Below we will explain how to backup and restore your files for MasterCook.

In MasterCook versions 4 and earlier, your recipes are stored within the MCF and MRF files on your computer. The MCF file contains the text. The MRF file contains photos. If you don't have any photos in any recipes in that cookbook there won't be an MRF file. MasterCook uses these files simultaneously as you use the program. They should always remain together on the computer. Use Windows to search for those two files on your computer. Make a backup copy of them.

Next, go to the Cookbooks screen in MasterCook and use the Open command from the File menu and select the .mcf file to add these older cookbooks to the newer version.

In MasterCook versions 5 and greater, recipes are stored within the MC2 and MCX files on your computer. The MC2 file contains the text. The MCX file contains photos. If you don't have any photos in any recipes in that cookbook there won't be an MCX file. MasterCook uses these files simultaneously as you use the program. They should always remain together on the computer. If you separate them, you can corrupt the photos beyond repair.

ATTENTION: If you were using MasterCook 9 or older with Windows Vista or newer, see This Article. Windows will move your files to a hidden location on the computer, and you must go look to see if that happened to you.

BACKING UP FILES

(1) Your cookbook files as well as menu and meal plan files can be found inside the collection folders on your computer. (2) The other files such as shopping lists, print designs, ingredient list (when you add or edit ingredients in the Ingredient List, etc.) can be found within the MC TOOLS folder. See the end of this article below for further details.

MasterCook 22 and 24 have a Backup tool in their MasterCook Data Toolkit program. See:

MasterCook 22 Backup – MasterCook Community

MasterCook 24 Backup – MasterCook Community

MasterCook 15 and 20 come with a Backup feature. Use it to back up your files. See MasterCook 15/20 Backup

For MasterCook 14 and earlier use Windows to locate your collection and MC Tools folder on the computer for the older versions of MasterCook.

• The MasterCook 14 collection folders and MC Tools folder is found within the MasterCook folder at this location on your computer:
  Windows Vista and newer: C:\Users\Public\Documents\MasterCook 14
  Windows XP: C:\Documents and Setting\All Users\Documents\MasterCook 14

• The MasterCook 11 collection folders and MC Tools folder is found within the MasterCook folder at this location on your computer:
  Windows Vista and newer: C:\Users\Public\Documents\MasterCook
  Windows XP: C:\Documents and Setting\All Users\Documents\MasterCook

• The MasterCook 9, 8, 7, and 6 folders and files are found within the Program Files folder on your computer.

• The MasterCook 6, 5 products by Sierra can be found in the SIERRA folder on your computer. Open the C drive on your computer. Open the SIERRA folder. Inside there is a MasterCook folder. Back that MasterCook folder up.

To back them up close MasterCook. Use Windows to copy them to another disk or drive. If you use an automatic online back up service just have it back up your entire MasterCook folder.

To restore your files, just place them back into the folders where they belong and refresh MasterCook. It's the same in all versions. See: https://support.mastercook.com/hc/en-us/articles/5748623463060-Adding-Cookbook-Files-to-MasterCook-22