> >> I was wondering if it was possible to do a backup of a Firebird
> >> database and create a backup which can be connected to without
> >> requiring a restore?
> >
> > A "backed up database" is not a database. You _have_ to restore
> > it to make it into a database.
>
> I knew this. Maybe I shouldn't have used the word backup when
> explaining my situation. I am essentially wanting to copy a database,
> delete some records and then create a backup of it. I was wondering
> whether I could do this while there was an active connection to said
> database?

No, you cannot.

The only way to make a safe copy is to shut down the Firebird
server and then do an operating system file copy.

The other safe way is to create a backup and restore it to a new
database.

With regards,

Martijn Tonies
Database Workbench - developer tool for InterBase, Firebird, MySQL & MS SQL
Server
Upscene Productions
http://www.upscene.com