AutoPilot Documentation

Backup Files

The Backup Files addon allows you to backup your important files.  It's a good idea to back them up on a regular basis to avoid lost data.  We recommend you backup to a different hard disk than the one containing the files you want to backup.  In the event you loose all data on one drive, you should still be able to recover the data from the other drive.  Even if you don't have a second drive, it is still a good idea to make a backup copy.

Follow the Sample Backup Instructions below to learn how to get started backing up your important files.  You may also view the Description of Backup To Preferences and the Description of Backup From Preferences  for a detailed explanation of the Item Preferences tab.

NOTE: The recovery feature is not available in this version.  However, it is not difficult to recover files manually, should you need to.  In the event you need to recover your backed up files, go to the backup destination folder, using Tracker, and locate the file or files.  Then simply copy them to where you need them.  If you backed up the files using zip, then you will need to follow the instructions for unzip to extract the file from the zip archive first. If you are a registered user and you would like help with this, please don't hesitate to contact us.  Please provide as much detail as possible in your message.


Sample Backup Instructions

 
  1. First, make certain AutoPilot is running.
  2. Move the mouse to the Preferences tab. Click (or double click) the Backup Files item. This will open AutoSchedule.
  3. Enter a name for the backup in the description field.  (ie. Backup project files)
  4. Setup the schedule for when you want the backup to be processed.
  5. Click the Item Preferences tab.
  6. From the Backup To tab, select where you want the files to be backed up to, and any other options you prefer.
  7. From the Backup Files and/or Directories From tab, list which files to backup.  To add files, click the Add button and select a file or folder from the file panel, or, drag and drop the files and/or folders to the Backup Files/Directories listbox.
  8. Select the limiting options you desire.
  9. Click the Save Now button to save the backup schedule.
  10. To schedule another, click the menu item New Item and go to step 3.
  11. Close AutoSchedule.

Description of Backup To Preferences

Backup To - This indicates where the backup will be located.  You can click the Select Directory button or drag and drop a folder to below the Backup To: label, to select the destination folder for the backup .  NOTE: A default folder will be created if one is not selected.

Select Directory button - Click the button to open a file panel for selecting the destination folder for the backup.

Overwrite Existing Files If Newer - This option will replace a previously backed up file only if the current file is newer, otherwise the file is always backed up whether changes to the file were made or not.

Create ZIP File - This option wil use the default zip program to create a zip file containing the files listed in the backup.  The name of the zip file will be the description.

Backup BEOS Attributes - This option allows you to backup BEOS attributes for the backed up files.

Retain File Path - This option saves the file path for the files being backed up.  This is a good option to use if there is any chance of duplicate file names listed under different folders, or if you may need to know where the file was originally located.

Description of Backup From Preferences

Back Up Files/Directories - This list contains the files/folders to be backed up.  The list may contain one or more items.  Note, if the list contains a folder, the actual files to be backed up are listed in the Selection File List when the item is highlighted.  There are two ways you can add files to the list: drag and drop the files to the Back Up Files/Directories list box, or click the Add button and select the file/folder to be listed.  NOTE: if you add a folder, all the files in the folder will be initially listed.  Don't worry, you can limit this list in several ways, see the field definitions below.

Add button - Click the button to open a file panel for selecting a file or folder to be backed up.  NOTE: you can also drag and drop a file or folder to the Back Up Files/Directories listbox to add them to the list.

Remove button - Click this button to remove the highlighted item in the Back Up Files/Directories listbox.

Selection File List - This list contains the proposed list of files to be backed up for the item highlighted in the Back Up Files/Directories list.  This list may be limited in several ways, see the field definitions below.

SPECIAL NOTE: The files listed here are dynamic.  This means that the actual list of files for a folder is created at the time the backup is processed.  This list may be different than when the backup schedule is created.  This may a little confusing, however, this allows files to be added/removed automatically from the list without having to edit the backup schedule.  As files are added/removed to/from the folders you have listed, they will be automatically added/removed to/from the backup list for you.  So, it is to your benefit to select folders, instead of individual files, though there may still be instances when you only want a specific file.


READ THIS: The following fields limit the files listed in the Selection File List for the item highlighted in the Back Up Files/Directories list.  NOTE: these fields are unique for EACH item listed in the Back Up Files/Directories list, this provides you with alot of flexiblily.

Recurse Sub-Directories - Check this checkbox if you wish to backup files in sub-folders of the folder highlighted in the Back Up Files/Directories list.

Type - Listed under the heading Backup Files Matching, allows you to limit the files backed up to the MIME file type entered here.

Find - Listed under the heading Backup Files Matching, allows you to limit the files backed up to the files matching the find expresion.  For example, if you enter *.cpp all files ending in .cpp will be backed up for this item.

ALL - Listed under the heading Backup Files Matching, simply means ALL files will be backed up for this item.
 


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