Create and Manage Custom QCBM Backup Profiles

Backup Profiles turn QCBM backup settings into reusable policies. Basic can use and edit the included Profiles. Pro, Max, and All Access can add additional Profiles and can use the higher-tier scheduling, retention, and automatic-export controls available in the Profile editor.

A good custom Profile should make its purpose obvious before anyone starts a backup. Name it for the job it performs—such as Nightly Database or Weekly Full Off-Site—rather than creating several nearly identical profiles with vague names.

Create a New Profile

  1. Open Components > QC Backup Manager > Profiles.
  2. Click Add Profile. If the button is disabled, confirm the current effective tier includes multiple Profiles and that your Joomla account has permission to manage them.
  3. Enter a Profile title. The title is required.
  4. Add a description explaining when administrators should use the Profile.
  5. Optionally add internal Profile notes. Notes stay with the Profile and are not included in the backup archive.
  6. Set Ordering; lower numbers appear earlier in Profile lists.
  7. Choose the backup, archive, exclusion, schedule, retention, and export settings described below.
  8. Leave Published and available for manual use enabled when the Profile should appear for manual backups.
  9. Click Save Profile.

Choose What the Profile Protects

Set Backup type to Full Backup - Database and Files, Database Only, or Files Only. The Profile's saved type is what QCBM uses when that Profile is selected for a normal manual or scheduled run.

Review Excluded folders and Excluded file extensions carefully. QCBM also applies required system exclusions for its own managed backup, export, recovery, and staging paths so a backup does not recursively include its own output.

Choose Archive and Split Settings

Archive strategy supports Auto and the archive choices available on the server. Auto is the normal starting point: with ZipArchive available, QCBM can choose a single ZIP for smaller file sets and Split ZIP when the site approaches the selected split threshold.

Split size can use QCBM's automatic choice or a custom size. Custom split sizes are limited to the range supported by the editor. Change them to solve a real hosting or transfer constraint, then test the resulting Backup Set.

Configure an Exact Schedule

Pro and higher can configure automatic scheduling in the Profile. Available schedule patterns include Manual, Hourly, Daily, Weekly, and Monthly.

  • Hourly schedules use a minute past each hour.
  • Daily and recurring timed schedules use the Joomla site timezone shown in the editor.
  • Weekly schedules require at least one weekday.
  • Monthly schedules use a day of month; shorter months use their final day.
  • The Profile also stores a retry wait for failed scheduled attempts.

The Joomla Scheduled Task is the worker opportunity that checks due Profiles. It is not a replacement for the exact schedule saved in the Profile.

Set Retention and Automatic Export

Eligible tiers can set Maximum Backup Sets to keep and Maximum local storage (GB). A local storage limit of 0 means no size limit. Retention applies to eligible backup artifacts as new backups accumulate; it should be treated as a deliberate policy, not as an emergency cleanup button.

If off-site export is available, enable Auto-export after a successful verified backup only after the destination has been configured and tested. A local Backup Set can be valid even when a later remote export needs attention, so review the two outcomes separately.

Edit, Publish, or Unpublish a Profile

Use Edit to change an existing Profile. Basic installations can still edit the included Profiles even though creating additional Profiles requires Pro or higher.

Use Publish or Unpublish to control whether a Profile is available for manual use without deleting its saved settings. After a major change, create one controlled Backup Set and verify the result before trusting the Profile to unattended automation.

Delete a Custom Profile

Deleting Profiles requires Pro, Max, or All Access. QCBM also requires at least one Profile to remain.

Deleting a Profile removes that reusable policy; it does not delete existing Backup Set history that was created from it. Before deleting a Profile used by operations staff, confirm that no future schedule or documented procedure still expects it to exist.

Confirm the Profile Is Available for Backups

Open the Backups tab after saving. Published Profiles are available for manual backup selection. Check the Profile title and backup type before starting the first run, then verify the completed Backup Set in Backup History.

Community Discussion

Want to compare workflows, share practical tips, or discuss how you use this QCBM feature? Visit the QC Backup Manager Community. For private support, bug reports, account-specific issues, or feature requests, use the QuantaCade support system.