PA Backup lite method

[preahkumpii]

I use PABL to backup all my important files, resulting in a file of 5gb. I would like some detailed information on the “method” attribute in the backup options. There are 2 options, “Add (and replace) files” and “Freshen existing files”. I have several questions for both.

1. Will Add/replace OR Freshen remove files that I have deleted since my last backup or will it only add/edit files?
2. Does Add/replace redo the entire backup every time the script is run, or does it scan for new or changed files and adds or replaces those only?
3. Does freshen add files that are new since the last backup or only update files that already exist in the backup?
4. How does the “Do not delete the original backup file” in the “Additional Zip Options” section relate the the method options? How does it being checked affect the backup?

The reason I am asking all these specific questions is because my backup is very large. I want only new or changed files to be updated so that it doesn’t take 15 or 20 minutes to do a backup. I want new files added and changed files updated (and if possible deleted files deleted from the backup). I have searched the help file but this section is not covered. I would suggest covering this in the help file in future versions. Also, I would suggest including a “Delete removed files from backup” option if this is not already possible. Thank you for your help. As much detail as possible would help.

Adam

[TBGBe]

Remember that BACKUP can use different archive formats besides ZIP (e.g. CAB / TAR etc) so you need to check both areas of the HELP. You seem to be asking about ZIP so:
@preahkumpii:

1. Will Add/replace OR Freshen remove files that I have deleted since my last backup or will it only add/edit files?

It ADDs any new files.
It REPLACEs any changed files.
It does not delete any files from a previous backup.

@preahkumpii:

2. Does Add/replace redo the entire backup every time the script is run, or does it scan for new or changed files and adds or replaces those only?

Really depends on the archive format - for Zip it only does add/replace.

@preahkumpii:

3. Does freshen add files that are new since the last backup or only update files that already exist in the backup?

Freshen only updates files already in backup - it does not add new files.

@preahkumpii:

4. How does the “Do not delete the original backup file” in the “Additional Zip Options” section relate the the method options? How does it being checked affect the backup?

This is described in HELP file. However, if you have selected ADD/Replace and there are NEW files to be added I am unsure what happens, perhaps the original file is just renamed (I haven’t tried this)??

@preahkumpii:

The reason I am asking all these specific questions is because my backup is very large. I want only new or changed files to be updated so that it doesn’t take 15 or 20 minutes to do a backup. I want new files added and changed files updated (and if possible deleted files deleted from the backup).

Cannot delete files - you would need to create a NEW backup for this.
@preahkumpii:

I have searched the help file but this section is not covered.

Remember that for CAB the answers would be different:D
The format options (such as ADD/REPLACE) are described in HELP under the Create Archive section, not the BACKUP. Perhaps there should be link in the help to the relevant section(s). Repeating ALL the information would double the file size of help (and possible problems when updating).

[preahkumpii]

@TBGBe:

It ADDs any new files.
It REPLACEs any changed files.
It does not delete any files from a previous backup.

When add/replace was selected, I’m pretty sure that when I ran the backup script, the entire archive was written again, not just new or updated files were updated. That is what is taking so long. It takes about the same amount of time as if I had done it from scratch. I am trying freshen to see if that works. If it does indeed only update existing and not add new, then there is a problem. That would mean there is no way to update a backup (incremental) with adding new files unless the entire backup is redone (add/replace). Am I mistaken, but did I understand you to say that CAB would be different than ZIP as far as the add/replace and freshen options?

Adam

[preahkumpii]

Yes, I tested the backup script with freshen selected and the result was the same as if add/replace was selected. The entire archive was apparently rewritten.

Adam

[TBGBe]

@preahkumpii:

Am I mistaken, but did I understand you to say that CAB would be different than ZIP as far as the add/replace and freshen options?

Yes it would be different. CAB archives are “solid” - files can not be added or replaced, therefore the whole archive would be recreated (the options have no effect).

[spwolf]

thanks terry :-)