MMB files structure or ??

[Grace]

I made a mistake and ended up without a backup using money Manager. So now I have 2 sets of files: mmb files for the entries and dll files in the bin folder.
Is there a way to put everything back in working order using whatever I have to use? I don't know what the structure is for the files that make MMex work. Been trying to figure it out and no luck.
Is everything lost or is there some way I can salvage my work? I am not a programmer and have done as much as I can. Anything you can suggest is helpful.

[Renato]

Normally you open the file xxxxx.mmb via File/Open Database.

MMEX creates backup copies independently.
For example: xxxxx.mmb_update_2021-08-27.bak
Renaming it to xxxxx.mmb and opening it with MMEX should solve the problem.

[Grace]

Thanks. I am so rusty using MMEX!

[Grace]

The only files I have with ".bak" are from when I started in 2011.
I am frantic that I have to re-enter 2020 all over again to get my taxes done (I got an extension to Oct 15).

Of course, this is blowing out everything I ever knew. What can you suggest?

Thanks

[whall3y]

> So now I have 2 sets of files: mmb files for the entries and dll files in the bin folder.

Did you say you had the .mmb file? If so, first take a copy of this, perhaps to you desktop. Re-install a fresh copy of MMEX, e.g. by taking the portable version. Run it then do File/Open and open the .mmb file.

[Grace]

OK, I probably have not been altogether clear. Still fumbling here.

I have a folder of ".dll" files and a folder of ".mmb" files. So I am unclear on what you mean by the mmb file.
Some of the files in that folder have mmb in the file name. Actually almost most of them.

What specific file name should I look for. My database is multi-year mostly because I don't have a huge amount of transactions. Nor are they complicated with more than one credit card.

What should I look for? I will install the newest version of MMEX.
Thanks in advance.

[whall3y]

The .mmb (and .bak files with the latest MMEX software) files are your database and backup files. These are what are really important as they hold all the transactions. The latest DB file will be called XXXXXX.mmb and the backup files XXXXXX_start_<date>.mmb (or .bak) and XXXXXX_update_<date>.mmb (or .bak).

In the case of the .bak you can still open this by taking a copy and changing the extension to .mmb

[MartinArmstrong]

OK, I probably have not been altogether clear. Still fumbling here.

To help you most effectively, please could you take a screenshot of your folder showing your .mmb files (and any .bak files) and post it here. Make sure we can see the names of the files and the dates they were last updated.

You haven't said which version of Windows you are using, so we can't help on taking a screenshot but it's easy to find this online (or ask here).

Unless you have deleted the database files (and emptied the Trash/Recycle Bin), you almost certainly have not lost your transactions. We just need a bit more information to assist you.

[Grace]

Running Win 7 pro

I think I see the problem. I do not create a new database for each fiscal year. Never needed it and I don't have a tremendous number of transactions each month. Maybe 100 +/-. No complex transactions. ! credit card. Investments are taken care of by the broker. 1 checking account and 2 savings accounts.

Even though I have a complete copy of the files prior to installing the latest version of MMEX, I could not figure out which MMB file I needed to use.
When I get past this crunch time I am going to start 2021 over again as a separate database. Then compare that with what I have now, both MMB & bak files. I think that will tell me what I need to know about the files.

Thanks for the help.

[Renato]

It is difficult to help someone who does not give us the information we need to help.
I would advise you to contact someone in your area who has some PC knowledge.
By the way, Windows 7 is completely outdated and no longer supported by Microsoft.

[Grace]

Sorry I gave the information to another user who has not gotten back to me. I am not keen on posting my financial files in an open forum. He asked for a list of the .mmb files and the .bak files.

I am well aware of microsoft's business strategy. Force customers to buy the newest of whatever you sell. You do that by forcing a new operating system at the same time as refusing to support an earlier operating system you sold.

Win 7 works fine for serious computing. I don't need an os that is dumbed down and gathers as much information about me as possible to sell without my consent. Where I am located? Why does microsoft need to know that every minute I have the computer on?

I am not wealthy and do not have the money to buy the shiniest doodad. I pay for what works just fine for me. Remember "backward compatible"?
I've been using MMEX since 2011 and never needed to deal with the backup copies. It is a fine piece of software.

[Grace]

It sounds like this forum is into things I am not.

[whall3y]

As noted earlier it would be good if you could you take a screenshot of your folder showing your .mmb files (and any .bak files) and post it here. Make sure we can see the names of the files and the dates they were last updated.

This will reveal no personal detail and help us to help you.

[Grace]

Hello -- Yes, I did that.

I read the FAQs online and did not see anything that all communications must be in the forum. I didn't see a thing about not using private messages.
I used a private message. Apparently, that doesn't work.

Please put that information in the FAQ about where to not post.

[Renato]

to clear up any misunderstandings, I would like to state the following:
a disscussion in the forum brings more success, because there is the possibility that other users can contribute to the solution.

Re: Time crunch & I still don't get it
Sent: 11 Oct 2021 21:12
From: Renato
Recipient: Grace

Actually I do not do support in private messages, please use forum.

Here is a sample of .mmb files. my file is called: enc.mmb, this file must be opened in the program MMEX. for example under File / Open Database.
If this file is missing, then files with extension .bak should be present.
I would then change the .bak file with the latest date to xxxx.mmb and open it in MMEX.

MMEX34.png (16.45 KiB) Viewed 2951 times

regards Renato use MMEX since 2009, now with Windows 11

[Grace]

A user with the name M(?) Armstrong offered to help. In the forum. So I sent material to them. I am happy to post the problem resolution in the forum when I can figure out which is the right file. Thanks for what you sent. The MMEX worked so well all these years that I never really looked at the files.

Now I know that you don't do support in private messages. I can see why. I only turned to you because I never heard from that person. Last resort.
I am re-doing all of 2020 on a spreadsheet that should work well for this project. Next week I can get started figuring out what I must have done wrong. I'll post my solution.

Thanks for your help.

[MartinArmstrong]

A user with the name M(?) Armstrong offered to help. In the forum. So I sent material to them.

Now I know that you don't do support in private messages. I can see why. I only turned to you because I never heard from that person. Last resort.

I am the person you are referring to. FYI, I do not normally read forum messages using the forum website; I use an RSS reader. Therefore I was unaware of the notification that there was a private message waiting for me.

I can see now that you sent me two PMs and then have deleted them:

PM.png (50.76 KiB) Viewed 2924 times

Grace, you really are not helping us help you.

All that was asked for so we could help was a screenshot of the names of the .mmb and .bak files and their dates. There is no sensitive financial information in this. You should have posted the screenshot to the forum so that we (i.e. several people) could help.

I originally wrote:

To help you most effectively, please could you take a screenshot of your folder showing your .mmb files (and any .bak files) and post it here. Make sure we can see the names of the files and the dates they were last updated.

Note the "post it here" and "we".

I read the FAQs online and did not see anything that all communications must be in the forum. I didn't see a thing about not using private messages.

I used a private message. Apparently, that doesn't work.

It does work, but you may not always get an instant response if the one person you sent the PM to is busy, or does not visit the forum directly - or if you delete the messages. That's why I asked you to post the screenshot here.

I am re-doing all of 2020 on a spreadsheet that should work well for this project.

Great. I'm pleased to hear it will work well for you.

I thought you had a tax deadline though.

Next week I can get started figuring out what I must have done wrong. I'll post my solution.

Great. Please do.

If you still want help next week, then please re-read the earlier message from me (and subsequent ones from Renato and Whall3y) and show us the information that will enable us to help you.