Plan B

B in this case, doesn’t stand for boobs, beautiful, blowjob, bliss, bare, balls, baby or bitch.

 B in this post is for backup, which can be a bitch or a bugger if you don’t do it regularly and you have an unfortunate event.  Even if you haven’t suffered an unfortunate event, and you want to change webhost or blogging platform.  You’ll need a backup to get you through.

I’ve discussed this before, but I think it’s a good idea to bring it up again.  Which ever your blogging platform, make sure you are familiar with the suggested backup routine.  Engage it, try it.  Not just the backup routine, the restore portion also.  

How?  Create a test site, perhaps parallel to yours.  Do some formatting, drop in some jibberish posts or data.  Backup, wipe it out, and see what’s involved in restoring it.  You’ll be happy if disaster strikes.  It’ll never happen to me  really doesn’t apply here.

Here are resources to some of  the different applications out there.  for the ones I missed, don’t be affraid to post it in a comment below.  This post is meant to be helpful and educate everyone.  I’m also open to corrections and suggestions.

Blogger   It doesn’t do it for you, but it tells you how to go about it!

Typepad  Please investigate further.  There’s more than one way to get to rome here!

Wordpress.com  You should probably read this anyway!  See the Export feature.

Wordpress on your own Server.  Read this:  Yes there are Plugins available, but one of these easiest methods, if you have upgraded to 2.1 is to go the Manage tab of the Dashboard, choose Export.  This format is calledl WordPress eXtended RSS or WXR.  It will contain your posts, comments, custom fields, and categories.

You need a little more here.  Your plugins, your themes, your pictures…With your FTP program,  download the directory structure to your computer.  Save it in a directory.  You may not be able to re-upload everything as is, but at least you’ll know what steps to take to put it back.  Your theme edits, and your css file should just right in after you’ve reinstalled your theme.

Restore  Wordpress on a new server or the same.  2 steps:  Install a fresh copy of Wordpress on the server, use the Manage/Import feature.  It will restore the file you had exported as your back up.  Yes, you still have to re-do the formatting, but you’ve saved your data.  Second step, now install your theme, restore the mods to your theme and re-do the plugins.

In the mean time I hope Nina from Lazy Geisha, gets back up on her feet and I hope this article, will inpire all of you to consider Plan B.