We have been using Timberline (SAGE) Estimating since 1993 (dos version) when the .dat files and the estimates had to live in the same database.

Now, in windows, the estimates and the data files do not need to live in the same database AND backups can not isolate the .dat files.  Is it best to have the .dat files (if in fact that is what they are now) and the estimates in different databases?

There are times, especially with the onboarding of new estimators, when the .dat files get corrupted and need to be restored but we don't want to restore the estimates back to the corrupted time.

Also, is there a way to password protect database(s)?

What are some "best practices" we should be entertaining?