Zip Backup to CD, vesion 3 - features.
Selecting files:
It is possible to drag files from the Windows Explorer and drop them on the include and exclude file lists.
You may use wild cards (*) and it is possible to specify more than one condition per selection:
C:\test\*.doc|*.txt|*.xls
will backup all files in C:\test and its subdirectories with the extension doc, txt, xls.
Excluding files:
You may use wild cards (*) and it is possible to specify more than one condition per selection:
C:\test\*.doc|*.txt|*.xls
will exclude all files in C:\test and its subdirectories with the extension doc, txt, xls.
*.doc|*.txt|*.xls
will exclude all files the extension doc, txt, xls.
C:\test\
will exclude the folder C:\test\ and all subdirectories.
C:\*test*\
will exclude all folders on drive C: with the word test in the path.
C:\*\pro*\
will exclude all folders on drive C: starting with the word pro in a directory.
C:\*files\*\
will exclude all folders on drive C: ending with the word files in a directory.
C:\*\temp\*\
will exclude all folders on drive C: with the name temp.
C:\|*\temp\*\|*files\*\|*\pro*\|*test*\
will exclude all directories meeting the filter specifications above on drive C:
It is not allowed to specify folder and file specifications on the same line. Folder specifications always ends with a \ if the last character is different it is seen as a file name specification.
Chose if all files shall be backedup or only those which have changed since last backup or after a specific date. You can also check the Cat field and the informations in the catalog will be used to determine which files have to be included in the backup.
Chose a destination:
If your CD/DVD drive does not support selection by drive letter you can select it by device use the drop down box in the destination section to select the drive. When the devise is selected the drive letter in the destination path will be ignored and it is not possible to specify multiple destinations.
Automatically change destination when the first destination is full. Manually apply the destinations separated with a | e.g. H:|G:| this will let the program save the files to H:\ as long as there is enough free space and thereafter continue with G:\. It is allowed to specify folders on the destination drive e.g. H:\data\|G:\Another Dir\|.
Zip file name:
If you live it blank the Zip file created will normally get a name in this format 20030627101ac.zip according to the date and followed by a number starting with 101 for the first file created this day. After the number may follow an "a" which means that only files with the archive attributes set (files changed since last backup) have been backed up or a "c" which means that it is a copy and the archive attributes have not been cleared after the backup of the files. You can also specify a name which shall precede the creating number. If you do so only specify the preceding part Data would result in files with the name Data101.zip.
Using the %DATE% in the name would enable you to specify a name with the date where the backup job was started, Data%DATE% would result in a file with the name Data20030723101.zip. The date format is YYYYMMDD, year month day.
Split large files over more CD's: In the "Backup" menu check "Split large files". Zip Backup to CD will label the CD's (PKBACK# 001) for the cd with the first zip file (ZipFileName.z01) and the next (PKBACK# 002) for the CD with the second zip file (ZipFileName.z02). The files can always be restored using Zip Backup to CD regardless of the disc label. Zip Backup to CD will ask you for the next disc and if you press OK and the files is not found it will allow you to specify where to find the zip file. Please note that a splited zip file have to be tested manually after the backup job is finished. The reason for that is that the CD's with the splited zip files are not available when the program has finished the last file in the zip files set.
Set the max size of the zip file to an amount which fits your destination media. You may chose a predefined size or type in any size of your choice between 10 MB and 4095 MB.
Limitations:
Max file size: 4294967295 bytes, 4.095 GB. This limit is due to the zip file format. Allowing files bigger than 4 GB would need more than 32 bit to save the file size information in the zip file, resulting in a files which is not according to the zip file specifications.
The file size limitation apply to the resulting zip file and any file to be archived in the zip file.
When working with large files it is important to select a temporary directory on a disk with at least the same amount of free space as the compressed file size of the biggest file, if the option split large files are selected you need at least the the amount of free space as the compressed files size of the biggest file plus the amount of the max zip size selected.
Max files and folder infos in one zip file is 65000, this limit is due to the zip file format specifications. You do not need to worry about this as Zip Backup to CD will handle it for you. If the 65000 files and folder infos are reached the program will start on a new zip file.
Temporary folder:
Setting the temporary path is done at the bottom of the CD/DVD tab.
Catalog:
The catalog is a file which contains information on all the files in the zip files which it was used together with or which was manually added to the catalog. The catalog can be used to determine which files needs to be backed up or to find the name of the zip file in which a file where archived.
The catalog is enabled if the Cat field are checked, if the catalog name is left blank the catalog with the same name as the backup job will be used. The catalog is updated when you make a backup and the Cat field is checked. It is possible to specify more catalogs to be updated. Separating more catalog names in the catalog field with the | character will result in that the only the first catalog is used for checking if changed and newer than, and all the following catalogs are updated. The first catalog is not updated so it has to be listed twice if it have to be updated. If you would like to make a backup of the files which was changed or are new you have to select changed and check the Cat field and make sure that the selected catalog name is the one with the appropriate informations. It is possible to use the same catalog file for different backup jobs, the catalog file names to be used with a backup job is stored in the backup job file.
Working with catalogs:
Select the catalog tab and open the catalog file which you would like to work with. You may sort the displayed columns by clicking on the column name. The column name which is displayed on a green background is the one which are sorted. The find function works on the sorted column.
If you have found a file which you would like to restore just press on open zip file and the zip file in question will be opened in the restore tab.
The folder informations is normally not shown in the catalog if you wish to have them displayed you have to check the show folders field.
The files shown are normally only the newest one, if you would like to see all the files check the show duplicate field. Now you are able to see how many versions from different dates you have of on file and in which zip file the are archived.
If you have a zip file which should be part of the opened catalog select add zip file to catalog. Removing zip files from a catalog select a file which are archived in the zip file you will remove and select remove zip file from catalog.
Advantages of using catalog files instead of relying on the archive bit is that you can make incremental and differential backup without having write permission to the files you are backing up.
Incremental backups include only the files that have been modified since the last backup, and normally the archive bit are cleared. The catalog enables you to make a incremental backup without clearing the archive bit. If you have to make a complete restore you would need the complete backup and all the incremental backups. The advantage is that it needs a minimum of space as only changed files are backed up. If you need to find the newest version of a particularly file you would need to go trough all the backup files to find the file, with the catalog the information on where to find the file is a few finger tips away, you do not need to mess with all the backup files you go direct to the right file.
Differential backups include the files that have been changed since the last full backup or incremental backup, and it does not clear the archive bit after the backup. Differential backup is a different type of incremental backup, and the advantages are that you only would have to have the complete backup and the last differential backup to make a complete restore.
How do I make a incremental backup, open the backup job with the complete backup and use save as to save it with a new name. Change from all to changed make sure the catalog (Cat) field are checked and the the catalog file name is the same as the one which was used for the full backup. If you would like it you can clear the archive bit after backup if you check the clear the archive bit (Clear Abit), but it is not necessary when you use catalog. Remember to save the backup job.
How do I make a differential backup, open the backup job with the complete backup and use save as to save it with a new name. Change from all to changed make sure the catalog (Cat) field are checked and the the catalog file name is the same as the one which was used for the complete backup. Check the field after and type the start date and time of the last full backup. Remember to save the backup job.
Backup direct to a CD or DVD.
When you do so start with the CD/DVD tab and set a max preferred speed for the burning process do not set it to a value which are to high for your system. If you leave this filed blank the program will burn at the highest speed the media and device permit.
Leave the following fields unchecked:
Do not open drive when burning is finished.
Leave drive open when burning is finished.
Use internal ASPI driver.
If you check do not open driven when burning is finished you may end with a situation where other programs can not read the content of the CD created with Zip Backup to CD.
You should only check the Use internal ASPI driver if Zip Backup to CD does not recognize your CD/DVD drive, the drop down box CD/DVD device is blank.
Setting the temporary path is done at the bottom of the CD/DVD tab.
The field rest space is used to tell the program how much additionally space you are ready to waste on each CD/DVD media compared to the max zip size. Setting this value to 5 or 10 MB may speed up the backup process when optimize used space is checked as the program then not need to look so aggressive for files which fit into the rest space up to the max zip size.
Selecting disc erase will ensure that the disc (CD/DVD RW) is erased before use. Full erase will erase the disc completely and reformat it. Full erase is very slow, and erase fast as it only removes the information about the content of the CD/DVD not the content. The erase option has no effect if the destination is not a erasable CD/DVD or you are using a third party packet writing program. The option overwrite existing zip file will erase the existing file if it has the same name as the one you are going to create and the destination is not a CD/DVD, (except when using a third party packet writing program.
When I try to extract a spanned zipfile with WinZip I get the following error:
bad Zip file offset (Error local header signature not found)
This is probably a bug in WinZip you should upgrade your WinZip to at least version 8.1 SR1 to unzip spanned zipfiles.
Zip Backup to CD was unable to initialise the ASPI layer, you can not use CD / DVD devices.
If you have a CD / DVD device installed the reason could be that you do not have permission to use the CD / DVD device. Windows security policy normally require Administrator rights to manage a CD / DVD device. If you need to use the backup program without Administrator rights you have to logon as an Administrator and then in the file menu check "Run as service". Note when the program is running as a service it runs on a system account and has right to access all local files on the PC, but it has NO rights to access any network device. This means that you can not backup any network resources if the program is running on the system account. Changing the account which the service run on will result in that the program will be totally invisible for any user of the PC, but scheduled jobs will still run in the background.
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