Support / Your data / Backups

Backups and managing your data

Everything Yardstick records lives in a database on your own computer. Your data never leaves your machine, so keeping a copy is up to you. This page shows how to make a backup, restore one, and clear out old recordings when disk gets tight.

Where it lives: Settings → Backup Settings → Storage
The short version A backup is one .zip file you make in three quick steps. It holds your recordings, your settings, and your custom alarm sound. To restore, pick that zip and restart Yardstick. The whole thing stays on your computer, so nothing goes to a cloud and no account is involved.

Where your data actually lives

Yardstick stores everything it records in a single database on the computer where it runs. You do not have to hunt for it: the exact folder is printed at the bottom of the Settings page. Because the data is yours and stays local, backups are yours to keep and nobody else holds a copy.

How to make a backup

Open Settings → Backup. You are building one zip bundle, and the panel walks you through it top to bottom.

  1. Choose what to include

    Under What to include, the The recordings toggle is on by default, with the size shown next to it. Leave it on for a full backup. Turn it off if you only want your settings and want a smaller file.

  2. Choose where it should go

    Under Where it should go, pick Download it (the default) to save it the usual way, or Save it to a folder to write it straight to a place you choose.

  3. Make the backup

    Press Make the backup. Yardstick copies your database in a safe way, so a running recorder cannot corrupt the copy, and hands you one .zip file.

The Backup panel: a 'The recordings' toggle turned on with its size, a Download it or Save it to a folder choice, and a Make the backup button.
Settings → Backup. Three steps, top to bottom: what to include, where it should go, then Make the backup.

What is inside the zip

The backup contains your database, your settings, and your custom alarm sound if you set one. It does not include the computer's install identity or your license files, so it is safe to move between machines.

Treat the backup file like a password The zip includes your email (SMTP) app password, so anyone who has the file could read it. Store the backup somewhere safe, the same way you would guard a password, and do not share it casually.

How to restore a backup

Restoring puts a saved backup back in place. It happens on the next start, because the database is in use the whole time Yardstick is running.

  1. Open Restore

    In Settings → Backup, choose Restore a backup.

  2. Pick your zip

    Select the .zip file you saved earlier, then press Restore it.

  3. Restart Yardstick

    The restore is applied the next time Yardstick starts. Your existing files are not thrown away: they are moved aside and renamed with a timestamp, so nothing is lost if you change your mind.

Two things to expect A restore takes effect on the next start, not the instant you press the button, because the database is open while the app runs. And if you restore onto a different computer, re-register your license there afterward, because a license is for one computer.
Nothing gets overwritten Because your current files are renamed with a timestamp rather than replaced, you can always tell an old copy from the restored one, and you can go back if you need to.

Reclaiming disk space

Open Settings → Storage to see a breakdown of what is using your disk, then clear out what you no longer need. Two tools do the heavy lifting.

The Storage panel: a breakdown of disk use, a Delete recordings older than menu, a Keep the measurements toggle, and maintenance buttons.
Settings → Storage. See what is using space, delete old recordings, or drop just the stored measurements to reclaim most of the room.

Delete old recordings

Use Delete recordings older than to trim the oldest jobs. The choices are 1 year, 6 months, 90 days (the default), 30 days, or Everything. Before anything is removed, press Show me what that removes to preview exactly what will go, then confirm with Yes, delete permanently.

Deletion is permanent Deleting recordings cannot be undone. Read the preview first, and if the data matters, make a backup before you delete.

Keep the maps, drop the raw messages

If you want the space back but do not want to lose your jobs, turn on the Keep the measurements toggle. It drops only the stored original messages. That reclaims most of the space while keeping every map and report intact. The one trade-off: new measurements cannot be added back into those older recordings later.

Why "Keep original messages" costs so much Separately, in Recording settings, Keep original messages uses roughly three times the disk. That is the setting that lets new measurements be added to old recordings later. It is the same raw data the toggle above lets you drop once you no longer need it.

Maintenance actions

The Storage panel also holds a few housekeeping tools:

Fetch the yard map
Pull a fresh copy of the yard map.
Rebuild measurements
Recompute the measurements from your recordings.
Compact the database
Tidy the database file so it takes up less room on disk.

Common questions

Does my data go to the cloud?

No. Everything Yardstick records stays in a database on your own computer. That is why backups are yours to make and keep, and why nobody else has a copy.

My restore did not seem to do anything.

A restore is applied on the next start, because the database is in use while the app runs. Restart Yardstick and check again. Your previous files were renamed with a timestamp, not deleted, so nothing was lost.

Can I move my data to a new computer?

Yes. Make a backup on the old machine, restore it on the new one, and restart. The backup does not carry the install identity or license files, so re-register your license on the new computer, since a license is for one computer.

Will deleting old recordings free up a lot of space?

It can. If you would rather keep your maps and reports, turn on Keep the measurements instead: it drops only the stored original messages, reclaims most of the space, and leaves every map and report in place. The trade-off is that new measurements cannot be added to those older recordings later.

Not sure whether to keep or clear something? Open a support ticket and tell us what you are trying to free up. Because Yardstick runs on your own machine, we can usually point you to the right setting.

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