Moving to another computer

This page describes what to do if you need to move your Cardbox installation from one computer to another.

1. Install Cardbox

Download and install Cardbox on the new computer. You do not need to worry about licence codes because the latest version of Cardbox no longer needs a licence.

2. Move your database files

Find your database files and move them to your new computer.

If you aren't sure where your database files are, we can't help you, because we can't know where you decided to put your database files when you were creating them. But here are a couple of hints:

Each database has two files. If the database is called 'something', then the files are called something.fil (the database file) and something.fmt (the format file). They always live together in the same directory or folder.
If you have a database open in front of you but have no idea where its files might be, use the command Window > Properties to find out.

3. Move your macro files (if any)

If you are using macros, each macro will be saved in a separate file, with filetype .cbs. Where those files are depends on where you chose to store the macros.

General macros (applying throughout Cardbox) are stored in a fixed location. Use Tools > Options > Macros to find it.
Workspace macros (applying when you are using a particular workspace) are stored in a fixed location defined for each workspace. Use Tools > Options > Macros to find it.
Related Databases macros are stored in the same directory as the .fil and .fmt files of the databases to which they apply.
This Database macros are stored in a directory whose name is derived from the name of the database file. If the database is called 'something', its database macros will be stored in a directory called something.fil.cbs.

4. Move your spelling dictionaries (if any)

If you use Cardbox's spelling checker, you have the option to mark words as valid even when they do not exist in Cardbox's standard spelling dictionaries. Your spelling dictionaries will have a filetype .tlx and their filenames will begin with ud.

If a database has its own spelling dictionary, it will be stored in the same directory as the This Database macros.
The general user spelling dictionary for Cardbox is stored in the same directory as the General macros, but you are able to override this setting. Use Tools > Options > Spelling to find out the location you are using.

5. Move your workspace files

Whenever you open Cardbox, you are actually opening a Cardbox workspace. Some people only have one workspace (Cardbox creates one automatically); others have several workspaces, each with its own collection of databases.

In addition to a list of databases, each workspace contains any workspace-specific customisations you have made, such as menu entries, keyboard shortcuts and toolbar buttons for macros. If you haven't made any customisations specific to a workspace, then moving the workspace file is optional.

Workspace files have the filetype .cbw.

If you aren't sure where your workspace file is, use File > Workspace to find out.

6. Move your Cardbox settings

The whole of the Tools > Options window contains information that is specific to your installation of Cardbox. It is a good idea to transfer this to your new computer.

On your old computer, use the command Tools > Management > Save Cardbox Registry Settings to save all your settings to a file. You can choose where this file should be and what it should be called.

Move that file to your new computer and double-click on it to install the settings into the Windows registry.

7. Dealing with directories (folders)

Cardbox workspace files refer to databases by their file and directory names. The various settings you have looked at in Tools > Options refer to various storage locations by their full directory names. If the directory structure of your new computer is identical to the directory structure of your old computer (everything is in exactly the same place on the new as in the old), then you have nothing to worry about. However, if you have made changes to where things are, problems will arise.

Cardbox workspaces refer to databases by their full filename – the name of the file and the full name of the directory (folder) it is in. If a database is in a different directory on the new computer from the one it was in in the old, Cardbox won't be able to find the database when it opens the workspace on your new computer, and so it won't be able to reopen the database for you automatically. Don't worry. Just use File > Open to open the database by hand, and when you close Cardbox, the workspace will remember the new location of the database.
Cardbox settings refer to some directory locations: for instance, where the General macros are to be stored. If these move, you'll need to use Tools > Options on your new computer to point Cardbox to the new locations.

When Microsoft change directory names for you

Be aware that directory names can change from one computer to another even if you don't change them yourself.

This happens because the name of the home folder (called "My Documents" on Windows XP) may change. On one computer it may be C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\My Documents, on another it may be something quite different – either because you aren't called "Owner" on the new computer or because Microsoft have decided to decorate the folder name in a different way.

To be on the safe side, go through Tools > Options and make sure that all the directories it refers to really do exist.