# 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 Java DB 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