To restore an earlier phrase file version:

1. Open the main program window.
2. Highlight the desired local phrase file node in the tree view.
3. Click File » Restore from backup.
4. Select the desired archive from the list.

After confirmation, PhraseExpress restores the selected file version.

The backup feature may not be available in following cases:

• The selected phrase tree node is a SQL server connection.
• The phrase file is write-protected on file level.
• The backup folder path as specified in the settings is not accessible or invalid.
• The backup folder does not contain any backup.
• Backup is disabled in the program settings.

To delete one or multiple selected backup file click the recycle bin.

If PhraseExpress hangs, check if this caused by any "ransomware" protection feature (e.g. Acronis Active Protection").

PhraseExpress stores phrase file backups in the directory as defined in the backup settings under “File » Settings » Phrase file » Backup”. Backups are created for each phrase file in separate subfolders, beginning with the phrase file name, followed by a random character sequence (Example: “/phrases_606775_Local”).

To restore a backup manually:

1. Open the PhraseExpress backup folder. It contains several files with a time/date stamp in the file name.
2. In the Windows File Explorer, click on the column title bar “change date” in the file list to sort all files by date.
3. Review the file size of the files which gives you indication of the amount of contents. Small sizes such as 1KB indicates, that the file is empty.
4. Copy the newest file with reasonable size to a file directory where you want to store your PhraseExpress phrase file.
5. Rename the phrase file to a reasonable name and remove the file extension “.bak” (default file name is “phrases.pexdb”).
6. Load or import the renamed phrase file in PhraseExpress.

To avoid data loss, please consider the following points:

• Always use the latest version of PhraseExpress, as it is continuously improved. For example, PhraseExpress version 16 and later supports significantly larger phrase files through an entirely new storage system and provides more protection against unexpected computer crashes.
• Choose a directory on the local hard drive as the storage location for the phrase file, as network drives may only become accessible after Windows has started and PhraseExpress is already running. This can lead to undesired effects because PhraseExpress expects the phrase file to be present at startup.
• For the same reason, do not use encrypted drives that delay content availability, such as due to manual password entry or delayed driver loading. PhraseExpress itself comes with password protected AES encryption option.
• Do not shut down the computer during operation or while it is shutting down, as this can prevent the phrase file from being fully written and result in its corruption.
• System crashes can unfortunately occur exactly at the time the phrase file is being written, causing it to become corrupted.
• Antivirus programs can interfere with the writing process or classify the phrase file as a threat and delete or block it. Add an exception for PhraseExpress in your antivirus program if necessary.
• Insufficient storage space on the drive can result in the phrase file not being fully written.
• File system errors can prevent phrase files from being written or loaded correctly. Regularly check the integrity of the storage medium.
• Insufficient or suddenly changed access rights can prevent the phrase file from being written or loaded.
• Malware can damage or render the phrase file unusable.
• Ensure that multiple installations of PhraseExpress never use the same phrase file. Refer to this guide on how to share phrase files with multiple users.