Backup and restore

One export holds your whole library in one file: every original and version, the typed fields, people, groups, roles and grants, review decisions, completed work, trash, the audit trail and move-in history. Sign-in sessions, links and local passwords are not included.

Export

Stop Chest, then export into the exports folder inside your Chest folder:

rer dev --stop
rer export --output exports/library.rer

The file holds your private originals and records. Keep it somewhere safe, and keep a second copy away from this computer.

Restore into a fresh Chest

Restore only into a Chest with nothing in it, such as a new copy:

git clone https://github.com/just-every/run-chest.git chest-restored
cd chest-restored
rer install
rer import --input exports/library.rer --yes

Copy the archive into the new copy's exports folder first. Chest checks the whole archive before it writes anything, and refuses a damaged archive or a Chest that already holds data.

After a restore

Restored people come back with their grants, but not their sign-ins. Set up the owner again, start Chest and invite your staff again with the same emails:

rer setup --owner-email you@example.com
rer dev

Old sign-in links and sessions do not open the restored Chest.

Start over

rer reset --yes removes every record and setting from this copy of Chest. Export first if anything should survive.