MVP DGuess, author of OE-QuickBackup
(http://www.oehelp.com/OEBackup/Default.aspx), writes:
QP
Backup and archiving are two separate things that people sometimes confuse
each other with. What it sounds like you are wanting to do is archive the
old message stores for possible later retrieval. Usually archiving is a way
to store the old messages, clear them from the current setup and basically
start over with empty files. Should you have a need to restore those files,
you can simply import them into OE.

Backup is done in case you have a problem and need to restore the data as it
was.

Backing up files should be done in a way that you understand what and where
the files are, how long you want to retain them, etc.

Two different forms of backup (others may have additional plans):

1) Make a backup of the current data. (Backup1)
The next time you backup the data, put it in a separate folder.
(Backup2)
The next time you backup the data, put it in a separate folder again.
(Backup3)
The next time you backup, overwrite Backup1
The next time you backup, overwrite Backup2
The next time you backup, overwrite Backup3
The next time you backup, overwrite Backup1
The next time you backup, overwrite Backup2
The next time you backup, overwrite Backup3
&c.

You always keep the last three backups for that just in case problem.

2) Make a backup to a different folder for each backup, never overwriting
the previous.

One idea: I've got several clients doing now for backing up their messages
is to create a folder within OE and name it the month (March2004) of the
backup. They can easily copy just that one DBX file and put it on CD then
delete it from within OE. When they need it, they can easily then make a
new folder of the same name, open it to create the dbx file required to get
it in the Folders.dbx file), close OE, then copy the backed up dbx file over
the existing one (removing the read only attribute) then restarting OE.
Their messages are there waiting on them then and when they finish, all they
have to do is delete the folder in OE. They won't be adding messages to that
dbx file so it's no big deal when they delete it.
/QP
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)

mcp6453 wrote:
I am familiar with several methods for backing up OE, but I am not
familiar with a reasonable method of archiving old messages...and the
dbx files are growing very large. How should I archive?