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╔════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ UPCOPY ║
║ Author and copyright Lewis Williams ║
║ All rights reserved ║
║ Issue 4.0 Date: 20Jul95 ║
╚════════════════════════════════════════╝
UPCOPY is an intelligent copy system - it copies files both ways as
necessary to make directories identical. It picks out new files, and
updated files, and chooses the right copy direction. UPCOPY can also
erase files, ask questions, show file information, and show file
comparisons. Afterwards you're told if the directories are the same.
UPCOPY has a menu mode well suited to Windows. See UPCWIN.DOC for
Windows installation instructions. As a simple DOS command:
Useage: UPCOPY path1 [path2] (e.g. UPCOPY a:)
The parameters are:
path1 Specifies the first directory or file(s) to be
handled.
path2 Specifies the other directory and/or filename(s).
/B Run in DOS batch or command mode
/C Only processes common files and ignores new files.
/D Differencing. Also asks if you want to compare files
when they are different.
/E New files not copied can be erased.
/F Forward only. Only copies or asks to copy from path1
(source) to path2(target). Path1 is not altered.
/I Information only. Compares directories without
copying.
/N Processes new files and ignores common files
/O Will ask to overwrite new with old, as well.
/Q Quick and quiet. This suppresses a lot of information
and does no checks after copying.
/R Can overwrite/erase read only files.
/S Processes subdirectories (registered version only)
/W Run in windowed menu mode (default for no parameters)
/Y Automatic mode. No prompts.
You can put the options where you like, and stop UPCOPY any time with
CTRL+Break or CTRL+C.
The minimal list of files is:
UPCOPY.EXE - the program
UPCOPY.DOC - this documentation
UPCOPY.HLP - help file for windowed mode
These are optional:
UPCWIN.DOC - Windows installation instructions for UPCOPY as a
non-Windows application
UPCOPY.REC - Windows recorder macro for installing UPCOPY
UPCOPY.PIF - Windows Program Information File
UPCOPY.ICO - Windows icon
UPCEG.BAT - batch example creating temporary directories
DC.BAT - handy directory-compare batch file using UPCOPY
Page 1 of 4
These are not copied from the disk or source directory:
HISTORY.DOC- issue notes showing changes over time
SURVEY.DOC - feedback questions
README.BAT - a short introduction
INSTALL.BAT- just copies to a suitable directory
Examples of Use
───────────────
* Keeps directories aligned on a home PC, and one at work, using a
transfer disk.
* Copies the latest files in both directions to a master disk (or
network directory), which is shared by a group working together
* Keeps straightforward backups (or many rotated backups) of a
directory - no need to worry about file attributes or
incremental and absolute backups.
UPCOPY is ideal for use with the Interlnk connection system,
removable hard disks, and parallel port hard disks.
UPCOPY uses the date and time of the files. It doesn't use the DOS
archive attribute, and it doesn't check the contents of the files -
that makes it fast.
Example
───────
Suppose two directories on disk C \temp1 \temp2 contain files as
follows:UMAIN.C00 is the same in both, UUTL.C00 is newer in \temp2,
UGLOB.H00 is newer in \temp1, UEXTERN.H00 exists only in \temp1 and
UDEF.H00 exists only in \temp2.
The command 'upcopy \temp1 \temp2 /y' produces this result:
UPCOPY 4.0, Shareware Version, (c) 1994-95 L.I.Williams.
C:\TEMP1\*.* .. C:\TEMP2\*.*
UMAIN C00 12k 14Jul95 16:58 == UMAIN C00 12k 14Jul95 16:58
UUTL C00 14k 15Jul95 11:51 <= UUTL C00 14k 18Jul95 16:08
... file C:\TEMP2\UUTL.C00 copied to C:\TEMP1\UUTL.C00
UEXTERN H00 4561 17Jul95 16:39 => ... New file, no version here
... file C:\TEMP1\UEXTERN.H00 copied to C:\TEMP2\UEXTERN.H00
UGLOB H00 8401 18Jul95 16:07 => UGLOB H00 8401 18Jul95 14:50
... file C:\TEMP1\UGLOB.H00 copied to C:\TEMP2\UGLOB.H00
... New file, no version here <= UDEF H00 3431 17Jul95 16:49
... file C:\TEMP2\UDEF.H00 copied to C:\TEMP1\UDEF.H00
Checking result ...
File(s) specified are now the same
Both directories are now identical and up-to-date. Just to confirm
this if we now type 'upcopy \temp1 \temp2 /i' we get:
UPCOPY 4.0, Shareware Version, (c) 1994-95 L.I.Williams.
C:\TEMP1\*.* .. C:\TEMP2\*.*
UMAIN C00 12k 14Jul95 16:58 == UMAIN C00 12k 14Jul95 16:58
UUTL C00 14k 18Jul95 16:08 == UUTL C00 14k 18Jul95 16:08
UDEF H00 3431 17Jul95 16:49 == UDEF H00 3431 17Jul95 16:49
UEXTERN H00 4561 17Jul95 16:39 == UEXTERN H00 4561 17Jul95 16:39
UGLOB H00 8401 18Jul95 16:07 == UGLOB H00 8401 18Jul95 16:07
File(s) specified are the same
Page 2 of 4
Restrictions
────────────
UPCOPY cannot rename files as it copies. A hard disk is desirable.
Specifically, 'UPCOPY' will not do file compares and ignores /C if
there is no access to the DOS 'FC' program. Also help is restricted
if there is no access to the DOS 'MORE' program, or no access to this
file 'UPCOPY.DOC'.
Hints
─────
You need to keep the clock on your PC about right, especially if you
use UPCOPY to move files between PC's. If you put the PC clock back
an hour during the working day you can make a new file version look
old, so it's best to change the clock first thing in the morning, and
keep all PC's on the same time.
/f/y/o/e/q is a handy combination for quick simple copying. It will
quickly make the target a copy of the source overwriting differences
and erasing additional files, but without re-copying files that are
already up-to-date.
Your Questions Answered
───────────────────────
What is UPCOPY for? What's wrong with just copying files like I've
always done? - 1) You never find out if it was necessary 2) You may
overwrite new with old 3) You can't get rid of new files (often junk)
4) The files aren't copied both ways 5) You make new copies of files
that are already up-to-date and fragment your disk, wasting time.
Can I update a whole disk or directory structure? - When you register
UPCOPY (only £10 or $15) you will receive the professional version
that includes the bonus /s option which does this automatically. With
the shareware version you must specify the individual sub-
directories.
I already use backup software. Can I use UPCOPY too? - Yes. In
general you have to be careful with mixing backup systems because
they may assume exclusive use of a thing called the 'archive
attribute' for a file, (which marks whether or not a file should be
backed up.) Because UPCOPY uses only the date and time of a file it
does not suffer from this problem, or affect other backup systems.
UPCOPY works like normal copying, the new copy has its archive
attribute set so that it will be backed up by any other system).
How safe is UPCOPY? - It's very safe, especially when you don't set
any of the options. This is because differences only trigger
questions. You can use UPCOPY very occasionally without worrying that
you'll forget what to do, or what it does.
What happens with newly created files? - For UPCOPY 'new' means an
additional file that exists in one directory, but not the other. The
objective is to make the directories the same. So with /E if you
don't want to copy the file it will ask you if you want to erase it.
You can set /E/F/Y to erase unwanted new files in the target
directory automatically, /C if you want to update just the common
files and ignore all new additional files, or /F if you want to copy
new files only from the source to the target.
Page 3 of 4
What happens if I've altered more than one copy of a file? -
Basically the newest one wins. If you register UPCOPY you'll get
UNITE, which will merge two ASCII files highlighting the differences
(disaster recovery you might say).
When is a file updated? - Copying a file or changing its attributes
doesn't update a file. Essentially a newer version has to be made.
(Often major applications update their data files every time they
run.)
What about attributes - system, hidden and read-only? - System and
hidden files are ignored and not copied. Normally UPCOPY will not
overwrite or even ask to overwrite read-only files (you'll get an
informative message). If you specify /R then any read-only attributes
will be ignored and the file can be updated. A copy of a read-only
file is not read-only (this is the DOS convention).
How can I make UPCOPY not copy a file? Use the DOS attrib command to
make it system or hidden or the target read-only, that's one way.
Another is to post-date the target file - set a future date on your
PC and type 'COPY FILE.EXT+,,'.
What is shareware? - Try before buy. Make as many copies as you like
and pass them on. The price you've paid, if any, is just for
distribution. You should register your use of UPCOPY, get the /s
option and lose the annoying reminders.
Coming Soon
───────────
I am planning a MIRAGE option. MIRAGE will make a dummy file entry in
the target - a correctly dated empty file. That way you can make an
initial directory copy of a 500MB disk on a single floppy. Then
standard UPCOPY will add just your application files as you change
them. Beat that with file compression! I also hope to do a full
Windows version of UPCOPY. If you're interested register mentioning
your requirement - advance supporters will get their upgrade FREE.
Registration and Support
────────────────────────
UPCOPY is shareware. Registration brings the bonus '/s' option to
update entire disks and directory trees. To register GO SWREG on
Compuserve, or send £10/$15 to: Lewis Williams, Cybernetic Software,
29a Hannams Close, Lytchett Matravers, Poole, Dorset, BH16 6DN, UK.
E-mail 100103.2675@compuserve.com. Tel/fax +44 1202 623363. Price
includes e-mail despatch worldwide. You can also introduce UPCOPY to
a shareware repository (or get it mentioned in a magazine), and apply
for your FREE registered copy!
If you require a disk (which comes with a photocopy of this manual),
please add £2/$3 postage and packing.
THE END
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