===== Backup copies =====
Backup copy is a zip archive that contains all data: a family tree file and its documents folder with all original files (photos and other documents). 
Please create an archive every time when you entered a lot of new information: save the changes, then click "All actions" menu - "File" - "Export" - "ZIP-archive".

At the moment of closing Agelong Tree automatically offers to create a backup copy of the data file if two conditions are met:  the previous suggestion to create an archived data copy took place more than one day ago AND more than 30 records have been added/edited/deleted since the previous archive creation.  Please also check that the corresponding option is on in [[en:options|program options]]. **We strongly recommend to create backup copies of your family tree file and keep it outside the computer, on a portable drive or in the cloud storage.**

You can use the backup copy as well if you need to open the family tree on another computer. First create a backup copy (''All actions'' menu -- ''File'' -- ''Export'' -- ''Zip archive'') and save it on any external disc. Then restore the backup copy in Agelong Tree (''All actions'' menu -- ''File'' -- ''Import'' -- ''Zip archive'').

Current Agelong Tree version doesn't support archives larger than 4 Gb. To create a backup copy please use the Windows Explorer options, include the *.at5 file and *.files folder into a .zip archive.