Before You Make Changes, Backup Your Template First

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It is a rule that before you make changes, backup your original template first. This is to allow you to revert to your status quo in case you make errors. Check additional information about Changes Backup.

In making changes, backup first your original template. This is the advice that has been repeated over and over again for those who are having trouble restoring the status quo of their application. Stubborn as it may seem, a lot of programmers make the mistake of venturing into making minimal to substantial changes in their Internet-based applications without first making sure that they have a backup plan just in case something goes terribly wrong.

Not only is this advice given through experience; common sense dictates it. This is because you will never really know exactly how a certain modification to a template will affect the whole application. Every single line of text in a template is related to all the others and there is a huge possibility that an error in one line will cause another error in another, eventually causing your entire application to crash.

So, the first thing to remember is to backup your original template. This is very easy to do; just like backing up a conventional text document - except that you are not. However, just in case you do not know how to do it, here are some tips for you to do so.

Locate the template for your application. This consists of a series of text and characters, including the text that appears in your application. Of course, since the application is your own, you will have no problem locating your template. Backup your template by making a copy through wordpad or notepad, whichever you prefer. For easy access, save your copy on your desktop with a filename that should explicitly remind you that this copy is your backup and should not be modified at all costs. This copy will enable you to restore the application to its status quo without you having to pull out all your hair in frustration.

Try out your changes first before making a final upload. This will save you a lot of valuable time and effort; not to mention a whole day's worth of work. You can usually preview your application through Microsoft Internet Explorer or any other web browser. If not, then you can download an application through the Internet for that very purpose. Just remember, do not upload your template before you have made the final changes and before you have fully tried and tested all the corners of your application. Nothing spells frustration more than having to make changes again and again after each upload. Common sense dictates that before you finalize a piece of work; make sure that nothing is left unchecked.

When you have finally completed the last change, and when you are finally satisfied with how your application looks and works, then the time has already come to upload your template. Usually, how your application looks and works in the preview is how it will look and work once uploaded. It will be best to also check if everything is fine once your template is uploaded. Again, if you think that you will be making future changes, backup your current template, just in case.

If you are interested in Changes Backup, check this link to find out more about changes copy. Also, you can check other articles in Case Studies and Best Practices category.

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