Ninox database file on iCloud isn't visible and thus difficult to backup

Hi, 

As far as we know Apple has restricted the access to application data on the iCloud. You can not see the files anymore.
You can download and store the Ninox database manually. Select "Save archive as..." from the main menu.

Best, Jörg

I just realized this - this is a really big problem (since now there's no way to restore a backup). Is there a way around it in order to make backups? I use about 6 different databases for important parts of various jobs, and I've just realized that despite backing up everything on my computer, this doesn't appear to be backed up.

Thanks for the suggestion. It seems that iCloud data is backed up in Time Machine, just hard to get to by average users. I suppose I shouldn't count on Apple making it any easier any time soon. Ninox support has been wonderful with these questions, though.

Josh, even if the file is not normally visible, it still must have a valid pathname.  What is it?

Note that it ought to be possible to script automatic backups and it would be appropriate for Ninox to provide the script.  

I have recently implemented a strategy to backup my Ninox iCloud databases using LaunchCtl on the Mac. See below for the details.

On the Mac, when selecting the iCloud for the database locations they will be stored at the following location:

~/Library/Mobile Documents/BJE6SD455T~de~ninoxdb~ninox-ios

 

Using LaunchCtl to backup Ninox Databases. Firstly ensure that the following two files have been placed in the expected locations:

$ launchctl list | grep Backups

$ launchctl load ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.lloyd.NinoxBackups.plist

$ launchctl list | grep Backups

 

To remove the job:

$ launchctl unload ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.lloyd.NinoxBackups.plist

 

com.lloyd.NinoxBackups.plist: (Needs to be copied to ~/Library/LaunchAgents/

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">

<plist version="1.0">

    <dict>

        <key>Label</key>

        <string>com.lloyd.NinoxBackups</string>

 

        <key>Program</key>

        <string>/Users/lloyd/scripts/NinoxBackups.sh</string>

        <key>StandardOutPath</key>

        <string>/Users/lloyd/NINOX_Backups/NinoxBackups_out.log</string>

        <key>StandardErrorPath</key>

        <string>/Users/lloyd/NINOX_Backups/NinoxBackups_errors.log</string>

 

        <key>StartCalendarInterval</key>

<dict>

  <key>Hour</key>

  <integer>23</integer>

  <key>Minute</key>

  <integer>55</integer>

</dict>

    </dict>

</plist>

 

NinoxBackups.sh: (Needs to be copied to ~/scripts/)

#!/bin/zsh

# Script to backup Ninox Databases

#

# This script will perform backups of the Ninox Databases:

# Daily backups with day of month in the name

# Monthly backups with the month in the name

Day=$(date +%A)

DayOfMonth=$(date +%d)

Month=$(date +%b)

#echo $Month $Day $DayOfMonth

 

if [[ $DayOfMonth -eq 1 ]]

then

# echo "Monthly Backup";

    cd ~/Library/Mobile\ Documents && tar -czf ~/NINOX_Backups/Ninox_BU_$Month.tar.gz    BJE6SD455T~de~ninoxdb~ninox-ios;

else

# echo "Daily Backup";

    cd ~/Library/Mobile\ Documents && tar -czf ~/NINOX_Backups/Ninox_BU_$DayOfMonth.tar.gz BJE6SD455T~de~ninoxdb~ninox-ios;

fi