Backups & Company Doctor

Backing up

File → Back Up Company. LedgerDesk runs an integrity check before writing the backup, shows a blocking progress overlay while it validates and writes so you don't accidentally close mid-backup, and can optionally include your attachments folder and manifest.

Portable company files

A portable copy excludes physical attachment files, to keep the size down, but keeps the links — so you can hand off a lightweight copy and reattach the original files folder later if needed.

Restoring

File → Restore Company. LedgerDesk validates the backup, makes a safety copy of whatever is currently open, overwrites atomically, tests database write access, and reopens the company read/write. If anything fails validation, your original file is left untouched.

Application updates never touch your company files. Company data and settings are kept completely separate from the application itself during upgrades.

Company Doctor

Accountant → Company Doctor, or the Dashboard status widget, runs integrity checks against:

• Database structural integrity
• Whether debits equal credits company-wide
• Missing or broken links between records
• Duplicate records
• Whether linked attachment files actually exist
• Backup health and recency

Background checks run automatically and surface a detailed alert if something needs attention — worth glancing at the Dashboard widget periodically, and definitely before closing a period or handing files to your accountant.

Closing a period

1. Reconcile all bank/credit-card accounts through the period end.
2. Review the Dashboard and Company Doctor for any outstanding issues.
3. Run and review your P&L and Balance Sheet for the period.
4. Company → Set Closing Date, enter the closing-date password.
5. From this point, any change to a transaction dated on or before the closing date prompts for the closing-date password again — a safeguard against silently altering filed numbers.