back-up and/or zipping files

[Judith]

I would like to know how to zip or back up JUST the data files, I want to copy just the data records at the end of each month for accounting purposes but don't want to have all the problems I'm getting when I zip and unzip the whole database . Is there an easy way of doing this? Could I create a script?. I have just spent ages duplicating sets to another computer and don't want to risk restoring the database and losing all the work I've just done.

[GGandhi]

I am no expert in this issue,
are you using native dbf?
isn't there something like when you back up you can specify data files only or application files only etc.,?