Very simple backup bat created. Here is code. (If anyone knows of a program that does same, pls let

[fitwell]

Hi, gang!

Well, I'm still as busy as ever. (If there was a God, I'd ask to pls
let us clerks go back to simpler times!) When I started working 21
years ago, never thought things would be so tough! I often do work at
home now. I'm just a clerk, for goodness sake! <lol>

Anyhoo, I just got plain fed up with manually backing up my
toolbar/standard templates every couple of weeks that I went looking
for a backup app yesterday/today. I searched and searched. I dl
Mehul's again; it is good but it didn't do what I needed in the way I
needed. This morning I did up a quick bat file that will do the job
until I find something better.

Here it is, in case anyone else can use (modify however you want:
************************************************************
@echo off
:: This file backs up your toolbars and standard templates to a floppy.
:: basic line of code: copy "" a:\BU\*.*



echo MAKE SURE Outlook is not running so that all the files can be
backed up!
echo
------------------------------------------------------------------------


:: Creating the folder for the backups
md a:\BU


:: BACKUP of file(s) for WORDPERFECT:
:: Basic template (contains toolbar backup):
copy "C:\WINDOWS\Application Data\Corel\PerfectExpert\10\Custom WP
Templates\wp10CE.wpt" a:\BU\*.*

:: BACKUP of file(s) for EXCEL:
:: Basic template (found in the XLStart folder:
copy "C:\WINDOWS\Application Data\Microsoft\Excel\XLSTART\Book.xlt"
a:\BU\*.*
:: Toolbars:
copy "C:\WINDOWS\Application Data\Microsoft\Excel\Excel.xlb" a:\BU\*.*


:: BACKUP of file(s) for POWERPOINT:
copy "C:\WINDOWS\Application Data\Microsoft\PowerPoint\PPT.pcb"
a:\BU\*.*

:: BACKUP of file(s) for WORD:
:: Basic template (contains toolbar backup):
copy "C:\WINDOWS\Application Data\Microsoft\Templates\Normal.dot"
a:\BU\*.*

:: BACKUP of file(s) for OUTLOOK (make sure Outlook is not running):
:: Toolbars:
copy "C:\WINDOWS\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook\outcmd.dat"
a:\BU\*.*
:: Settings files:
copy "C:\WINDOWS\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook\MS Exchange
Settings.NICK
" a:\BU\*.*
copy "C:\WINDOWS\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook\MS Exchange
Settings.RWZ" a:\BU\*.*
:: Custom dictionary:
copy "C:\WINDOWS\Application Data\Microsoft\Proof\CUSTOM.DIC"
a:\BU\*.*
:: Print settings:
copy "C:\WINDOWS\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook\OutlPrnt"
a:\BU\*.*
:: VIEWS (when views are customized, they're saved here):
:: copy "c:\...\views.dat" a:\BU\*.*




:: BACKUP of file(s) for :
:: BACKUP of file(s) for :
:: BACKUP of file(s) for :
:: BACKUP of file(s) for :
:: BACKUP of file(s) for :
:: BACKUP of file(s) for :


echo -----------------------------------------
echo Backup jobs are done.
echo -----------------------------------------
echo (See any messages for errors.)
:end
exit
************************************************************

The paths will need modifying. Also, you might not need the same apps
to be backed up.


-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
If anyone comes across a simple, no install, small program that does
this with a gui (like Mehul's would without the limitations I've run
across), then pls let me know. I tested out all my backup apps again
and no go. I'm not allowed to install stuff at the office so a
standalone would be great. p.s., Bask, Mehul's, MOB and several
others didn't do the job.

I did a search for about an hour on the archives on this ng, and I
didn't see anything there, either. But that's the nature of doing
searches. It's better to get advice from people as they know what
you're looking for and can judge whether or not the recommendation
might fit the bill.

So basically what's needed is an app that does the above but that is
standalone and has a gui, but that allows for easy input of data.

Thanks everyone! Appreciate any help.

 

[Alastair Smeaton]

Hi, gang!

Have you tried Karen Kenworthy;s replicator ?

www.karenware.com

makes this easy just browse to folders you want copied, has scheduler
built in etc.

For me, the most time consuming thing is working out which folders
need copied !

 

[Pelo]

If anyone comes across a simple, no install, small program that does
this with a gui (like Mehul's would without the limitations I've run
across), then pls let me know.

Cobian Backup is very powerful.
But, easy to use.
Basically, just fill in the blanks for from and to.
Then, Backup Everything Now
or, set a time / date to backup.

I use it.

http://www2.educ.umu.se/~cobian/cbu5.htm

Free. by Luis Cobian

Cobian Backup 5

Cobian Backup is a multi-threaded program you can use to backup your
files and directories from their original location to other
directories/drives in the same computer or other computer in your
network.

Now you can altso backup to a FTP server. Cobian Backup exists in two
different versions: application and service.

The program uses very few resources and can be running on the
background on your system, checking your backup schedule and executing
your backups when necessary.

You can automatically backup your files once, daily, weekly, monthly,
on a timer basis or manually.

You can backup to other computers on the network, to other partitions
or to a FTP server.

You can also save and open lists with different backup file sets.

The program creates a log file which optionally can be mailed to you
automatically.

Cobian BackUp can be used as an application (Windows 95 /98 /ME /NT
/2000 /XP) or as a Windows service (Windows NT /2000 /XP).

Cobian Backup has integrated compression capabilities, using the
standard Zip algorithm. All the functions in the program can
optionally be password protected.

Incremental backup

Live update [ Check for online updates. ]

The program remembers the position of the window and the columns'
width

Support for windows XP themes

Include/Exclude certain files using file masks

Drag and drop

Multilanguage support

 

[fitwell]

Have you tried Karen Kenworthy;s replicator ?

www.karenware.com

makes this easy just browse to folders you want copied, has scheduler
built in etc.

For me, the most time consuming thing is working out which folders
need copied !

It looks good. Not for what I need it, but a good candidate for
backing up here at home.

Thanks!

 

[fitwell]

Cobian Backup is very powerful.
But, easy to use.
Basically, just fill in the blanks for from and to.
Then, Backup Everything Now
or, set a time / date to backup.

Sounds good. Way too big for what I need it (a whopping 4.7meg dl).
But another good candidate to try for here at home.

Since I partitioned a couple of years back, I don't worry about
backing up and just go and do it manually. But I'll look into this
one.

I'm still looking for that small, standalone app that will do what I
need, like my bat file, but that has a windows gui.

I use it.

http://www2.educ.umu.se/~cobian/cbu5.htm

Free. by Luis Cobian

Cobian Backup 5

Cobian Backup is a multi-threaded program you can use to backup your
files and directories from their original location to other
directories/drives in the same computer or other computer in your
network.

Now you can altso backup to a FTP server. Cobian Backup exists in two
different versions: application and service.

The program uses very few resources and can be running on the
background on your system, checking your backup schedule and executing
your backups when necessary.

You can automatically backup your files once, daily, weekly, monthly,
on a timer basis or manually.

You can backup to other computers on the network, to other partitions
or to a FTP server.

You can also save and open lists with different backup file sets.

The program creates a log file which optionally can be mailed to you
automatically.

Cobian BackUp can be used as an application (Windows 95 /98 /ME /NT
/2000 /XP) or as a Windows service (Windows NT /2000 /XP).

Cobian Backup has integrated compression capabilities, using the
standard Zip algorithm. All the functions in the program can
optionally be password protected.

Incremental backup

Live update [ Check for online updates. ]

The program remembers the position of the window and the columns'
width

Support for windows XP themes

Include/Exclude certain files using file masks

Drag and drop

Multilanguage support

 

[Pelo]

OK, Take a look at this freeware.

http://www.freebyte.com/fbbackup/

Free, powerful and easy backup program!

381 kb

Cobian Backup is very powerful.
But, easy to use.
Basically, just fill in the blanks for from and to.
Then, Backup Everything Now
or, set a time / date to backup.

Sounds good. Way too big for what I need it (a whopping 4.7meg dl).
But another good candidate to try for here at home.

Since I partitioned a couple of years back, I don't worry about
backing up and just go and do it manually. But I'll look into this
one.

I'm still looking for that small, standalone app that will do what I
need, like my bat file, but that has a windows gui.

I use it.

http://www2.educ.umu.se/~cobian/cbu5.htm

Free. by Luis Cobian

Cobian Backup 5

Cobian Backup is a multi-threaded program you can use to backup your
files and directories from their original location to other
directories/drives in the same computer or other computer in your
network.

Now you can altso backup to a FTP server. Cobian Backup exists in two
different versions: application and service.

The program uses very few resources and can be running on the
background on your system, checking your backup schedule and executing
your backups when necessary.

You can automatically backup your files once, daily, weekly, monthly,
on a timer basis or manually.

You can backup to other computers on the network, to other partitions
or to a FTP server.

You can also save and open lists with different backup file sets.

The program creates a log file which optionally can be mailed to you
automatically.

Cobian BackUp can be used as an application (Windows 95 /98 /ME /NT
/2000 /XP) or as a Windows service (Windows NT /2000 /XP).

Cobian Backup has integrated compression capabilities, using the
standard Zip algorithm. All the functions in the program can
optionally be password protected.

Incremental backup

Live update [ Check for online updates. ]

The program remembers the position of the window and the columns'
width

Support for windows XP themes

Include/Exclude certain files using file masks

Drag and drop

Multilanguage support

 

[fitwell]

OK, Take a look at this freeware.

http://www.freebyte.com/fbbackup/

Free, powerful and easy backup program!

381 kb

Awesome! Very close.

Do you know of one that allows for either drag'n'drop or, like my bat,
that allows for one to just put filepaths in?

I could be wrong, but this little app seems to like directories only,
too. Since it had only a folder tree and once I saw that, I
immediately had to discount this one, when I then saw that after all
that clicking to get to a folder, it only seemed to take that folder,
I dind't bother to go further to see if how it took individual files
was through a filtering process <yuck>. Drag'n'drop is not as good as
having a file open dialogue box where one can just dump a path in to
specific files, but sure would be better than those pain in the neck
folder trees! <lol>

Thanks for this, though. I always am very pleased to see how much
freeware there is out there that doesn't come up in my searches.
That's why acf is so valuable! We all find different things in our
searches and they're good to pass along to others.

Still, my bat does the job where nothing else yet does, so still
keeping that for now. <sigh> However, the windows app is out there, I
know. It's just finding it <g>.

If anyone comes across a simple, no install, small program that does
this with a gui (like Mehul's would without the limitations I've run
across), then pls let me know.

Cobian Backup is very powerful.
But, easy to use.
Basically, just fill in the blanks for from and to.
Then, Backup Everything Now
or, set a time / date to backup.

Sounds good. Way too big for what I need it (a whopping 4.7meg dl).
But another good candidate to try for here at home.

Since I partitioned a couple of years back, I don't worry about
backing up and just go and do it manually. But I'll look into this
one.

I'm still looking for that small, standalone app that will do what I
need, like my bat file, but that has a windows gui.

I use it.

http://www2.educ.umu.se/~cobian/cbu5.htm

Free. by Luis Cobian

Cobian Backup 5

Cobian Backup is a multi-threaded program you can use to backup your
files and directories from their original location to other
directories/drives in the same computer or other computer in your
network.

Now you can altso backup to a FTP server. Cobian Backup exists in two
different versions: application and service.

The program uses very few resources and can be running on the
background on your system, checking your backup schedule and executing
your backups when necessary.

You can automatically backup your files once, daily, weekly, monthly,
on a timer basis or manually.

You can backup to other computers on the network, to other partitions
or to a FTP server.

You can also save and open lists with different backup file sets.

The program creates a log file which optionally can be mailed to you
automatically.

Cobian BackUp can be used as an application (Windows 95 /98 /ME /NT
/2000 /XP) or as a Windows service (Windows NT /2000 /XP).

Cobian Backup has integrated compression capabilities, using the
standard Zip algorithm. All the functions in the program can
optionally be password protected.

Incremental backup

Live update [ Check for online updates. ]

The program remembers the position of the window and the columns'
width

Support for windows XP themes

Include/Exclude certain files using file masks

Drag and drop

Multilanguage support

 

[R.L]

does

Sounds good. Way too big for what I need it (a whopping
4.7meg dl). But another good candidate to try for here at
home.

Since I partitioned a couple of years back, I don't worry
about backing up and just go and do it manually. But I'll
look into this one.

I'm still looking for that small, standalone app that will
do what I need, like my bat file, but that has a windows
gui.

Another one that's going to just take time to find! <g>

Hi, fitwell, I did a quick search and you are right, I
wouldn't believe that a small simple commandline-supported
backup utility is that hard to find for non-folder backups.
Yet I don't see any either.

Here is perhaps a quick and "dirty" solution to the problem
for now. Try cob backup at home. Then, create a "job" file
in your home machine (since you knows all the paths already).
Then, to a floppy copy the job file (the *.1st file), along
with the cobline.exe file find in Cobian Backup directory(It
is the commandline utility that comes with Cobian backup, in
its directory). You can then use it in your office with a
task scheduler. I tried the cobline.exe as a standalone and
its work fine even without the main program. The command line
would be:

"C\...\cobline.exe" "C:\...\whatever.lst" /Q

the /q switch is to minmize the program.


In addition, if you have time in the future and want to look
into a better/prettier automation tools other than bat files,
I would recommand Autoit. It supports all the commands in
your bat files (e.g., copy in bat = filecopy in autoit). It
also support messagebox for user input, tooltips, check if
file exist etc (e.g., in your case, you could check if outlook
process exist, if so, give a message box, if not, proceed).

In addition, Autoit can read in a text file for parameters so
you can write all the paths and files for backup, line after
line, in a single text file and then tell your script to just
read it while backing up.

In fact, I can't wait until the next version of Autoit because
it will start to have GUI support. In fact, when it supports
GUI creation, it will be real easy to write a backup tools as
what your've requested. Really not MUCH harder then using a
bat file.

 

[fitwell]

Hi, fitwell, I did a quick search and you are right, I
wouldn't believe that a small simple commandline-supported
backup utility is that hard to find for non-folder backups.
Yet I don't see any either.

Here is perhaps a quick and "dirty" solution to the problem
for now. Try cob backup at home. Then, create a "job" file
in your home machine (since you knows all the paths already).
Then, to a floppy copy the job file (the *.1st file), along
with the cobline.exe file find in Cobian Backup directory(It
is the commandline utility that comes with Cobian backup, in
its directory). You can then use it in your office with a
task scheduler. I tried the cobline.exe as a standalone and
its work fine even without the main program. The command line
would be:

"C\...\cobline.exe" "C:\...\whatever.lst" /Q

the /q switch is to minmize the program.


In addition, if you have time in the future and want to look
into a better/prettier automation tools other than bat files,
I would recommand Autoit. It supports all the commands in
your bat files (e.g., copy in bat = filecopy in autoit). It
also support messagebox for user input, tooltips, check if
file exist etc (e.g., in your case, you could check if outlook
process exist, if so, give a message box, if not, proceed).

In addition, Autoit can read in a text file for parameters so
you can write all the paths and files for backup, line after
line, in a single text file and then tell your script to just
read it while backing up.

In fact, I can't wait until the next version of Autoit because
it will start to have GUI support. In fact, when it supports
GUI creation, it will be real easy to write a backup tools as
what your've requested. Really not MUCH harder then using a
bat file.

Lots to think about, thanks so much. I thought about COB, but it's
not practical for this. I might as well just keep my bat. I have
Win98SE at home and W2K at the office and the locations and paths are
just way too different. As I said, the little bat works great though
I'd like something less manual. <sigh> Ah well. One day.

However, what does sound great is GUI support for AutoIt. I've tried
that app about 3 times and have gotten nowhere despite the fact that I
know several different types of scripting languages to one degree or
another. Once AutoIt has a GUI, that will probably be when I will
find it user friendly. I just don't have time now to mess around with
it again. Hard enough trying to crack rudimentary VB for all the work
I bring home from the office <lol>! I wish we could go back to
simpler days, let me tell you, when being an office clerk wasn't so
complicated <g>!

Do you have any idea when the GUI one is coming out, btw??

Cheers, and thanks!

 

[R.L]

Lots to think about, thanks so much. I thought about COB,
but it's not practical for this. I might as well just keep
my bat.

This may be the best solution for now. However, I suddenly
thought of something. Have you tried the window build-in
backup tool yet??? If it doesn't show in the startmenu, I
found it here in my XPbox %SystemRoot%\system32\ntbackup.exe
And you might be able to find a similar tool in your office
machine. It seems decent and fits your purpose (with
scheduler, already-installed so no install, set schedule to
back up specific files)

I've tried that app about 3 times and have gotten nowhere
despite the fact that I know several different types of
scripting languages to one degree or another.

In fact, I had no programming experience other than writing
dos command before I use AutoIt. I cheat a lot by cutting and
pasting the example in the help file. But I found it really
fun.

Hard enough trying to crack rudimentary VB for
all the work I bring home from the office <lol>! I wish we
could go back to simpler days, let me tell you, when being
an office clerk wasn't so complicated <g>!

I guess our world itself has become more and more
complicated. I sometimes hope that things can be simplier,
too (I mean in all aspects).

Do you have any idea when the GUI one is coming out, btw??
that will probably be when I will find it user
friendly. I just don't have time now to mess around with
it again.

In fact, the one that come with the ability to create your
own GUI has already come out as beta, can be found in here:

http://www.autoitscript.com/autoit3/files/unstable/autoit/

I downloaded it and have not had time to play with it yet
(busy here, too). In fact, at its first glance (in the help
file), it looks a bit more complicated than the simple
commandline scripting for me (it is time consuming to create
your own GUI, so I am not sure that whether you would still
think that it is "friendly").

Yet, it does make autoit a more powerful tool. I am planing
to use it to make a simple GUI for my Adaware Updater (see
here http://home.earthlink.net/~ringomei/page2.html) so the
user can have certain options as to how the program would
run.

In fact, when I am less busy and play around with the GUI
function more, I might write something for quick backing up
individual files with GUI support(like the kind that you have
been seeking), just for fun.

(As an aside, I don't know if you have use auto3 yet, but it
has added some nice feature such as you can call up tooltips
or balloon tips. In addition, I have heard that it has good
ability to be intergrated with VB scripts or others)

 

[fitwell]

This may be the best solution for now. However, I suddenly
thought of something. Have you tried the window build-in
backup tool yet??? If it doesn't show in the startmenu, I
found it here in my XPbox %SystemRoot%\system32\ntbackup.exe
And you might be able to find a similar tool in your office
machine. It seems decent and fits your purpose (with
scheduler, already-installed so no install, set schedule to
back up specific files)

Now there's another great thought!! Just because I've always hated
the one in my machine (Win98SE) and gave up on it years ago, and so
I've always dismissed the built-in one, doesn't mean that the Win2K
one isn't a whole lot better! D'uh!!

What an obvious solution!! <g>

Sometimes one can't see the forest for the trees ... <lol>

Thanks!!

[snip]

 

[R.L]

Have you tried the window build-in
backup tool yet??? [snip> It seems decent and fits your
purpose (with scheduler, already-installed so no install,
set schedule to back up specific files)

Now there's another great thought!! [snip] D'uh!! What an
obvious solution!! <g> Sometimes one can't see the forest
for the trees ... <lol> Thanks!!

You are welcomed! Hope that it can simplify your life a
little bit ;-)



-- RL

 

[fitwell]

Have you tried the window build-in
backup tool yet??? [snip> It seems decent and fits your
purpose (with scheduler, already-installed so no install,
set schedule to back up specific files)

Now there's another great thought!! [snip] D'uh!! What an
obvious solution!! <g> Sometimes one can't see the forest
for the trees ... <lol> Thanks!!

You are welcomed! Hope that it can simplify your life a
little bit ;-)



-- RL

Well, I pulled a lot of my hair out today! <lol>

No wonder subconsciously I forget that MSBackup exists! <lol> It is
such a piece of junk for me! I did try to work with it at the office,
too, but though the flavour is W2K instead of Win98SE, it's still
useless in many respects for me. I was expecting too much. <g>

So, quest is on esp. after having trouble with my bat backup file.

The problem is I don't have the time at work as I do at home where I
can sit and fight with something till I get it straight. The paths
are so different between home and office that the bat required quite
major re-writing. And despite the time I did spend, it doesn't work
fully yet. That's why the need for something as simple as the bat yet
with a GUI, but an honest-to-God easy-to-use GUI. It'd be nice, due
to the shell extensions I have, to just dump the whole filepath of
each file to back up into the program and _that's_it_!

Still, I've found that by not giving up I eventually find a solution
one way or another.

I'm branching out so much now at the office, too, that I really need
to make everything as efficient as possible and this will be a big
help.

Thanks once again. The memory jog re MS Backup was excellent; too bad
that app stinks! <lol>

 

[R.L]

Have you tried the window build-in
backup tool yet???

Now there's another great thought!! [snip]

Well, I pulled a lot of my hair out today! <lol>
No wonder subconsciously I forget that MSBackup exists!
<lol>

Oh boy! Sorry for the bad luck (and your hair ;-) )

So, quest is on esp. after having trouble with my bat
backup file.
The problem is I don't have the time at work as I do at
home where I can sit and fight with something till I get it
straight. The paths are so different between home and
office that the bat required quite major re-writing.

Help me here, I don't understand, do you mean you cannot find
the right paths for the files you want to back up OR you got
the corrent paths but the bat doesn't work?? You bat file
looks fine to me.

And
despite the time I did spend, it doesn't work fully yet.

You mean the files are't copied as they are supposed to be?

That's why the need for something as simple as the bat yet
with a GUI, but an honest-to-God easy-to-use GUI.

But even if you have a GUI, if it is the wrong path, you use
the GUI will still have the wrong paths. However, if you are
sure that you have all the paths right, then it can be the dos
mode problem. I had experience that dos mode cannot read "too
deep" of the directory level, or sometimes, it fails to
process some files if the bat itself is in a "deeper"
directory than the file it tries to process (and heard this
esp. more often in NT based OS). Not sure if this is your
case. In addition, since you are in 2000, are some path
actually not in your OS but in the network? That would be a
problem, too (I'm no expert for that but these are supposed to
be "hearsays" I read here and there).

It'd be
nice, due to the shell extensions I have, to just dump the
whole filepath of each file to back up into the program and
_that's_it_!

What "shell extensions"??

Still, I've found that by not giving up I eventually find a
solution one way or another.

It looks like you are asking something very simple. If you
really want, I can "translate" your bat into a simple autoit
script and all you need to do is to enter all the path line by
line in a text file (then, it would just like entering the
whole path into the GUI, e.g., by cutting or pasting the
"address" of the folder), but I am not sure I can test all the
particular paths because I don't have, for example, word
perfect. So, you will have to let me know if it works in your
paths after I did it.

 

[fitwell]

fitwell <[email protected]> says in

Have you tried the window build-in
backup tool yet???

Now there's another great thought!! [snip]

Well, I pulled a lot of my hair out today! <lol>
No wonder subconsciously I forget that MSBackup exists!
<lol>

Oh boy! Sorry for the bad luck (and your hair ;-) )
D

So, quest is on esp. after having trouble with my bat
backup file.
The problem is I don't have the time at work as I do at
home where I can sit and fight with something till I get it
straight. The paths are so different between home and
office that the bat required quite major re-writing.

Help me here, I don't understand, do you mean you cannot find
the right paths for the files you want to back up OR you got
the corrent paths but the bat doesn't work?? You bat file
looks fine to me.

Yes, but something is wrong. That's okay. It always happens. At
home I just take the time to dig deep and fix, no matter how long that
takes. The difficult at work is that I can't do that. I need to get
a bat file working in 5 minutes or less! <g>

Despite using shell extensions to get full path names, so I can't
screw up there, some of the files weren't backed up and others ended
up in the start menu (?!!!). It's just the nature of bats. I've had
that happen before. It just takes time to go in and make sure there
are no extra spaces, etc. I've never figured out where the problem
lies but if I go over the problem ones and just carefully repeat the
code, I eventually can fix. I just can't afford the time here.

HOWEVER, last night I wrote to the bat ng as they're really, really
helpful. I figured out how a new structure would make this backup bat
work so that it wouldn't be so complicated. Judging from the help
I've had from them before, I know the solution will be there.

I'll report back re whatever they so kindly come up with.

You mean the files are't copied as they are supposed to be?
Yes.


But even if you have a GUI, if it is the wrong path, you use
the GUI will still have the wrong paths. However, if you are

Yes, but with a structured app, less possibilities for user input
error.

sure that you have all the paths right, then it can be the dos
mode problem. I had experience that dos mode cannot read "too
deep" of the directory level, or sometimes, it fails to
process some files if the bat itself is in a "deeper"
directory than the file it tries to process (and heard this
esp. more often in NT based OS). Not sure if this is your
case. In addition, since you are in 2000, are some path
actually not in your OS but in the network? That would be a
problem, too (I'm no expert for that but these are supposed to
be "hearsays" I read here and there).


What "shell extensions"??

For years now I've had the freeware PATH COPY and CLIPNAME. (Guess
where they were recommended <lol>??) That's why I absolutely HATE
folder trees! <lol>

PATH COPY can be configured for short path name with 8.3 DOS format
and CLIPNAME copies the entire path in Windows LFN format. So I have
a choice of using either in a bat. 8.3 as is, LFN between quotes.

So that means that finding the pathname for, say, EXCEL.XLB (Excel's
toolbar file; one of these dozen files or so I need to back up at
least every 2 or 3 weeks <sigh><g>.) is easy. I just do a windows
search for EXCEL.XLB.

Then I use the extensions to get the pathname. I'll illustrate as it
sounds like you might not have heard of them:

PATH COPY just returned this in 8.3 when I used it on the search
result:
C:\WINDOWS\APPLIC~1\MICROS~1\EXCEL\EXCEL.XLB

Going back to same search result but using CLIPNAME, I get this:
C:\WINDOWS\Application Data\Microsoft\Excel\Excel.xlb

All in like 2 seconds with a right-click!!!

Anyhoo, As I said the solution re bat format will like in a simpler
structure like this type of thing below:


==========
COPY
""
""
""
""
""
""

TO
A:\BU\*.*
==========
(This is an example only for structure. This is not valid code, of
course.)

That means that I'll dump the paths of the files in between the
asterisks above, one file per line. And then the destination to one
spot, too. It's all the lines of coding in my version that can create
potential errors.

Again, the above is not the correct syntax, or anything. It's just to
illustrate what was needed.

It looks like you are asking something very simple. If you
really want, I can "translate" your bat into a simple autoit
script and all you need to do is to enter all the path line by
line in a text file (then, it would just like entering the
whole path into the GUI, e.g., by cutting or pasting the
"address" of the folder), but I am not sure I can test all the
particular paths because I don't have, for example, word
perfect. So, you will have to let me know if it works in your
paths after I did it.

WOW! You are so generous. Actually, if you could, that would be
awesome! I think having both would be ideal. I need an example to
break into AutoIt. After years of fighting with VB and not
understanding it at all, from help I've received over in the MS ngs on
getting actual macros to work, I'm finally breaking into it. The same
will probalby hold true with AI.

Having an AutoIt working example would also help because I think that
it is a valuable program and I know I'm not the only one that would
benefit tremendously. This would be good for the group.

Also, I'm crossing into a wonderful area in MS apps, that of creating
custom menus! That's why backing up my files is becoming even more
crucial as I am finding that a ton of functionality will be gained
that I'll want to continue to bring home.

(Ah for the days when clerking was an easy job!! <g> I'll need a
programmer's degree next!! <lol>)

Thanks so much! Appreciate all your help.

[snip]

 

[R.L]

On Wed, 09 Jun 2004 15:23:43 GMT, "R.L"

fitwell <[email protected]> says in

Have you tried the window build-in
backup tool yet???
So, quest is on esp. after having trouble with my bat
backup file.[snip]
The paths are so different between home and
office that the bat required quite major re-writing.

Help me here, I don't understand, do you mean you cannot
find the right paths for the files you want to back up OR
you got the corrent paths but the bat doesn't work?? You
bat file looks fine to me.

Yes, but something is wrong. That's okay. It always
happens. At home I just take the time to dig deep and fix,
no matter how long that takes. The difficult at work is
that I can't do that. I need to get a bat file working in
5 minutes or less! <g>

Despite using shell extensions to get full path names, so I
can't screw up there, some of the files weren't backed up
and others ended up in the start menu (?!!!). It's just
the nature of bats

Yes, I *think* I had problem with bats reading directories, too.
esp. when the bat is not directly under c: I had some
commandline bat/dos applies and it is really (indeed, always)
hard to get them to work until I put them in the same folder as
the files it needs to process.

HOWEVER, last night I wrote to the bat ng as they're
really, really helpful. I figured out how a new structure
would make this backup bat work so that it wouldn't be so
complicated.

I'll report back re whatever they so kindly
come up with.

That would be nice. I am curious as to what went wrong. Your
bat, although looks a bit less "elegant", does not seem to be
way off.

For years now I've had the freeware PATH COPY and CLIPNAME.
(Guess where they were recommended <lol>??) That's why I
absolutely HATE folder trees! <lol>

oh, I see, I use a similar one call RJHextensions
(http://www.rjhsoftware.com/rjhextensions/), quite handy, too.

WOW! You are so generous. Actually, if you could, that
would be awesome! I think having both would be ideal. I
need an example to break into AutoIt.

Having an AutoIt working example would also help because I
think that it is a valuable program and I know I'm not the
only one that would benefit tremendously. This would be
good for the group.

Thanks so much! Appreciate all your help.

Hey, I already posted the script with a post in a new thread
(with a title PING: fitwell, see (Xns950416FEEF183ringomei)).
If you have autit v3 (not autit v2), you should be running it
with no problem. And I tested it in my XP box with different
directory level and it seems fine. The script include a few
things that bat can't do, it can check if outlook is running and
warn you and wait (I didn't do this in the script, but you could
also easily change it into kill or close outlook automatically).

In addition, it will check your a: drive to see if it has a disk
in it (since you want to back up to a drive). In fact, I also
have found a way to enter path with a GUI, but I have not
finished yet.

Some translations:
- copy in bat becomes filecopy,
- md a:/bu becomes DirCreate("a:\bu\")
- FileReadLine("backupjob.txt",2) tells the program to read into
the backupjob.txt file line 2 to get whatever file line you have
enter into that text file.
- sleep tells the program to sleep
- If WinExists("Outlook") is to see if outlook window exist
(wildcard partial match is used)
- All the echo message has become either message box (msgbox) or
tooltip": tooltips ("..", position, position)

 

[R.L]

OK..just a sidenote of apology, I just reread what I wrote and
I saw all my missing inflections, plurals and mis-spellings
....geee... I guess I am way too tired and have done a lusy job
in the writing, please bear with me!!!

 

[fitwell]

OK..just a sidenote of apology, I just reread what I wrote and
I saw all my missing inflections, plurals and mis-spellings
...geee... I guess I am way too tired and have done a lusy job
in the writing, please bear with me!!!

Where does that leave me? I didn't notice a thing! <lol>

 

[fitwell]

fitwell <[email protected]> says in
news:[email protected]:

[snip]

In addition, if you have time in the future and want to look
into a better/prettier automation tools other than bat files,
I would recommand Autoit. It supports all the commands in
your bat files (e.g., copy in bat = filecopy in autoit). It
also support messagebox for user input, tooltips, check if
file exist etc (e.g., in your case, you could check if outlook
process exist, if so, give a message box, if not, proceed).

In addition, Autoit can read in a text file for parameters so
you can write all the paths and files for backup, line after
line, in a single text file and then tell your script to just
read it while backing up.

In fact, I can't wait until the next version of Autoit because
it will start to have GUI support. In fact, when it supports
GUI creation, it will be real easy to write a backup tools as
what your've requested. Really not MUCH harder then using a
bat file.

[snip]

Hate to say it, R.L., but I just took a look at v3. Syntax
practically identical to bat coding, so it doesn't save me anything
(at least as far as I can see).

Here's what I found in the help file under "FileCopy":

"Copies one or more files.


FileCopy ( "source", "dest" [, flag] )

....

Example

FileCopy("C:\*.au3", "D:\mydir\*.*")"


Only a slightly different from a bat though I can see line wrap issues
might not be such an issue as in batch code as commands encased in
parantheses.

But AutoIt looks like a keeper, nonetheless.

 

[R.L]

(at least as far as I can see).

Here's what I found in the help file under "FileCopy":

"Copies one or more files.


FileCopy ( "source", "dest" [, flag] )

...

Example

FileCopy("C:\*.au3", "D:\mydir\*.*")"


Only a slightly different from a bat though I can see line
wrap issues might not be such an issue as in batch code as
commands encased in parantheses.

Yes, that is true, I looked into it, too. There is no way to use
just one command to group a set of user-specified files and with
different extension in a simple, beginner's, way.

BTW, did you see the code I sent you here:

http://www.talkaboutshareware.com/group/alt.comp.freeware/messag
es/322248.html
(I give you this link because the post there has a nicer format
than google and is easier to read)

I think a easier way to do it is to specify the filenames as
variable (e.g., define something like $n , $n+1...,) and also
use the same technique to instruct the script to read the
specific lines on the file (where you have entered the file
path,) e.g., something like filereadline then $l, $+1... and
then use some kind of looping to make recursive use of the
function.

Yet since I am not fluent in Autoit yet, I did not try to do it
in the script I show you. But you might want to look into it.

But AutoIt looks like a keeper, nonetheless.

Yes it is. BTW,I download the GUI beta version and have been
trying to make a GUI for the piece a wrote. It is really coming
a long. Autoit3 is really a powerful tool. I have not arrived a
public release yet, but you can see a screenshot for what it
might be looked like here, just to see how powerful autit3 can
be:

http://home.earthlink.net/~ringomei/updater_screenshot.jpg

And you see that it would not be difficult to create some kind
of GUI for a file backup program with autoit either.