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  • Restoring a Portable Backup and Recovering an Import

Restoring a Portable Backup and Recovering an Import

2 min read

By My-Trains.com Documentation · Last updated August 5, 2026

TIM provides two different recovery workflows: complete portable restore and import-run rollback. Choose the workflow that matches the problem.

Complete portable restore #

A portable backup is the ZIP downloaded from Reports. It can contain inventory records, relationships, protected photographs, receipts, documents, projects, maintenance, loans, operations, and other supported data.

To restore it:

  1. Open the empty target inventory.
  2. Open Reports.
  3. Expand Restore a complete portable backup into an empty inventory.
  4. Select the TIM portable ZIP package.
  5. Confirm the restore.

To prevent duplication, a complete package can be restored only into an empty inventory. TIM validates the manifest, verifies protected-file hashes, restores relationships, and can reuse matching catalog products. Do not unzip or edit the package before restoring it.

Legacy JSON preview #

Reports also provides Preview items from a legacy TIM JSON export. Legacy JSON items pass through TIM’s match-and-review import workflow. Existing matches default to Skip. JSON does not provide the same complete protected-file recovery as a portable package.

Import-run rollback #

Use rollback when a CSV, workbook, JMRI, or legacy JSON import created or changed records incorrectly.

  1. Open Inventory Settings.
  2. Find Recent inventory-item import runs.
  3. Open the affected run and verify its source filename and summary.
  4. Select Roll back imported items.
  5. Confirm and review the result.

Rollback targets records associated with that exact import-run ID. Newly created items are moved to TIM Trash rather than permanently deleted. Supported changes to matched records are restored. Pre-existing unrelated records are not changed.

Do not restore a portable backup merely to reverse one recent import. Likewise, do not expect import rollback to reconstruct an entire lost inventory. Keep current portable backups so both recovery options remain available.

Still need help? Submit a private support ticket and include only the technical details needed to investigate.

Related TIM resources

Put these instructions in context #

  • Spreadsheet import planning guide
  • Train Inventory Manager features
  • Free 60-day Personal trial

Keep learning

Related documentation #

  • Understand Import, Export, and File Limits
  • Troubleshoot Access, Uploads, Imports, Exports, and Browser Problems
  • Importing Inventory from CSV or Excel
  • Import JMRI locomotives into TIM
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Importing Inventory from CSV or ExcelUnderstand Import, Export, and File Limits
Table of Contents
  • Complete portable restore
  • Legacy JSON preview
  • Import-run rollback
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