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Can I see a list of practical differences between 'File copy (Finder readable)' and 'Restorable (pax-based)' modes for archiving files?

Sure, as of Impression 2.6 here are the functional differences:

  • 'File copy' and 'restorable' modes are each nearly as fast, thanks to recent improvements made to the 'restorable' mode of archiving.
  • 'File copy' mode is meant to be used to archive files in plain, Finder-readable format to allow for easy, random access to the data.
  • 'File copy' archives can be run with or without segmenting files, and a catalog of files and checksums can be included or not.
  • 'Restorable' archives automatically segment files, and a catalog of files and checksums will always be written to the archive.
  • 'Restorable' mode is meant to be used to duplicate files in a fully restorable format. Files can be restored back in place, fully intact with complete UNIX permissions and HFS/Spotlight meta-data when using this method.
  • Under OS X 10.3.x, 'File copy' mode preserves Finder labels and comments. 'Restorable' mode preserves Finder labels.
  • Under OS X 10.4.x and later, both 'File copy' and 'Restorable' modes preserve Finder labels, Finder/Spotlight comments and other meta-data.
  • 'Restorable' archives are fully restorable from within Impression's interface; 'file copy' archives require the Finder or Disk Utility for restoration (see next FAQ entry for details).
  • 'Restorable' archives require either Impression or the pax/hfspax command-line tool for restoration, while 'file copy' archives require only the Finder or a Terminal window.
  • 'Restorable' archives (i.e. - 'Archive.imps') can be directly written to non-HFS filesystems without the destruction of HFS/Spotlight meta-data. 'File copy' archives can be written to non-HFS systems only if the entire container (i.e. - the disk image, or 'Archive.dmg') is written as a whole.
  • Both 'file copy' and 'restorable' mode archives can be compressed and encrypted if written to a disk image (choice available in Preferences, see FAQ entry on backing up to disk image/local volume).

ImpsAnswer 103, last modified: 2006.02.06


© Copyright 1998-2006 Stephen W. Elliott, All rights reserved.