as My Documents folder
- %ProgramFiles%
- Your Program Files folder (usually C:\Program Files)
- loginname
- Your name in Windows (the short one, used on logon screen; not the one used on Welcome screen in Windows XP)
Also please take a note of the value of PSIDATADIR environment variable, to be able to restore Psi configuration afterwards. If PSIDATADIR variable is not set, Psi will use the default location to store its data.
As of version 0.11, Psi doesn't store any information in the system Registry. Older versions stored the last used profile name and last used language there. Please refer to older version of this page for the details
Executables
Usually you may want to reinstall Psi again on your new operating system or new computer, as installers may put additional files or links to your system. However, it's enough to copy Psi executable files to make it work.
Depending on your operating system, your executables are located in different places:
- Windows:
Usually C:\Program Files\Psi. See %ProgramFiles% environment variable for exact location for Program Files directory. - Mac OS X:
Note to myself: How to explain that You should put contents of .dmg file to Applications?
- Linux, *BSD and other Unices besides Mac OS X:
Usually /usr/local/share/psi. Run which psi in Your console to know where Psi really resides.
Backup those files in some safe place.
Restoring
Configuration
Simply copy the configuration files to the previous location. If PSIDATADIR variable was set, please restore its value.
You may also prefer to fall back to safe defaults and do not change the default location of the Psi configuration files (see above), then please do not set PSIDATADIR variable.
Executables
It is strongly recommended to reinstall Psi and not to use the backup of Psi executables. If you prefer to use your backup, you will find that shortcuts in Start Menu (Windows' users) or any other type of links (other systems) do not exist as they are created by installers - you will have to create them by yourself.
If you still want to restore Your executables from the backup, just copy the files to the original location. On Windows or X Window System (with GNOME, KDE or any other window manager) you will have to create the shortcuts to Psi by Yourself.
Your Psi should be now ready for use with all previous settings.
