Database back up problem

[takoda]

I'm new at all of this, please help.
I am not able to save my catalog info. when I go to Tools to back up I get this message:
Error: back up directory does not exist. please set this in configure.php.
?: how do I go about setting it in configure.php\my webhost has set the permissions for me, so I don't think that is the problem.
Thank you in advance

[michael_s]

Make a directory called backups in your admin directory and chmod 777.