What's the difference between a ".qb2007" extension vs. a ".qbmb?"

I have been backing up my files under one "Company" name, but I had some funky issues with importing transactions so I started saving it by a file name that had the current date on it.
Now I'm very confused as to how to backup my information. I think when I open up Quickbooks that I am working from a file called "Company_11-10-08.qb2007." But when I click on "backup" it auto-inserts a company file called "Company_11-17-08" which has not been modified since the day it was created.
Am I saving my company file and it's backups in the same folder by mistake or is this how it should be done?
What's the proper way to backup my file? I'm confused by what is being opened up when I click on the Quickbooks application icon and whether that's different than the file that's created when I "backup."
I'm very confused. I think the file I'm working from when I open Quickbooks is the one called "Company_11-10-08.qb2007" so I don't want to open up the other one, even though it has a later date.
Thanks!

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4 Replies

Debi Calvet

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12/01/08 6:01pm PST

Be sure that you don't open files that end with the ".qbmb." They're backup files that are created when you use QuickBooks' own backup function (NOT the same thing as using "save as"). I believe you'll only use one of those backup files if you need to do a restore.

Just keep on using your regular company file, the one with the ".qb2007" extension. The name of the company file will be somewhere up top. (Sorry, but now that I've switched to 2009, I've already forgotten exactly where you can see the file name.) Actually, I think that Cmd-1 will bring up a window that shows the file name in the title bar (or it does in 2009).

Be sure you know exactly where your regular company file is located on your computer. Even after using QB's backup function, QB should still launch your regular file, unless you accidentally opened a backup (.qbmb).

You can launch QB without opening a file by holding down the Option key during the launch. Then you'll see a window that will allow you to browse to the company file's location.

Debi Calvet, former business owner & long-time QuickBooks for Mac user
Please remember: This is a user-to-user forum—not QuickBooks Technical Support.

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rjkconst

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12/03/08 12:07pm PST

Best Answer - Chosen by the Community

Hi,

Every thing Debi says is true, but the QB2007 for Mac, the company file is by default stored in the Quickbooks folder, inside the Documents folder. The actual data file is the one with the qb2007 afier the name.

The backups are also sent there by default, So yes it can get messy sometimes, so what I did when I used QB2007 was to make a new folder inside of the Quickbooks folder and named it "BACKUPS DO NO OPEN", and that is where I put my backups for the company files.... I have several companies. and I only use one Back up folder... and they will all have the ".qbmb: at the end of the name.

Does this make sense now.

Ron

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KevinEdds

New Member

12/03/08 12:12pm PST

Ron, this is great advice! Thanks. So what do you recommend is the best way to back up my Company File now? Just click on Backup and create a file with the .QB2007 extension? Or is there another better way?

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Debi Calvet

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12/03/08 1:09pm PST