Quick database question

[Shane Litherland]

Fair calls you make there John, though if others use db's and gnucash in
a similar way to me, set up on their own computer, it might not be quite
as 'dangerous' as you allude to ;-)
I would have thought, that if the user running Gnucash has read/write
priveleges to the db, then they would be able to dump the gnucash db...
(I know I can do that with other db's I use under my general logon, its
only a full dump I have to do as admin)

but i'm not worried if my 'idea' is not feasible/sensible, just thought
I'd put it out there for assessment...seems the verdict may be there's
easier ways :-)

regards,
shane

On Mon, 2010-12-27 at 07:44 -0800, John Ralls wrote:
> On Dec 27, 2010, at 3:05 AM, Shane Litherland wrote:
> 
> > Hi Ian, et al.,
> > 
> > so, you've by now figured out that you'll have to backup your SQL
> from a
> > command-line.. I use postgresql for other db stuff, there's pg_dump
> and
> > pg_dumpall (hope I got that right).
> > 
> > But, on a more general note regarding the idea of a 'backup' option
> in
> > gnucash itself - could it be that the copy or 'dump' commands could
> be
> > integrated in a little 'point and click' option in gnucash?
> > 
> > e.g. a bit of program that had
> > 
> > IF database is postgres, THEN send "pg_dump with filename as current
> > file+timestamp+the-word-backup" to the postgres db, using user/login
> > that the user saved in their preferences or typed in the GUI for
> this
> > task; and save it in the location that user specified in prefs/GUI;
> > 
> > OR, IF sqlite, then do same steps for it;
> > or ...etc
> > 
> > and have a GUI that the user ticks which db they use, and other
> optional
> > bits as I alluded to above
> > 
> > Personally, I am fine with a pg_dumpall to make sure I backup all my
> > lovely database info :-)
> > 
> > But if there's others out there that think this might be a neat
> addition
> > to gnucash... be happy to take it up further with you. limited
> > programming skills, but if i have some skeleton or example of
> something
> > similar that 'works' then I MIGHT be able to help tweak it etc...
> 
> Unfortunately your approach assumes that the postgres/mysql server is
> running on the same machine as Gnucash and that the Gnucash user has
> privileges to run the dump routine. Neither is valid.
> 
> Postgres and MySql are sophisticated tools and require sophisticated
> administration. I doubt that many DBAs would take kindly to Gnucash
> mucking around with their backup strategy, and it's appropriate to
> assume that anyone who takes the trouble to run a Postgres or MySql
> server has a backup strategy in place. Neither is really appropriate
> for users who need a backup menu item.
> 
> Regards,
> John Ralls
>