[Evolution-users] Did the database structure change between Evolution versions 3.28-5 and 3.44-4?

[Volker Bartheld]

Hi Patrick!

On Sat, 2023-09-30 at 13:30 +0100, Patrick O'Callaghan wrote:
> On Sat, 2023-09-30 at 11:02 +0200, Volker Bartheld wrote:
> > On Fri, 2023-09-29 at 13:37 -0700, Bert Struik via evolution-users
> > wrote:
> > > I synchronize Evolution on two computers by "rsync"ing their
> > > .local/evolution/mail directories.
> > Not related to Evolution itself (I typically use the built-in Backup
> > option because the database is quite large and I don't want to wait for
> > rsync to complete its job across the LAN all the time)
> To reiterate what has been said several times in the past: the Backup
> option is not intended as a means of synching multiple instances of
> Evolution.

I hope, the backup option is at least able to build the exact same server
settings, other Evolution options, email/usenet database and whatnot that was
created on machine A on machine B. Ideally at least across a couple versions of
Evolution and not just from 3.44.4 to 3.44.5. Because if my SSD dies or I
decide, that I do not want Linux Mint anymore but Ubuntu-something, that comes
with a newer version of Evolution, I need to somehow restore my database.

If that is not possible, the process does not even deserve being called a
"backup" but rather "occupational therapy". And I'd really like to know what the
recommended procedure is in this use case.

I understand that rsync --archive ~/.local/evolution/ /media/mynas/Evolution/ is
evil and I understand why it would not work anywhere else but on the exact same
machine with the exact same installation. That's why I don't do I even though it
is a royal PITA to permanently haul 10+GB across the network, with no chance to
automate the process and no option to do an incremental backup which the Btrfs
file system on my Netgear NAS would really appreciate.

No hard feelings, but I'm a bit thin skinned when it comes to three decades
worth of personal data.

Greets,
Volker