The integrity routines will print a report of inconsistent connections between records. This makes sure firearms, loans, inventory records are consistent. Because the operators must have access to the inventory and firearms records it is possible to cause errors as well as fix errors. For example, a person makes a loan on a pistol loan no. 002345, the system assigns the pistol firearm no. 901224. The operator through a misunderstanding uses the "D" option of firearms maintenance and deletes the firearm record no. 901224. The nightly routine will display the message loan no. 002345 missing firearm no. 901224.
BACKUPS OF THE SYSTEM ARE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE STORE OWNER AND THE LOCAL HARDWARE SUPPORT VENDOR.
As the integrity routines are run a backup of the entire system should be made to an external media.
There are many different ways that a backup can be accomplished. It can be manually or use software dedicated to the operating system where APS is running. There are at least three reasons a backup copy of the system should be created:
1.In case the computer system crashes
2.In case of fire, do not store the backup media on site, carry the day's backup to the store in the morning and take out last night's as you leave.
3.In case an employee uses the delete routines to erase data, either by accident or on purpose.
What about fireproof safes? Yes they are fireproof but are the heat proof? Most of the backup media is covered in plastic that could melt with high temperatures. In addition to storing the backup media off site, an archive backup should be made each quarter and kept for an indefinite period.
