Is Custom folder backup required for Option Name/Option Value creation?

[MrRobert]

Hi all,

Is Custom folder backup required for Option Name/Option Value creation? I have made some changes to a number of settings including the layout boxes thru the Admin panel and I realised, "If there is an upgrade, I could lose everything!" Prior to this, I have created and selected my CUSTOM template as a default plus I created all the necessary CUSTOM folders. But is it true that unless I do all the manual editing of .php files, edited settings thru admin panel would see everything being wiped out in an update?

[stevesh]

Admin settings, including attributes, are stored in the database, so and template or other file changes shouldn't affect them.

[MrRobert]

Even if i make changes to the layout boxes, as long as its done using the admin panel? Can anyone verify?