Microsoft Office Accounting 2008 stores data in seven separate files with the following extensions:

• .sbd  Data file, stored by default in the Microsoft SQL Server folder (Program Files\Microsoft SQLServer\MSSQL$MICROSOFTSMLBIZ\Data).
• .sbc  Company file, a shortcut pointing to the location of the data file, stored by default in the My Documents\Small Business Accounting 2008\Companies folder of the administrator who set up your company in Office Accounting 2008.
• .sbl  SQL Server log file, generated when you create a new company or restore a backup file to a new company. It is stored by default in the SQL Server folder (Program Files\Microsoft SQLServer\MSSQL$MICROSOFTSMLBIZ\Data).
• .log  Log file, generated by migrating QuickBooks data, by repairing a data file, by upgrading your software, and by accessing online banking or payroll processing by Payroll for Microsoft Office Accounting, if you have selected Log online activities in the Preferences dialog box. It is stored by default in the My Documents\Small Business Accounting 2008\Logs folder of the administrator who set up your company in Accounting 2008.
• .sbb  Uncompressed backup file, generated when you upgrade your software or extracted when you open the compressed (.zip) file in the My Documents\Small Business Accounting 2008\Backups folder of the administrator who set up your company in Accounting 2008. Create a backup file to protect your company data, to send to your accountant, to import into a new company file, or to move Accounting 2008 to a different computer.
• .zip  Compressed backup file, stored by default in the My Documents\Small Business Accounting 2008\Backups folder of the administrator who set up your company in Accounting 2008.
• .ate  Compressed backup file, created for the export of your company's Accounting 2008 data to your accountant and stored by default in the My Documents\Small Business Accounting 2008\Transfers folder of the administrator.
• .ati  Compressed backup file, created by your accountant for the transfer of updated company data back to the My Documents\Small Business Accounting 2008\Transfers folder of your computer.

 Note   If your data file is corrupted and you cannot open it, on the Start menu, point to All Programs, point to Microsoft Office, point to Microsoft Office Accounting 2008 Tools, and then click Data Tools. Users with administrator access can use all of the Data Utilities commands found in Accounting 2008, except Backup.

You can do the following with Accounting 2008 data files:

• Create an accountant's backup
• Import an accountant's backup
• Back up company data
• Restore company data
• Delete a company database
• Rebuild a company file
• Repair a company file
• Attach or detach a company data file
• Specify your server connection