Using a Backup ZIP on Another PC

[danyvanimpe-lab]

Hi,

I use the backup feature to keep a copy of all my designs on a USB stick.
If I move to another PC, what is the recommended way to restore all designs from the backup ZIP file?

Can Layerling import the complete ZIP backup, or should the contained LYL files be imported individually?

Thanks!

[danyvanimpe-lab]

The backup restore works great. I initially didn't realize that "Open a design or import geometry" can also import a complete backup ZIP. Maybe a small hint in the backup section could make that clearer for new users.
I was testing the backup and restore functionality and noticed that restoring a backup imports all designs and custom shapes correctly, which works great.

However, after testing I ended up with many duplicate designs. Is there currently a way to select multiple designs at once for deletion?

If not, a multi-select option with bulk delete could be useful when cleaning up large numbers of designs.

Thanks!

[henmedia]

@danyvanimpe-lab Yes, "Open a design or import geometry" takes the complete backup ZIP and brings back all designs and your custom shapes, no need to import the .lyl files one by one. You found it yourself, so thanks for the hint: the tooltip of "Back up all" now names that button.

The duplicates came from restoring: every restore added the designs as new ones, so restoring into the same browser twice doubled everything. A design that is already there (same name and same creation time) is now skipped, and the notice says how many were. A multi-select for deleting is not there, each design is still deleted from its own menu.

This is built, but not released yet. Once it is, please try it with your backup, restoring the same ZIP twice, and tell me if it works as described.

If you like layerling, you can support the project at https://layerling.com/support.html.

[henmedia]

@danyvanimpe-lab, it is in 1.80.0: restoring a backup skips designs that are already there, and the notice says how many were. Reload the page to get it; the installed app needs a restart. Please try it with your backup, restoring the same ZIP twice, and tell me if it works as described.

[danyvanimpe-lab]

I tested it with my backup and restored the same ZIP twice.

The duplicate prevention works exactly as described. Existing designs were skipped correctly and the notification clearly shows how many designs were skipped.

The updated backup and restore workflow is much clearer now, especially with the added tooltip mention.

Thanks for the quick fix and for continuously improving Layerling.

One small usability thought: for new users it might be even clearer if there were a dedicated "Restore Backup" button next to "Back up all". The current workflow works fine, but a separate restore button would make the backup/restore functionality more discoverable at first glance.

Just a small UI suggestion.

Best regards,
Dany

[henmedia]

@danyvanimpe-lab, thank you for testing it so carefully, and I am glad it works as described. A Restore backup button next to Back up all is a good idea: someone looking for a backup looks for that word. It is built, and it comes with the next release. It sits in the notice about designs kept in the browser, and it is there on a new computer with no designs yet, where a backup is restored.

[henmedia]

@danyvanimpe-lab, the Restore backup button next to Back up all is in 1.81.0. Reload the page to get it; the installed app needs a restart. Tell me if it is where you looked for it.