◊ skipping of files/folders enclosed in brackets or with trailing "~"
◊ automatic shutdown after backup
◊ keeping newer and obsolete items on the destination medium
◊ backup log
◊ Finder-openable backup descriptions
◊ support of required Apple Events
Operation
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
When you start QuickBack, the following dialog appears:
Original, Backup:
Enter the full pathname of the source and destination volumes or folders in these fields. The volume name must always be the first name; folder names are separated from it and from each other with colons.
Click on the arrow between “Original” and “Backup” to revert the direction in which the copying process is to take place. An arrow pointing downward therefore stand for “backup”, while an arrow pointing upward means “restore”.
Exclude [*] Items:
When checked, files and folders whose names are enclosed in brackets are ignored on both the source and the destination medium. This feature is included for compatibility with DiskFit™.
Exclude *~ Items:
When checked, files and folders whose names end with a tilde are ignored on both the source and the destination medium.
Start Automatically:
When this option is checked, QuickBack will automatically start the backup when it (or the backup description file containing the option) is launched the next time. Before the backup actually starts, a tiny window with the message "AutoStart in Progress; Click to Intercept" appears for approximately 3 seconds. Click during this time to see the above dialog.
Shut Down After Backup:
When checked, QuickBack will automatically shut down your Macintosh when the backup is completed (no matter whether normal or abnormal). This option puts QuickBack in an “unattended operation” mode. Error messages will not be displayed on the screen any more. You can therefore safely go home or to bed and be sure that QuickBack will turn your Macintosh off. Of course, this option is not very useful for older Macintosh models (as a Mac Plus or an SE) which cannot power themselves down.
During the backup process, “will shut down” is displayed above the progress bar when this option is enabled. You can toggle the “shut down” mode at any time during a backup by pressing the command key.
Keep Newer and Obsolete Items:
When checked, items with a newer modification date are not overwritten on the destination medium. Also, obsolete items (files and folders which are not present on the source medium any more) are not deleted from the destination medium. This option is recommended when you use QuickBack to synchronize two volumes.
Include Names in Log File:
QuickBack always creates a log file (called “QuickBack.log”) in your System folder. This is a plain TEXT file that can be read with TeachText. Checking "Include Names…” makes QuickBack list the names of all deleted and copied files and folders.
Cancel:
Does exactly what you would expect…
Save Default:
Captures the current settings. The settings are saved in the application itself; they will be displayed again when QuickBack is started the next time.
Save As:
Saves the current settings to a disk file. A double click to such a disk file will automatically launch QuickBack and start the backup process without further user interventions.
Do It:
Starts the backup process (without saving the current settings). When the backup is completed, QuickBack terminates and optionally shuts down.
Backup Process
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
A backup process consists of six steps:
(1) Reading the source directory
(2) Reading the destination directory
(3) Comparing the directories
(4) Determining the required space on the destination medium
(5) Removing the obsolete items from the destination medium
(6) Copying the new and changed items from the source to the destination medium
When the directories are compared, the following files are ignored:
- Desktop, Desktop DB, Desktop DF
- VM Storage
- QuickBack.log
- all files whose names start with “Spool File ”
- files and folders named “Trash”
- AutoDoubler's Temporary Items
During the backup process, QuickBack executes in the foreground in a “greedy” mode. It does not give time to background applications in order to avoid problems with other applications messing around with files. To cancel a backup process, press (and hold) the mouse button until a dialog appears, asking you whether you want to abort QuickBack or continue with the backup.
Memory Requirements
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
QuickBack reads both the source and the destination directory into memory. Every entry requires 50 bytes. Assuming that the source and the destination contain approximately the same number of files and folders, you can find out the memory requirement for the internal directory structure by selecting the volume or folder in question in the Finder and doing a “Get Info”. Divide the number of items by ten and you have the space in kB QuickBack will need for the directories.
For example, if your disk contains 2000 items, QuickBack will require 200kB for storing the directories. The remaining memory will be used as a copy buffer. QuickBack is initially set up with 1MB under MultiFinder. This should be sufficient in most cases.
Legal Stuff
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
QuickBack is free, but I reserve all rights to it. You can give copies of QuickBack (with this documentation!) away as long as you do not make money of it. This means that QuickBack may be distributed via non-profit electronic services. Any commercial distribution (including bundling QuickBack with other products) requires my explicit consent. If you want to distribute on physical media (e.g., diskettes, CD-ROMs), I request two free copies of the product cotaining QuickBack.
Although QuickBack has been tested thoroughly, you should understand that you use it at your own risk. I do not take any responsibility for loss of data or any other sort of damage.
If you use QuickBack frequently, I only ask for a picture postcard with some unique stamps. Of course, you can also send me any amount of money, if you successfully used QuickBack to restore damaged data…
What's New in This Version?
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
QuickBack now displays the full path names of all items when a backup is in progress. The log file also contains the full path names now.
QuickBack 1.8.5 supports the required Apple Events and uses a shut-down Apple Event to kiss the Finder good-bye. This method should be more stable under System 7.1 (earlier versions of QuickBack caused file sharing to crash during shut down).
The estimated time remaining should be more accurate now.
