Backup/Restore PostgreSQL databases

• Download library - 1.72 MB
• Download source application demo - 1.86 MB

Introduction

This article provides developers the possibility to quick implement « Backup/Restore database » functionality in their applications. This library can be used from your application, and the backup operation runs in the local machine. It is not necessary to run backup or restore on the server.

Background

This library use some PostgreSQL files:

• pg_dump.exe
• pg_restore.exe
• libeay32.dll
• libiconv-2.dll
• libintl-8.dll
• libpq.dll
• Npgsql.dll
• ssleay32.dll
• zlib1.dll

In our case this solution is tested on PostgreSQL 9.1. So if you have to use a different version, may be you need to replace files with the correct version which could be found on your PostgreSQL installation directory.

The backup/restore operation is launched in NoShell mode and the result of the execution is intercepted in an Output event which provides an output string.

Using the code

To launch Backup or Restore operation, you have to fill a config object that contains the host, username, port, and password. All public methods are written in a static class named Control.

To start backup, use the method below:

//
void BackUp()
{
    pgstore.Config cnf = new Config();
    cnf.ServerName = txtHost.Text;
    if (lstDB.Items.Count > 0 && lstDB.SelectedItem!=null)
        cnf.DataBase = lstDB.SelectedItem.ToString();
    cnf.UserName = txtUserName.Text;
    cnf.Password = txtPass.Text;
    cnf.Port = Convert.ToInt16(txtPort.Text);
    pgstore.Control.CurrentConfig = cnf;
    string FileName = pgstore.Control.CurrentConfig.DataBase + "_" + DateTime.Now.Day.ToString() + 
      "_" + DateTime.Now.Month.ToString() + DateTime.Now.Year.ToString() + ".backup";
    pgstore.Control.Backup("D:\\backup" , FileName, true);
}//

To start restore, use the method below:

//
void Restore(string path)
{
    pgstore.Config cnf = new Config();
    cnf.ServerName = txtHost.Text;
    if (lstDB.Items.Count > 0 && lstDB.SelectedItem!=null)
        cnf.DataBase = lstDB.SelectedItem.ToString();
    cnf.UserName = txtUserName.Text;
    cnf.Password = txtPass.Text;
    cnf.Port = Convert.ToInt16(txtPort.Text);
    pgstore.Control.CurrentConfig = cnf;
    pgstore.Control.Restaure(path, false);
}

If you have a specific option, the right way is to change it in the StoreParameters object in your CurrentConfig.Parametres.

Don’t forget to add the required PostgreSQL files to your setup project.