# Creating a database from a backup copy

To create a database from a full backup copy at a specified location, specify the `createFrom=path` attribute in the boot-time connection URL.

If there is already a database with the same name in `derby.system.home`, an error will occur and the existing database will be left intact. If there is not an existing database with the same name in the current `derby.system.home` location, the system will copy the whole database from the backup location to `derby.system.home` and start it.

The log files are also copied to the default location. You can use the `logDevice` attribute in conjunction with the `createFrom=path` attribute to store logs in a different location. With the `createFrom=path` attribute, you do not need to copy the individual log files to the log directory.

For example, to create the sample database from a backup copy in `c:\mybackups\sample`, the connection URL should be:

    jdbc:derby:sample;createFrom=c:\mybackups\sample

For more information, see "createFrom=path attribute" in the Derby Reference Manual.

Parent topic: Backing up and restoring databases
Related concepts
Backing up a database
Roll-forward recovery
Related tasks
Restoring a database from a backup copy