Editions Available: All Editions Audience: Administrative Users

Viewing Your Data Backup

Overview

Bullhorn data backups are your data processed into a collection of compressed, protected files using 7-Zip. While you can use any industry standard tool to extract the files, the steps here will use 7-Zip, and the files will have an extension of .7z. If you need a data backup, see the Requesting a Data Backup article.

Extracting the Files

Once you've received your data backup, you need to extract the files. The following steps are written for Windows users with 7-Zip. Mac users can unzip the file by double-clicking without the need for additional software.

  • Download the free 7-Zip tool here: https://www.7-zip.org/download.html
  • Extract the files from the database password protected compressed file:
    • In Windows Explorer, locate the file you downloaded.
    • Right click on the file, and from the 7-Zip menu option, choose to extract the files.
    • When prompted for a password, enter the same password you used to access the backup on the FTP.

Once extracted, you'll see individual folders stored on the server for all files by month or month and day, depending on the file type, along with a folder for the database backup. Here are some examples of what it may look like:

  • "backup_id####_pUserFiles_UserWorkFiles_PLID_2023.07" (stored by month)
  • "backup_id####_pUserFiles_UserAttachments_ClientCorporationFiles_PLID_2023.08" (stored by month)
  • "Aug_CorpName_corpID_BULLHORNXXXX" (month the backup has been run followed by corp name as per Admin, corpID and databaseID)

Restoring SQL Server Native Backups

Restoring your SQL server will require someone on your end with SQL experience to create the master key, certificate, and run the process. Bullhorn databases are in SQL 2019, so this version or newer will be needed to restore the backup.

 

Bullhorn Support can assist with accessing data backups but cannot help map restored data. A database administrator or web developer is the best resource for data or SQL-related questions.

 

Field Map Schema - Core Entities

For more information about the field mapping schema refer to the following Core Entities spreadsheet.

This spreadsheet presents the relationship between the schema for backups provided by Bullhorn and the field mappings visible inside the application.


Downloads

SQL Server Restore Example Scripts.pdf