MCGS backups should be managed like software source code. Recommended naming scheme:
[LineID]_[HMI_IP]_[YYYY-MM-DD]_v[Major.Minor]
Example: Line3_192.168.1.50_2026-04-24_v2.3
Store at least three generations: last known good, previous stable, and current development.
Use a changelog file (backup_log.txt) inside each backup folder listing: mcgs hmi backup
For critical lines, configure the MCGS HMI to automatically backup recipe and historical data to an inserted SD card every shift or every day.
Config in MCGSPro:
This is not a full project backup but protects your operational data.
MCGS stores embedded databases (.mdb or SQLite) in the \MCGS\Data\ directory. If you backup while the HMI is writing to these files, you get a corrupt backup. MCGS backups should be managed like software source code
The Rule of Thumb:
Unlike cloud-based SCADA systems, most MCGS HMIs (such as the TPC series, 7072GT, or 1061Ti) store their runtime projects and recipe data on internal flash memory or removable SD cards. This makes them susceptible to:
Real-world example: A food packaging plant lost an MCGS 7072GT during a brownout. The replacement unit took three days to be delivered, but the backup project file was last saved 18 months prior. Operators spent a full week reconfiguring 600+ tags and 40 alarm messages. Production losses exceeded $50,000.
That is the price of not having an MCGS HMI backup strategy. For critical lines, configure the MCGS HMI to
What if the original engineer vanished and you only have a working HMI? MCGS allows uploading the runtime project—but with a major caveat.
How to upload:
Critical Warning: This only works if the original engineer enabled the "Allow Upload" checkbox when they downloaded the project. By default, many engineers disable upload to protect intellectual property. If it's disabled, you cannot recover the editable source from the HMI itself.
There are four primary methods to back up your MCGS HMI. The best choice depends on whether you have the original source project file or only access to the running unit.