PCLaw Migrations: Creating Database Backups

PCLaw Migrations: Creating Database Backups

Depending on a firm's version of PC Law, their PC Law database is running with either SQL Server or CTREE.  You should identify the database type and use the appropriate measures to acquire a copy of their database and their STATDATA folder.

For SQL Server

Create a SQL Server BAK backup of the database.
 

For CTREE

Create a ZIP file of the DynData and StatData folders.

These files often reside in a location like:

T:\PCLaw Data\Data\DynData

T:\PCLaw Data\Data\StatData


In order to make the ZIP file, all users must be out of PC Law.  If you receive "Access Denied" errors while making the backup, then users are still in PC Law.
 

PTA / PLA Files are Not Viable Backups

Occasionally, when you ask a firm for a PC Law backup, they will provide you with either a PTA or PLA file.  This is a custom archive file that is generated by the PC Law application and cannot be used by any other system.  To back up a firm's data from PC Law, you will need a real database backup and not a PTA/PLA file.


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