TeamCloud provides three ways to save your work or return to an earlier state. Each serves a different purpose.
| Method | What it is | Where it is stored | How to access it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Backups (automatic and manual) | A copy of your TeamCloud project at a point in time | On your computer, in your TeamCloud workspace | TeamCloud > Backups > Open Backup, only within the current cycle |
| Version history | The main project of each earlier cycle | Online, on the TeamCloud website | Download it from the project's Files tab. Both the team lead and team members can download versions, but only the team lead can delete them. |
| Export as Local Project | A regular MAXQDA project (.mqda) with the current state | Wherever you save it | Open it like any MAXQDA project. It is not connected to TeamCloud. |
Automatic backups
Regular automatic backups
If you have enabled automatic project backups in MAXQDA, your backup settings also apply to TeamCloud projects. When you open a TeamCloud project and the interval you set has passed since the last backup, MAXQDA creates a backup in your TeamCloud workspace. It does not create more regular backups while the project stays open.
If you keep your project open for long periods, for example by putting your computer to sleep instead of quitting MAXQDA, no new regular backups are created. Close the project or quit MAXQDA from time to time, for example at the end of each working day.
Backups before certain actions
MAXQDA also creates automatic backups before the following actions.
- Team lead: before starting a new cycle.
- Team members: before uploading their work for the team lead, and before downloading the project file of a new cycle, whether from the welcome screen, the TeamCloud menu, or the notification about the new cycle.
- Everyone: before restoring a backup from the current cycle.
Creating a backup manually
Consider creating a backup before or after major changes to your project, such as substantial changes to the code system. Make sure you are logged in to your MAXQDA Account.
- Go to TeamCloud > Backups > Create Backup.
- Name your backup and save it.
Restoring a backup
Restore a backup to return your project to an earlier state. You can restore only backups created during the current cycle.
- Go to TeamCloud > Backups > Open Backup.
- Select the backup you want to restore and open it.
MAXQDA backs up your current project before restoring another backup, so you can return to the previous state if needed.
Exporting as a local project
You can also export your TeamCloud project as a regular MAXQDA project (.mqda), for example, to archive its state at the end of a cycle.
From the welcome screen:
- Select Team Projects.
- Hover over the project, then click the More menu (three dots).
- Select Export as Local Project and choose where to save the file.
From an open TeamCloud project:
- Go to TeamCloud > Export as Local Project and choose where to save the file.
The exported file is not connected to TeamCloud. Changes you make in it will not reach your team, and you cannot upload them. Keep the exported file for reference and continue working in the TeamCloud project. If you have already worked in an exported file, see how to bring that work back into TeamCloud.
Earlier cycles in the version history
The TeamCloud website keeps the main project of each earlier cycle. You can download these versions from the project's Files tab (see the version history on the TeamCloud website).
Backing up the project logbook
The project logbook exists only online and is not included in MAXQDA backups. To keep a copy, save the logbook page as a PDF or import it into MAXQDA (see the project logbook on the TeamCloud website).
