Backing up a Catalog

Backup only covers Catalog structure, metadata, and adjustments. Any original images (i.e. RAW, TIFF or JPEG files, etc) whether referenced or managed (stored physically inside the Catalog) will not be backed up.

Backing up the Catalog is useful in case your Catalog gets corrupted. You can restore it from the last backup. Or you may restore the previous Catalog structure from backup if you need it for downgrade.  

Capture One has its own system that allows a backup to be stored on your local computer or on an external disk. This backup location can be the same disk as the source of the original images. The frequency of your backup depends on the volume of your work. For example, making a backup once a week may be sufficient if you use Capture One regularly. Backing up a particular Catalog on a regular basis will result in a great number of copies to restore it from.

1. Go to the main menu, Capture One [version]/Edit (macOS/Windows) -> Preferences… The Preferences dialog window will open.
   
   
   
   
2. Select the General tab and go to the Catalog Backup panel.
   
   
   
   
3. From the Remind on close flyout menu, select the frequency for backing up based on the volume of work.
   
   
   
   
4. In Location, a path is shown to the current backup location. Click on the arrow icon to verify the setting. Click on (...) next to the path to select a new backup location. For a Mac, the default location is Macintosh HD -> Users -> [Username] -> Library -> Application Support -> Capture One -> Backups.
   
   
   
   
5. To back up to an external disk (recommended), attach an external disk and click on the action button (...) adjacent to the Location field. A new Finder/Explorer (macOS/Windows) dialog window will open.
   
   
6. Navigate to the external disk, create a new folder, and give it an appropriate name (e.g, Catalog Backups), or navigate to the folder created earlier and select Open. Thereafter, Catalogs will be backed up to the same location. Note that the external disk should be backed up independently, as per your chosen backup regime.
   
   
7. Verify the destination location, as per step 4.
   
   
8. To initiate a backup at any time, select File -> Backup Catalog… in the main menu. Otherwise, when closing a Catalog, a Catalog Backup dialog window opens reminding you to back it up. You can leave the backup to the location already defined or temporarily override the location from the dialog window (e.g., use this option when backing up to frequently changed external drives).
   
   
   
   
9. Additional options to Test Integrity and Optimize Catalog should be left enabled unless you require a quick and temporary backup. Then press Backup.
   
   
   
   The Catalog will be backed up and placed inside a timed and dated sub-folder. This folder is located within a folder with the same name as the Catalog's one, which is saved within the previously nominated folder (i.e., verified at Step 4 or overridden at Step 5). A second dialog opens to confirm successful backup with a path to confirm the location.
   
   
10. Select OK to close the Catalog.
    
    
    
    
11. Capture One remains open and the Recents dialog opens so that you can continue working with either new or existing documents.

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