Backing up a Catalog

Backup Catalogs do not contain any original images (i.e. RAW, TIFF or JPEG files etc) whether referenced or managed (stored physically inside the Catalog). 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 -> Preferenze (macOS) or Edit -> Preferenze (Windows). The Preferenze dialog window will open.
   
   
   
   
2. Select the Generale tab and go to the Backup del Catalogo panel.
   
   
   
   
3. From the Ricordami alla chi... flyout menu, select the frequency for backing up based on the volume of work.
   
   
   
   
4. In Posizione, 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 Posizione 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 Apri. 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 Catalogo… in the main menu. Otherwise, when closing a Catalog, a Backup del Catalogo 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 Testa l'integrità and Ottimizza catalogo 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 Recente dialog opens so that you can continue working with either new or existing documents.