How can I make a backup of a WinCC OA project?

All files for a WinC OA application are stored in the project-folder and its sub-directories.
There are 2 ways of backuping this folder:

1) Offline Backup: Stop the application and simply copy the entire folder using e.g. Windows Explorer.

2) Online Backup: Open the panel WinCC OA System Management -> Database -> Online Backup

Make a backup for the database while the application is running or the parameterization (all other project files will be backuped).
If you don't want to backup all historical saved information you can select the corresponding timerange in the Configuration Tab of the Online Backup dialog : "DB-backup range back to..."
Additionally you can check the box "Backup all not archived HDB datasets" to backup all datasets that haven't been archived yet.
Be aware that you may backup a longer interval with this option than the selected timerange and the amount of backuped data increases!

Please keep in mind that the system is buffering data in memory and access to historical data is not possible while the backup of the database is running.
The longer the backup takes the more data needs to be buffered.
Therefore please ensure that appropriate settings are used to assure that the backup is completed in a few minutes.