Local Citavi projects
Backup copy
Citavi automatically creates a backup copy when you close a local project. By default, Citavi saves the backup copy in the Documents\Citavi 6\Backup directory. The file is given the extension ctv6bak. It is a compressed XML format.
A backup copy always includes only the project file. PDF files, the covers in the Citavi attachments folder, and your self-created citation styles will not be saved.
To increase data security, regularly back up the most important data - including the entire Documents\Citavi6 folder - from the local hard drive to an external storage medium. Windows offers a convenient function for this from version 8; you can find it under Control Panel > System and Security > File Version History.
Location of backup copies
For example, you can set up Citavi's backup folder on a network drive because it may be backed up automatically by your institution daily. From the "Tools" menu, select "Options". Switch to the "Storage Locations" tab. Click on "Browse" in the "Automatic Backup of Local Project" s area. Select a new folder.
Note!
You can save your backup copies in a cloud folder using OneDrive, Dropbox, Google Drive or similar. However, you must not open and edit a Citavi project directly from a OneDrive or Dropbox folder. A synchronisation process may conflict with a Citavi saving process and lead to data corruption.
Restore a project from a backup copy
Go to the folder that contains your backup copies, usually: Documents\Citavi 6\Backup.
Switch to the folder named like the project you are looking for.
Double-click on the desired backup copy; usually, it is the most recent one.
The project opens immediately, and the project colour is set to grey. The file name is supplemented by the term RECOVERED. You can now either continue working directly with this project or copy titles from this project to the old project. You can select another project colour via the menu Extras > Project colours.
Citavi cloud projects
Backup copies for cloud projects
Cloud projects are backed up automatically at one-minute intervals over seven days. If you need to access such a backup and have a Citavi licence, contact Citavi Support and provide the Project Key. This can be found in your Cloud project in the menu File > This Project > Properties > Description > Project Key. In addition to the project key, enter your support information: Open any project and click on "Compile Support Info" in the "Help" menu. Copy the information provided there.
Creating a local copy
You can additionally save a local copy of the project at any time. Select file> This Project > Save Archive Copy Locally from the menu.
Citavi saves the project and all attachments in a ZIP archive in the folder Documents\Citavi 6\Projects\Archive. The file extension is CTV6ARCHIVE.
To turn the archive into a working Citavi project, unpack the ZIP archive by double-clicking the relevant archive copy.
Archive copies
You can create an archive copy of any project, e.g. local projects, cloud projects and DBServer projects. Unlike the backup copy (see above), the archive copy also contains all PDF files, cover images and other images from the Citavi attachments folder. For archive copies of DBServer projects, linked files are not included in the archive file.