Backing up your Desktop Report Writer settings is a smart precaution that can make recovering from a computer crash or transitioning to a new computer a breeze. This article will guide you through the process of backing up and restoring your settings, ensuring that your templates, comments, invoices, and more are safe and accessible when you need them.

Desktop Report Writer will periodically prompt you to back up to the cloud. Take advantage of this and back up. You can also back up manually.

Please note that Backup and Restore features are only available to users with Online Services

Back-Up HG User Settings

1. At the top-level menu, click HomeGauge Services > Backup HG User Settings
2. When asked if you want to proceed, click Yes.

Restore HG User Settings

To learn how to restore Desktop Report Writer User Settings, please visit the article titled Report Writer Desktop: Restoring User Backup

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the backup include?

1. Templates
2. Comments
3. Invoice
4. Contacts
5. Logos, Signatures, Initials
6. Print options
7. Custom report parts (cover page, back page, agreement, etc.)
   
8. Auto Fill

What does backup NOT include?

Reports

HomeGauge Backup does NOT back your reports! You must upload your reports to your Inspector Dashboard to save them online. HomeGauge keeps your reports for a minimum of 5 years.
To download or transfer your Reports, follow the instructions below:

From your Inspector Dashboard, for instructions, Inspector Dashboard: Downloading Uploaded Report

From your old computer or external hard drive

1. Open your File Explorer and navigate to Documents\HomeGauge.
2. Right-click the Reports folder and choose copy.
3. Plug in and open your external storage device (we like to use a USB thumb drive).
4. Navigate to the device on your computer, right-click and choose Paste (or press Ctrl-V).
5. Safely remove your external storage device from your old computer.
6. Paste these folders in your new computer at Documents HomeGauge Reports.
7. Restart the HomeGauge software. The reports will be available for you to open. Note: If you are using HomeGauge 4, you will need to click OpenRebuild Database to make your reports visible.

Drawings

The Backup will not save your Drawings folder. To transfer your Drawings folder to a new computer use an external hard drive or usb thumb drive:

From your old computer or external hard drive

1. Open your File Explorer and navigate to Documents\HomeGauge.
2. Right-click the Drawings folder and choose copy.
3. Plug in and open your external storage device (we like to use a USB thumb drive).
4. Navigate to the device on your computer, right-click and choose Paste (or press Ctrl-V).
5. Safely remove your external storage device from your old computer.
6. Paste the Drawings folder in your new computer at Documents\HomeGauge.
7. Restart the HomeGauge software. The drawings will be available for you to open.

Attachments

The Backup will not save your Attachments folder. This folder contains all of the Pictures, Drawings, and Files that you Attached to your Auto-Comments. To transfer your Attachments folder to a new computer, follow the steps below:

Transferring a template using the cloud

1. In your HomeGauge desktop software, click HG Services  > Upload Cloud Templates & Settings.
2. Select the template(s) you want to transfer and click OK.
3. On your other computer or device, go to HG Services > Download Cloud Templates & Settings. The templates and settings you uploaded earlier are downloaded
4. Click Select Report Template to choose and use the template

From your old computer or external hard drive

1. Open your File Explorer and navigate to Documents\HomeGauge.
2. Right-click the Drawings folder and choose copy.
3. Plug in and open your external storage device (we like to use a USB thumb drive).
4. Navigate to the device on your computer, right-click, and choose Paste (or press Ctrl-V).
5. Safely remove your external storage device from your old computer.
6. Paste the Drawings folder in your new computer at Documents\HomeGauge.
7. Restart the HomeGauge software. The drawings will be available for you to open.

How do I check the date of my last backup?

Log onto your Inspector Dashboard. On the left, click My ReportsCloud Transfers. Scroll down to the HomeGauge User Settings Backup section