From time to time a BullCharts user may want to move their BullCharts software and data to another computer. This might be for any number of reasons, but most commonly when upgrading from an old computer to a new one. This article explains the process.

For an explanation of the term “user data files”, refer to the separate KB article “User data files – What are they and where are they?“. In this article below we refer to the older computer as the source computer, and the newer computer as the target computer.

An outline of the steps involved:

1. Backup the BullCharts user data files (using the BullCharts Backup option).
2. Copy these data files to the new computer.
3. Restore the data files to the new computer (using the BullCharts Restore option).

1. Backup the user data files (on the source computer)

Start BullCharts and use the menu option: Tools > Backup to take a copy of the user data files. For detailed information about the BullCharts Backup process refer to the separate KB article “How to backup and restore BullCharts user and data files“. Note that you do not need to backup the BullCharts Database. This process should capture all of the user data files (eg. watchlists, custom scans, custom indicators, templates, workspaces, IntelliCharts files, etc.).

IMPORTANT NOTE: You should NOT backup the “Registry Keys” when copying data to another computer. This refers to various BullCharts program settings in the Windows Registry, and it can be dangerous to copy these settings to another computer. So make sure to unselect this option in the Backup process.

In the backup process you are able to store the backup copy of the files in a folder on your local computer, or directly on to a USB memory stick. If you will be using a USB stick to transfer the files to the new computer, then you could backup the files directly onto the stick. Note that it is normal for the collection of backup files to comprise something like 100+ folders and 2000+ files, so it is quite a collection.

What if you don’t have a USB memory stick? – The USB sticks are very cheap these days, but if you don’t have one, another way to transfer the files across is to email them to yourself. Because there are many files in the backup collection, you might need to Zip the files into one Zip file, then you could attach the Zip file to an email on your computer, and email the email message to yourself (or to someone else). Then on the target computer you just need to receive the email message, and save the attached Zip file (and then unZip the file). This emailing process is straightforward if you use a web-based email service like Hotmail, Gmail or Yahoo-mail, etc.

2. Copy the data files (from source to target computer)

On the source computer, copy the backup files onto a USB memory stick (if not already done), and take the USB stick to the new computer and plug it in. It is now ready for the next step.

3. Restore the data files (onto the target computer)

On the target computer, install BullCharts if not already done. For information about installing BullCharts refer to the separate KB article “Installing BullCharts…”

Now start the BullCharts program, and use the menu option: Tools > Restore to copy the files from the USB memory stick into the correct locations on the target computer. For detailed information about the BullCharts Restore process refer to the separate KB article “How to backup and restore BullCharts user and data files“.