Forum post
Copying (not syncing) database from iPhone to iMac?
Forum post posted May 11, 2012 by Karen Millard
167 Views, 5 Comments
Title:
Copying (not syncing) database from iPhone to iMac?
Post:
Hi all,
I started with Bento for iPhone. Loaded it up with data, loved the functionality so bought Bento for Mac. Now I'm stuck with a backwards database--I think. I want to get what's on the phone into Bento for Mac without overwriting everything on the phone. If I understand correctly, the Mac db is the server db, and syncing will simply overwrite the iPhone data with nothing--which is currently what's in the Mac db. Having been around the screw-up block a few times, I'm sure there must be a workaround or a fix for this, but I'm also a Mac newbie so don't dare try anything without expert instructions. Can anyone help?
Answer
Karen Millard:
Thank you for your post.
When Bento for iPhone initially syncs with Bento for Mac, the Libraries are merged together. However, if Bento for iPhone has synced previously with Bento for Mac, when you create a new sync, the database on the iPhone is copied into a Backup folder on the Mac, and then the Mac database overwrites what exists on the iPhone making it appear you lost your data.
To see if Bento for iPhone has synced previously, tap the sync icon at the bottom of the display. If "Sync Now" is present, then Bento for iPhone has previously been synced with Bento for Mac. If "Sync Now" is not present, then tap "Sync with a New Computer" and the Libraries from the Mac and iPhone will be merged.
If "Sync Now" was present, then tap "Sync with a New Computer", obtain a four-digit passcode, launch Bento for Mac, pull down the File menu and select "Set Up Sync with Device...", click Continue, and enter the four-digit passcode displayed on the iPhone. At this point, Bento will copy the iPhone database into a Backup folder, and then send the current Mac database file to the iPhone. To retrieve the iPhone data, follow these steps:
1. Quit Bento for Mac.
2. Rename your bento.bentodb file to mac.bentodb. You will find the bento.bentodb file in the following location:
[User Account] -> Library -> Application Support -> Bento -> bento.bentodb
If you are running Mac OS X 10.7.x (Lion), then Apple has hidden the user's Library folder. To get to the user's Library folder, hold down the option key as you pull down the Go menu, and then select "Library". From there, go to Application Support -> Bento -> bento.bentodb
3. In the same folder with mac.bentodb, you will see a Backup folder preceded by the name of your iPhone. For example, it might say "Karen's iPhone Backup". Open this folder, find the most recent file (there may be only one file, but if not, all files are date stamped), and rename it to bento.bentodb
4. Move this new bento.bentodb file up one level so it resides in the same folder with mac.bentodb
5. Launch Bento for Mac. It will read the bento.bentodb and display all the information that formerly resided on your iPhone.
6. Create another new sync to move the data from the Mac to the iPhone.
Let me know if you need additional clarification.
TSGal
FileMaker, Inc.
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Hi TSGal,
Your instructions were working wonderfully well but have hit a serious snag. I'm at step 5, but Bento for Mac cannot open the database. The application hangs at this point. I've done everything I can think of and checked the spelling of the file name, but no luck. Now I have no database on my Mac, and no database on my phone. This is a really big problem for me. I hope you can help resolve it.
Thanks... so far ;-)
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Karen Millard:
The database file that was on your iPhone may have been damaged, and as a result, Bento on the Mac is having difficulty opening the file. Therefore, I'd like to see your new bento.bentodb file so I can determine why it is failing. Check your Inbox at the top of this page for instructions where to send the file.
TSGal
FileMaker, Inc.
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Karen Millard:
I received your file. Thank you.
The file was definitely damaged as some of the forms were empty and could not be processed. The file has been rebuilt using Bento 4.1.1 and the file has been sent to our Technical Support contact, so you should receive an email from him shortly. If you don't receive the file within an hour, please let me know, and I'll make sure the file is sent to you immediately.
TSGal
FileMaker, Inc.
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I've got everything back on my iPhone, and Bento for Mac now looks lovely. Thanks for your help. I'm better off now than I was before.
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