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OS/2 Help File | 1995-06-20 | 79KB | 2,071 lines

ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1. Introduction ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Press the CTRL+C keys to view the table of contents. Thank you for using the Workplace Shell* Backup Utility! Description: The Workplace Shell Backup Utility (WPSbkup) allows you to create backups of the files, directories and related information that control the appearance and function of your OS/2* desktop. The associated restore process is very fast and easy to use. Why you should backup your desktop: You simply can not run your OS/2 system without using the desktop interface. You spend a lot of time defining and arranging the desktop so that you can effectively use your OS/2 system. The time that you spend doing this is cumulative and after a while represents a significant effort. Hardware errors and other problems may damage or disable your desktop. Manually reconstructing your desktop after a catastrophic failure can take days. You may not be able to remember all of the settings that you have made over time. You may not even be aware of desktop settings that are made for you when you install OS/2 products on your system. So, having a good desktop backup and restore utility is very important to your system well being. What makes WPSbkup a superior choice for desktop backup: WPSbkup is reliable. No one has more experience than the New Freedom Data Center when it comes to OS/2 desktop backup and restore. The first WPSbkup corporate site registration was shipped on March 15, 1992 and individual registrations were shipped before that. WPSbkup has been continually supported since then and modified as required for each new release of OS/2. With WPSbkup, "one size fits all" releases of OS/2. You can implement the same WPSbkup desktop backup and restore procedure across your organization for any desktop running OS/2 2.x or OS/2 Warp. WPSbkup is easy to use. Hundreds of suggestions by satisfied registrants have been implemented in WPSbkup over the years. By and large, these suggestions have made WPSbkup the most user friendly application that you can find. WPSbkup is very flexible and feature rich. You can tailor WPSbkup to support multiple copies of OS/2, multiple users or multiple operational modes (demos, travel, etc.) WPSbkup enables you to make desktop backups on demand. Backups are only made when you need them and while you are running. There is no need to reboot your system just to make a backup of your desktop. At boot time, you don't have to wait while backups are made that you don't really need. You can implement unattended modes for both the backup and restore processes. That makes WPSbkup easy to use on servers that require continuous (7x24) operation. WPSbkup is easy on your system resources. The backup is well-behaved and will not interfere with other system processes. Backup files are compressed in order to consume a minimal amount of disk space. WPSbkup is an extraordinary value. Both individual and corporate registrations are priced to please. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2. Key Concepts ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Double click here to go to the Workplace Shell Backup Utility overview. The purpose of this section of the documentation is to provide a little foundation material that will support the detail found in the rest of the document. The Workplace Shell Backup Utility is composed of three programs: WPSadmn.exe allows you to customize the activities of the other two programs. It also provides services that relate to backup files. It is not necessary to use WPSadmn if you are satisfied with WPSbkup defaults. WPSbkup.exe backs up your desktop, optional user files and deletes old backups. WPSrest.exe restores your desktop from a backup file. Before you can restore, you need to boot to a recovery environment. Boot procedures differ a little for OS/2 version 2 and Warp. (Warp is much easier.) After you boot to a recovery environment, you need to change to the backup target directory and execute WPSrest. The WPSbkup distribution also includes a diagnostic program, Qlog.exe. If you report a problem to the New Freedom Data Center, you may be asked to run this program. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2.1. Terminology ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Double click here to go to the Key Concepts topic. The following on-line documentation assumes an understanding of the Workplace Shell Backup Utility (WPSbkup) operational concepts described below. Many WPSbkup specific terms are hypertext linked to this panel. So, you may find yourself here often. Scroll through this panel until you find the term that you double clicked. WPSbkup Home Directory: When you installed WPSbkup, you specified a directory into which the distribution programs were loaded. WPSbkup requires that all of .exe files, .hlp file and .dll file be located in the same directory. This is the home directory. Backup File: When WPSbkup executes, it creates a single file into which the desktop environment (and other optional files) are compressed and stored. The names of these files begin with the letters "BKUP". Restore parameters are also recorded in this file. By default, WPSbkup creates the backup file in the home directory. However, you can modify this behavior. (See Target Directory) WPSbkup will maintain one or more backup files in the target directory. You can use the WPSadmn program to control the number of backup files that will be kept. When WPSbkup deletes backups in order to satisfy its number of backups to keep criteria, it always deletes the oldest backup files first. The WPSadmn program also allows you to display backup file status information and extract user files that may be contained within backup files. Backout File: You have the option of backing up files that will be replaced by WPSrest during restore processing. The names of backout files begin with the letters "BKOT". You may use a backout file to "undo" the effects of a WPSrest restore. Backout files are always created in the directory that is current when you run the WPSrest utility. Backout files are counted when WPSbkup determines the number of backup files to keep. Backout files can also be processed in the same way as backup files by the WPSadmn program. Backup Target Directory: The backup target directory (or just target directory) is where WPSbkup creates a desktop backup file. By default, this is the same location as the home directory. However, you can use the WPSadmn utility to establish a different target directory. When creating a new target directory, you must use the WPSadmn utility to create a WPSbkup icon that will "target" that new directory. If WPSbkup finds a WPSbkup.ini file in the target directory, it will set its runtime parameters from the file. Otherwise, WPSbkup uses internal defaults. WPSadmn places a WPSbkup.ini file in new target directories that you create. Note: It is very important to know the location of the target directory. If you need to restore, you will first have to change to the target directory. Multiple Target Directories: You can maintain more than one target directory. Doing so allows you to restore different configurations to the same PC. This ability is helpful if you need to support multiple copies of OS/2, multiple user environments or multiple operational environments on the same machine. Each environment would have its own backup target directory. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2.2. Program Defaults ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Double click here to go to the Key Concepts topic. WPSbkup.exe will follow these rules unless you over ride them using the WPSadmn utility: Create a desktop backup in the home directory. Keep only one backup. Prompt for permission to delete old backups. End without notification upon successful completion. Note: All command line parameters used in prior releases of WPSbkup will be honored by version 4.01 and will over ride the above defaults. However, parameter values set by WPSadmn will take precedence over command line parameters when both are available. WPSrest.exe will follow these rules unless you over ride them using the WPSadmn utility: The restore will use the most current backup file that was created at the same OS/2 service level as the system to be restored. Restore will begin without user intervention after 15 seconds. Only the desktop will be restored. No backup will be taken before the restore replaces the desktop. Summary messages will be displayed. At start-up, WPSadmn.exe will select control information from the target directory that was last used by WPSbkup.exe. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2.3. Restore Boot Environment ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Double click here to go to the Key Concepts overview. If you need to restore your desktop, first you will have to boot your PC in such a way that OS/2 is active, but not the Workplace Shell. That way, the WPSrest utility will be able to replace desktop files without interference. There are three ways to accomplish this task and none are difficult . A little setup work may be required, so please review the following sections by double clicking the hypertext links below: OS/2 2.x Boot Diskettes OS/2 Warp Alt-F1 Boot Procedure OS/2 Warp Utility Diskettes ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2.3.1. OS/2 2.x Recovery Boot ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Double click here to go to the Restore Boot overview. If you are running OS/2 2.x, you can boot from your installation diskettes to get to a recovery environment. Simply boot from your OS/2 2.x installation diskette. Insert diskette 1 when you are prompted. When you see the blue "Welcome to OS/2" installation screen, press the ESC key on your keyboard and change to your backup target directory. Type in WPSrest, press the Enter key and your desktop will be restored. Note: There are utilities available that help you to create OS/2 single diskette boot environments. In most cases, these work without modification. However, it is absolutely critical that the OS/2 file, NLS.DLL, is available in the directory specified by the LIBPATH= statement found in the Config.Sys file on the boot diskette. If you are using a single boot diskette, it would be very wise to test WPSrest in that environment before you are forced to do so in a recovery situation. If you need to place NLS.DLL in a recovery LIBPATH diskette directory, you will find it the \OS2\DLL directory on your running OS/2 system volume. It is very simple to create your own two diskette boot environment from either OS/2 diskette or CD-ROM installation packages: Make a copy of Disk 1 (not the installation diskette) Execute "Diskcopy A: A:" from an OS/2 command prompt On your copy of Disk 1, edit config.sys Find the lines (close to the top) that read: - protshell=sysinst1.exe - set os2_shell=sysinst2.exe Change them to read: - protshell=cmd.exe - set os2_shell=cmd.exe To boot to an OS/2 command prompt, simply boot from your original Installation Disk. When you are prompted for Disk 1, insert the modified copy that you made. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2.3.2. OS/2 Warp Alt-F1 Boot ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Double click here to go to the Restore Boot topic. OS/2 Warp has a built in recovery boot capability. At boot time, while the white square is visible at the upper left corner of your monitor screen, press the ALT and F1 keys. A blue "Recovery Choices" screen will be displayed. Type 'C' and press the Enter key. Your system will finish booting and you will be left at an OS/2 command prompt. Change to your backup target directory, type WPSrest and press the Enter key. Your desktop will be restored. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2.3.3. OS/2 Warp Utility Diskette Boot ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Double click here to go to the Restore Boot topic. OS/2 Warp allows you to create utility boot diskettes. The icon for the disk creation program can be found in your System Setup folder. You may use these diskettes to boot to a recovery OS/2 command prompt. You may have to use this approach if it is necessary to run CHKDSK on your OS/2 system volume. If you have a single high density utility diskette, then no further action is necessary. Just boot from the diskette, change to your backup target directory, type WPSrest and press the Enter key. Your desktop will be restored. If you have three utility diskettes, you will need to update diskette two. (You may wish to do that right now.) Insert the Warp Utility Diskette two into your diskette drive Copy NLS.DLL to the diskette - COPY d:\OS2\DLL\NLS.DLL a:\ - (where d: is your running system drive and a: is your diskette drive) After you have made NLS.DLL available on utility disk 2, you can boot from the Warp Utility Disk 1, insert disk 2 when prompted, change to your backup target directory, type WPSrest and press the Enter key. Your desktop will be restored. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3. Program Descriptions ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Double click here to go to the Workplace Shell Backup Utility overview. The Workplace Shell Backup Utility is comprised of three separate program utilities: WPSbkup.exe backs up your desktop environment and, optionally, other specified files. WPSbkup creates a compressed file that houses all of the backup information for that backup run. WPSrest.exe reads the backup information created by WPSbkup and restores your desktop environment to the state in which it existed at the time of backup. WPSrest will optionally restore non-desktop files that were backed up along with the desktop. WPSadmn.exe allows you to set parameters that control the execution of WPSbkup and WPSrest. WPSadmn also allows you to manage backup files, backup target locations and selectively extract files that were backed up along with the desktop. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.1. WPSbkup Desktop Backup ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Double click here to go to the Program Descriptions overview. The WPSbkup program is the heart of the Workplace Shell Backup utility. WPSbkup will backup your desktop environmental files and settings to a compressed file that it creates in the directory that is current at the time of its invocation. Optionally, WPSbkup will also backup non-desktop files that you specify. You can control many of the WPSbkup runtime parameters using the backup settings tab of the WPSadmn utility notebook. While WPSbkup is executing, it displays status information that describes the current backup phase and task. WPSbkup creates a Read.Me file in the backup target directory that will explain how to run the WPSrest utility if you need to restore your desktop. You can execute the WPSbkup program by double clicking its icon in the WPSbkup home directory. You may also use the WPSadmn utility to create a WPSbkup icon that will cause WPSbkup to create backups in a target directory other than the home directory. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.1.1. WPSbkup - Set Appearance ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Double click here to go to the Program Descriptions overview. I'll be the first to admit that I have no sense of esthetics. So, WPSbkup allows you to control the colors and fonts that are used for each of its major display areas. Simply open the system color and font palettes that are found in your system setup folder and drop the colors and fonts that you wish to use on the appropriate areas of the WPSbkup window. Note: Press and hold the CTRL key while dragging colors in order to change the color of text. WPSbkup stores color and font settings in the WPSbkup.ini file that is found in the target directory. That means you can have more than one "look" for WPSbkup if you maintain more than one target directory. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.2. WPSbkup Desktop Restore ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Double click here to go to the Program Description overview. The WPSrest utility will restore your desktop environment (and optionally other specified files.) CAUTION: WPSrest is intended to be run only in a recovery environment. You can start WPSrest from an OS/2 command prompt on your running system, but under no circumstances should you allow it to begin the restore process. (If the default option, Unattended Mode, is in effect, then you must press the ESC key within 15 seconds after WPSrest begins execution.) Hope that didn't scare you too much, but it is best to get that sort of thing out of the way quickly. If that does happen to you, then just stop what you are doing and restore from your most current WPSbkup backup using the proper recovery environment. WPSrest restores your desktop quickly and without a lot of fuss. Simply: Establish the recovery environment Change to your backup target directory Type WPSrest and press Enter When WPSrest begins execution you can: Stop the unattended timer (if necessary or desired) Select a less current backup file Change restore parameters List the names and dates of user files Start or exit the restore process Press here to see a sample WPSrest screen. Note: You will need to maximize the help window since WPSrest is intended to be used in an OS/2 full screen recovery environment. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.2.1. WPSrest - Sample Screen ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Workplace Shell Restore - 4.0 (c) 1995 - New Freedom Data Center Available Backups: 5 (0 damaged) Selected Backup: BKUP0612.001 Backup Version: WPSbkup 4.0 Backup Date: Mon Jun 12 14:43:44 1995 Target Drive: E: System Level: XR03003_ Target Desktop: E:\Desktop Target User INI: E:\OS2\OS2.INI Target System INI: E:\OS2\OS2SYS.INI User Files: 3 Restore Parms: Restore user files: Y Backup replaced files: N Verbose messages: N 'Y' to contine; 'N' to stop; 'U' to view list of user files; 'B' to change backup; 'P' to change parms Reply: (Default 'Y' in 15 seconds. ESC stops timer.) ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.2.2. WPSrest - Selecting a Different Backup ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Double click here to go to the WPSrest overview topic. By default, WPSrest will restore from the most current backup that it finds in the backup target directory. You can enter 'B' at the WPSrest prompt line to select a different backup. Double click here to see a sample backup selection screen. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.2.2.1. WPSrest - Sample Backup Selection ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 'Y' to contine; 'N' to stop; 'U' to view list of user files; 'B' to change backup; 'P' to change parms Reply: b ..Backup file: BKUP0612.001 Backup Date: Mon Jun 12 14:43:44 1995 Description: Valid backup file created by WPSbkup 4.0 Enter 'S' to select backup; 'C' to continue; 'X' to exit backup select Reply: c ..Backup file: BKUP0611.002 Backup Date: Sun Jun 11 08:50:16 1995 Description: Valid backup file created by WPSbkup 4.0 Enter 'S' to select backup; 'C' to continue; 'X' to exit backup select Reply: ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.2.3. WPSrest - Changing Restore Parameters ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Double click here to go to the WPSrest overview topic. The defaults that are used by WPSrest are stored in the backup file and initially set by the WPSbkup program. You may enter 'P' at the WPSrest restore prompt if you wish to change one or more of the following restore parameters: Restore user files Backup before restore Verbose restore messages Double click here to view a sample parameter change screen. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.2.3.1. WPSrest - Sample Parameter Change Screen ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Restore Parms: Restore user files: Y Backup replaced files: N Verbose messages: N 'Y' to contine; 'N' to stop; 'U' to view list of user files; 'B' to change backup; 'P' to change parms Reply: p ..Modify Restore Runtime Parameters: .. UserFiles: This parameter allows/ disallows WPSrest to restore the non-desktop files that were user specified for backup. Restoring user files along with the desktop may complicate the restore process. User specified files can also be selectively restored by the WPSadmn program. The current parameter setting is 'Y'. Enter 'Y' or 'N'; 'X' to exit parameter change Reply: y BUB4REST: This parameter allows/disallows WPSrest to create a backup of any directories or files that will be replaced by the restore process. The backup file will be created in the same directory as the one that holds the files created by WPSbkup, but will begin with 'BKOT'. WPSrest can use the BKOT file to "back out" the effects of a desktop restore. The current parameter setting is 'N'. Enter 'Y' or 'N'; 'X' to exit parameter change Reply: y VERBOSE: This parameter allows/disallows WPSrest to output details of the restore process. The restore will run more quickly if this parm setting is 'N'. The current parameter setting is 'N'. Enter 'Y' or 'N'; 'X' to exit parameter change Reply: n ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.2.4. WPSrest - Listing User Files ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Double click here to go to the WPSrest overview topic. If you have specified user files to backup along with the desktop, you can display their names and dates. Enter 'U' at the WPSrest program prompt. Double click here to see a sample user file listing. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.2.4.1. WPSrest - Sample User File List ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Target System INI: E:\OS2\OS2SYS.INI User Files: 3 Restore Parms: Restore user files: Y Backup replaced files: N Verbose messages: N 'Y' to contine; 'N' to stop; 'U' to view list of user files; 'B' to change backup; 'P' to change parms Reply: u e:\autoexec.bat Last Modified: Sat Jun 10 10:19:03 1995 / Size: 382 e:\config.sys Last Modified: Sun Jun 11 07:48:16 1995 / Size: 6677 e:\startup.cmd Last Modified: Sat Jun 10 10:24:27 1995 / Size: 99 Enter 'C' to continue; 'X' to exit list Reply: ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.2.5. WPSrest - Restore or Exit ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Double click here to go to the WPSrest overview. When you are ready for WPSrest to restore your desktop, enter 'Y' at the restore prompt. If you wish to cancel the restore, then enter 'N'. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.3. WPSbkup Administration ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Double click here to go to the Program Descriptions overview. The Workplace Shell Backup Utility administration program, WPSadmn, enables you to customize your desktop backup environment in subtle and sophisticated ways. You can use the administration utility to: Create multiple backup environments for systems that support more than one copy of OS/2, more than one operational environment or more than one PC user Define the number of backups that should be maintained Identify non-desktop files that should be backed up along with the desktop Display the contents and status of desktop backups Extract files from desktop backups Maintain the backup execution environment Set various backup runtime defaults Set various restore runtime defaults Register the WPSbkup shareware program ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.3.1. WPSadmn - Control Settings Page ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Double click here to go to the WPSadmn overview. The WPSadmn control page allows you to create new backup target directories for the WPSbkup utility or change to existing WPSbkup target directories. When WPSadmn begins execution, it will change to the directory that was used by the most recent execution of WPSbkup. You may find it useful to maintain more than one backup target directory if you have more than one copy of OS/2 installed on your system or if you have an archival scheme that lends itself to more than one backup generation hierarchy. You may use either the directory entry field or the Browse push button to specify the new directory location. CAUTION: WPSadmn will create any directories that do not already exist in order to satisfy your target directory specification. You may also use the control page to access detail information about backups that are contained in the target directory. You may change restore parameter defaults for specific backup files or extract user specified files that have been backed up. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.3.1.1. WPSadmn - Control Settings - Directory Entry Field ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Press F2 to go to the overview for the control page. The target directory entry field will allow you to type in a fully qualified directory pathname in which WPSbkup will create backups of your desktop. After you have entered the directory pathname, press the Enter key. WPSadmn will create all necessary subdirectories that are required to satisfy your specification. Note: You may be prompted to save settings in the current directory (if they have been changed) before WPSadmn will change to the new directory specification. By default, WPSbkup creates a backup of your desktop in the directory that is current at the time of its invocation. So, if you create a new target directory, you will probably want to create a new WPSbkup icon that directs the backup to your newly created directory. This can be easily done by using the "Create Run Icon" button on the WPSadmn Execution Activities page. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.3.1.2. WPSadmn - Control Settings - Browse Button ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Press F2 to go to the overview for the control page. The Browse button will invoke the standard OS/2 open dialog so that you can specify the new backup target directory in a familiar way. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.3.1.2.1. Change Target Directory Dialog ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Use this dialog to specify a new WPSbkup target directory. You can use the drive and directory controls to select an existing directory. You can use the entry field to specify directories that do not exist. Warning: The WPSadmn utility will create any directories that are needed to satisfy your request. So, before you press the OK directory, make sure that you are asking for what you really want. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.3.1.3. WPSadmn - Control Settings - Backup Files Container ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Press F2 to go to the overview for the control page. The Available Backups container will display backup files that exist in the backup target directory along with their creation dates. The files will be listed in reverse chronological order (most recent to least recent.) You may obtain detail information about backup files by double clicking an entry in the list or pressing the right mouse button to invoke a popup menu. You may also extract user specified files that are contained in the backup from the detail information dialog. You may also use the popup menu to delete unwanted backups from the target directory or refresh the list of backups if a new WPSbkup run has just completed. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.3.1.3.1. Backup File Popup Menu ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Clicking the right mouse button on the Backup File List will invoke a popup menu. That menu contains the following selections: Open Delete Refresh Help Index General Help Hints and Tips Using Help Product Information ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.3.1.3.1.1. Popup Menu - Open ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Use this menu item to open the file details for a backup file. The file details display shows information about the contents and status of a backup file. You can also extract user files contained with the backup file. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.3.1.3.1.2. Popup Menu - Delete ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Use the delete menu item to delete a backup file from the target directory. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.3.1.3.1.3. Popup Menu - Refresh ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Use the refresh menu item to reload the contents of the backup file list. This may be helpful if WPSbkup has created a new backup since the time that you started the WPSadmn utility. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.3.1.3.1.4. Popup Menu - Help Index ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Use the help index menu item to open a help window and display the index of the help file. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.3.1.3.1.5. Popup Menu - General Help ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Use the general help menu item to open a help window and display the help topic for the control settings page. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.3.1.3.1.6. Popup Menu - Hints and Tips ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Use the hints and tips menu item to open a help window and display the hints topic. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.3.1.3.1.7. Popup Menu - Using Help ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Use the using help menu item to open a help window and display the system instructions for using on-line help. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.3.1.3.1.8. Popup Menu - Product Information ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Use the product information menu item to display the release level for the Workplace Shell Backup Utility. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.3.2. WPSadmn - Backup File Details ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Double click here to go to the overview for the control page. The Backup File Details dialog allows you to exercise some control over backups that have already been created by the WPSbkup utility. It also describes the operations that will be performed by the WPSrest utility. The description text will display validity information about the backup file. Errors in the file or warnings that you should consider before restoring from the file are displayed here. The version text notes the release of the WPSbkup utility that created the backup file. The date is the creation date for the backup file. The target info area displays destination data that will control WPSrest's placement of data during restore. The user files area lists the names of user specified files that were backed up along with the desktop data. The file's last modified data (at time of backup) is also displayed in this area. The restore parms area contains check boxes that you may use to modify WPSrest defaults that were specified at time of backup. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.3.2.1. WPSadmn - Backup Details - Target Info ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Press the F2 key to go to the Backup File Details overview. The target info area describes the output destinations that the WPSrest utility will use to restore from this backup file. The drive letter is the boot drive that was active at time of backup. The level field displays the OS/2 maintenance of that drive on your system. The DTP field holds the full pathname of the desktop directory that was backed up to this backup file. The INI field displays the full pathname of the HINI_USERPROFILE system INI file that will be restored from this backup. The SYSINI field displays the full pathname of the HINI_SYSTEMPROFILE INI file that will be restored from this backup. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.3.2.2. WPSadmn - Backup Details - Restore Parms ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Press the F2 key to go to the Backup File Details overview. The restore parameters are initially set by the WPSbkup utility and stored in the backup file that it creates. You may change the settings for three restore parameters by checking or unchecking the appropriate parameter boxes. The restore parameters that may be changed are: Restore user files Backup before restore Verbose restore messages You may also elect to change these parameters at time of restore. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.3.2.2.1. WPSadmn - Backup Details - Restore User Files ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Press the F2 key to go to the Backup File Details overview. If you check the Restore user files check box, WPSrest will restore any user specified files that are contained in the backup after it restores the desktop. The default is to not restore user files. (The check box is unchecked by default.) Note: Since user files may be extracted at any time by simply dragging them from the user file container or using the extract dialog, you should consider restoring the user files as a task separate from the restoration of your desktop. Restoring user files will slow down the destkop restore process and may introduce unnecessary complexity into the restore task. If the Backup before restore box is also checked, existing copies of the user files will be backed up before the restore process begins. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.3.2.2.2. WPSadmn - Backup Details - Backup Before Restore ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Press the F2 key to go to the Backup File Details overview. If you check the Backup before restore check box, the WPSrest utility will make copies of any existing files before they are overwritten by the restore process. The backups will reside in a file that is compatible with WPSrest processing. So, the file may be used later to "back out" the effects of the restore process. Using the Backup before restore option will slow down the restore process somewhat. However, if you have enough disk space in your target directory to accommodate the "back out" file, it is highly recommended that you take advantage of this option. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.3.2.2.3. WPSadmn - Backup Details - Verbose Restore Messages ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Press the F2 key to go to the Backup File Details overview. If you check the Verbose messages check box, the WPSrest utility will output very detailed information about its restore processing. This information may be useful during problem diagnosis activities, but in general it is just an unneeded distraction. You may wish to restore once using the verbose messages setting just to satisfy any curiosity you might have about how the WPSrest utility works "under the covers." ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.3.2.3. WPSadmn - Backup Details - User File Container ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Press the F2 key to go to the Backup File Details overview. The User Files container displays any user specified files that were backed up along with the desktop. The last modified date and time (at time of backup) are also displayed for each file. You can extract user files to your system at any time by dragging them to a folder or by using an extract dialog. The extract dialog can be activated by using the right mouse button to open the user file container popup menu and then selecting the Extract menu item. Files backed up from HPFS volumes may be restored to FAT volumes and vice versa. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.3.2.3.1. User File Container Popup Menu ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ If you press the right mouse button over the user file container for a backup file, a popup menu will appear. That menu will contain the following items: Extract Help Index General Help Hints and Tips Using Help Product Information ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.3.2.3.1.1. Popup Menu - Extract ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Use the extract menu item to start a standard system file dialog. Use that dialog to specify the name and location that will be used when the selected file is extracted from the backup file. Note: You may also extract user files by simply dragging them from the user file list to any system folder. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.3.2.3.1.2. Popup Menu - General Help ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Use the general help menu item to open a help window and display the help topic for the backup file details page. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.3.2.3.2. Extract User File Dialog ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Use this dialog to specify the drive, directory and file name to be used to extract the selected file. Note: You may not extract files to existing file names. If the file already exists, the extraction will stop. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.3.3. WPSadmn - Execution Activities Page ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Double click here to go to the WPSadmn utility overview. The execution activities page allows you to perform three functions that control or invoke the execution of the WPSbkup utility. Those functions are: Set the font and colors of the WPSbkup execution window Run the WPSbkup utility with the current parameters and target directory Create a desktop icon that will allow you to run the WPSbkup utility later using the current parameters and target directory ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.3.3.1. WPSadmn - Execution Activities - Set Appearance ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Press the F2 key to go to the WPSadmn Execution Activities overview. If you press the Set Appearance push button, the WPSbkup utility will be launched, but will not execute. You may then launch the OS/2 system font and color palettes and use them to change the appearance of the WPSbkup execution window. Each area of the WPSbkup window is individually set. This provides a great deal of flexibility in the way in which you can control the look of the WPSbkup application. Foreground color, background color and font can be set for each window display area. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.3.3.2. WPSadmn - Execution Activities - Run ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Press the F2 key to go to the WPSadmn Execution Activities overview. If you press the Run push button, WPSbkup will be immediately launched for execution. It will use the currently defined run parameters and target directory. Note: You may be prompted to save any changes that you have made to run parameters before the WPSbkup utility is launched. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.3.3.3. WPSadmn - Execution Activities - Run Icon ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Press the F2 key to go to the WPSadmn Execution Activities overview. If you press the Create Run Icon push button, an icon will be placed on your desktop that may be used to execute the WPSbkup utility using the current run parameters and target directory. You may move the WPSbkup icon to another desktop folder if you wish. Note: You must create and execute the WPSbkup utility using an icon created in this manner if you have specified a new backup target directory. By default, the WPSbkup utility will backup your desktop to the directory that is current at the time of its invocation. Normally, that would be the directory in which WPSbkup.exe is located. So, if you have used the WPSadmn utility to specify a new target directory, you must create a run icon that will identify this target directory to the WPSbkup utility. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.3.4. WPSadmn - Backup Settings Page ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Double click here to go to the overview for WPSadmn. The Backup Settings Page allows you to specify parameters that will effect the behavior of the WPSbkup utility when it is executed against the specified target directory. You may enter the number of backups that will be kept in the target directory. After the WPSbkup utility successfully backs up your desktop, it will delete the oldest backups until it reaches the number that you specify. You may force WPSbkup to prompt you for permission to delete old backups by checking the "Prompt before deleting" check box. WPSbkup will simply terminate execution after it has successfully backed up your desktop. However, if you would prefer to have WPSbkup notify you that the backup was successfully completed, then check the "Notify upon completion" check box. WPSbkup checks the service level of your system before it begins the backup process. That way, you can be sure that the backup that is created will be able to properly restore your system. If you wish to suppress this verification test, then check the "Bypass OS/2 version test" check box. If you are having problems with WPSbkup, you may be requested to execute the external trace facility by someone at the New Freedom Data Center. Before you run WPSbkup for the purpose of tracing errors, you will need to check the "Qlog diagnostic messages" check box. WPSbkup allows you to specify files that should be backed up along with your desktop. Use the "Backup User Files" container to specify those files. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.3.4.1. WPSadmn - Backup Settings - Number To Keep ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Press F2 to go to the overview for the Backup Settings page. You may enter the number of backups that will be kept in the target directory. After the WPSbkup utility successfully backs up your desktop, it will delete the oldest backups until it reaches the number that you specify. By keeping "generations" of backups, you have the capability to restore to a given point in time. This is especially helpful when you install complex applications that can introduce problems that are not immediately apparent. Keep in mind that keeping multiple backups increases the amount of disk space that you will need. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.3.4.2. WPSadmn - Backup Settings - Purge Prompt ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Press F2 to go to the overview for the Backup Settings page. WPSbkup deletes the oldest backups when the number of backups on the target directory exceeds the "Number to Keep" specification. You may wish to over ride deletion for specific backup files when you are making a lot of changes to your desktop and creating a lot of backups. You may force WPSbkup to prompt you for permission to delete old backups by checking the "Prompt before deleting" check box. If you reply "No" to the prompt, WPSbkup will not delete the backup file in question and will allow more backups to exist in the target than specified in the "Number to Keep" field. You may wish to manually delete files using the "Available Backups" container on WPSadmn control settings page. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.3.4.3. WPSadmn - Backup Settings - Completion Message ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Press F2 to go to the overview for the Backup Settings page. WPSbkup will simply terminate execution after it has successfully backed up your desktop. However, if you would prefer to have WPSbkup notify you that the backup was successfully completed, then check the "Notify upon completion" check box. You may wish to do this if you are waiting for WPSbkup to complete before making dramatic changes to your desktop. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.3.4.4. WPSadmn - Backup Settings - Bypass Version Test ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Press F2 to go to the overview for the Backup Settings page. WPSbkup checks the service level of your system before it begins the backup process. That way, you can be sure that the backup that is created will be able to properly restore your system. If you wish to suppress this verification test, then check the "Bypass OS/2 version test" check box. Normally, it would be a very bad idea to bypass this service level validation. However, there are those among you (and you know who you are) that thrive on installing the most recent betas and new releases as soon as they ship. If you are one of them, then please check with the New Freedom Data Center to see if you can safely use WPSbkup with your "bleeding edge" desktop. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.3.4.5. WPSadmn - Backup Settings - Diagnostic Messages ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Press F2 to go to the overview for the Backup Settings page. Of course, it goes without saying that there are no program bugs in the Workplace Shell Backup Utility. However, we thought it might be a good idea to include a utility that will entertain you on cold winter evenings by displaying very detailed program diagnostic data. Seriously, we test each release of the WPSbkup utility as best we can, but some problems always seem to get through. Trying to manage every possible desktop configuration is quite a challenge! So, you will find the Qlog utility included in your distribution package. WPSbkup and WPSadmn are able to output diagnostic messages to a special system resource. Qlog finds those messages and is able to display them and save them to a file. If you are having problems with WPSbkup, you may be requested to execute the external trace facility by someone at the New Freedom Data Center. Before you run WPSbkup for the purpose of tracing errors, you will need to check the "Qlog diagnostic messages" check box. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.3.4.6. WPSadmn - Backup Settings - User Files To Backup ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Press F2 to go to the overview for the Backup Settings page. WPSbkup allows you to back non-desktop files along with your desktop. Use the "Backup User Files" container to specify those files. The easiest way to specify a user file is to open the folder in which it is located and drag it to the Backup User Files container. You may also point to the container and press the right mouse button to activate a popup men. Select the menu item "Insert" to invoke the standard system file dialog. You can use this dialog to select file names for backup. Use the "Remove" popup menu item to remove file names from the list of User Files. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.3.4.6.1. User Files Popup Menu ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ If you press the right mouse button on the user files list, a popup menu will appear. The popup menu contains the following items: Insert Remove Help Index General Help Hints and tips Using Help Product Information ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.3.4.6.1.1. Popup Menu - Insert ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Use the insert menu item to start a standard system file dialog. Use the dialog to identify one or more files that you wish to have backed up along with the desktop. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.3.4.6.1.2. Popup Menu - Remove ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Use the remove menu item to remove a file from the user files backup list. You may wish to remove file entries for files that no longer exist or have been moved to new locations. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.3.4.6.1.3. Popup Menu - General Help ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Use the general help menu item to open a help window and display the help topic for the backup settings page. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.3.4.6.2. User Files To Backup - Insert Dialog ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Use this dialog to specify one or more files that you wish to have backed up along with the desktop. Use the drive and directory controls to position on the directory that holds the files you wish to backup. Select one or more files from the files list. You may select file ranges by holding the shift key and left mouse button clicking file entries. You may select multiple files, one at a time, by holding the CTRL key and left mouse button clicking file entries. Press the OK button after you have finished making selections. The files that you have selected will be added to the files to backup list. Note: You may also add items to the user files to backup list by simply dragging the files and dropping them on the list container. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.3.5. WPSadmn - Restore Settings Page ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Double click here to go to the overview for WPSadmn. Use the Restore Settings page to set the runtime parameters for the WPSrest utility. Any of the parameters set here may be changed when you run WPSrest. Using restore settings you can control: Waiting for user input before initiating restore Backing up existing files that will be restored Restore scope: Just the desktop Desktop and user files Message detail level ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.3.5.1. WPSadmn - Restore Settings - Unattended Restore ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Press F2 to go to the overview for the Restore Settings page. By default, WPSrest will be set to execute in unattended mode. When WPSrest begins, a timer will be set for 15 seconds. If after that 15 second time period no input has been received from the key board, WPSrest will begin the restore process. Note: You may stop the timer within the 15 second time period by pressing the ESC key. This will place WPSrest in attended mode. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.3.5.2. WPSadmn - Restore Settings - Backup Before ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Press F2 to go to the overview for the Restore Settings page. Backing up your existing environment before you replace it is almost always a good idea. If you check the "Backup before restore" check box, WPSrest will create a "backout" file in the backup target directory that will contain copies of any files that will be replaced by the restore process. That backup file will begin with the letters "BKOT". The backout file is completely compatible with both WPSadmn and WPSrest. So, you can "undo" the effects of the desktop restore operation. Also, you may extract any user files that were replaced using the WPSadmn utility. Note: In order to use the Backup Before Restore option, you must have write/create authority in the backup target directory (and also enough available free space) at the time of restore processing. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.3.5.3. WPSadmn - Restore Settings - Restore DTP Only ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Press F2 to go to the overview for the Restore Settings page. By default, WPSrest will only restore your desktop. You should seriously consider taking this default action. If your system is intact enough to run WPSrest, chances are good that restoring the desktop is all that you need to do. If you find that you require user specified files to be restored as well, you can always use the WPSadmn utility to do that after you reboot. However, you may have very good reasons to synchronize the restoration of non-desktop files. For example, you may use your system to demonstrate various desktop products or configurations. You can use WPSadmn to create a separate backup / restore environment for each configuration. Then you can use WPSrest to restore from the target that is appropriate to your current need. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.3.5.4. WPSadmn - Restore Settings - Restore User Files ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Press F2 to go to the overview for the Restore Settings page. By default, WPSrest will only restore your desktop. You should seriously consider taking this default action. If your system is intact enough to run WPSrest, chances are good that restoring the desktop is all that you need to do. If you find that you require user specified files to be restored as well, you can always use the WPSadmn utility to do that after you reboot. However, you may have very good reasons to synchronize the restoration of non-desktop files. For example, you may use your system to demonstrate various desktop products or configurations. You can use WPSadmn to create a separate backup / restore environment for each configuration. Then you can use WPSrest to restore from the target that is appropriate to your current need. Check the restore user files too check box to instruct the WPSrest utility to restore user files along with the desktop. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.3.5.5. WPSadmn - Restore Settings - Verbose Messages ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Press F2 to go to the overview for the Restore Settings page. By default, the WPSrest utility will display summary messages during the restore process. Most of the time, this will be quite enough to keep you occupied while the desktop is being restored. However, you will probably want to run WPSrest with verbose messages turned on just once to satisfy your curiosity about what is really happening when your desktop is restored. Verbose messages can also be helpful during problem diagnosis. Note: You can always over ride verbose messaging when you run the WPSrest utility. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.3.6. WPSadmn - Registration Page ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Double click here see how to register WPSbkup 4.01 The Workplace Shell Backup Utility is distributed as shareware. That means that you can try it out to make sure that it can help you before you pay for it. WPSbkup allows for 15 trial backups and then it expires. In order to continue using WPSbkup, you must register it with the New Freedom Data Center. When you register WPSbkup, you will be given a code that you may enter into the registration field. After you enter the code, the trial counter will be disabled and the registration page will no longer appear in the WPSadmn utility. Note: Backups that are created during the trial period will not expire. You may restore from them regardless of the registration status of the WPSbkup utility. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.3.6.1. WPSadmn - Registration - Registration Code ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Press F2 to go to the overview for the Registration page. When you register WPSbkup, you will be given a registration code. Enter the code (with no preceding or trailing blanks) into the registration code entry. Then press the enter key or press the Accept push button. After you enter the registration code, the shareware trial counter will be disabled and the registration page will be removed from the WPSadmn notebook. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.3.6.2. WPSadmn - Registration - Accept Button ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Press F2 to go to the overview for the Registration page. Press the Accept button to process the registration code that you have entered into the registration code field. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.3.7. WPSadmn - Message Help ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ The following topics provide help for message boxes that may appear during the execution of the WPSadmn utility. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.3.7.1. Backup File Delete Confirmation ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ If you press the 'Yes' push button, the selected backup file will be deleted from the target directory. WPSbkup will use its number to keep criteria to delete backup files from the target directory after it successfully creates a new target file. WPSbkup always deletes the oldest backups first when trying to satisfy the number to keep value. If you press the 'No' push button, WPSbkup will allow the file to remain in spite of the number to keep value. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.3.7.2. Record Insertion Failure ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ WPSadmn was unable to insert the record into the user files to backup list. Try stopping and restarting WPSadmn. If the problem persists, contact the New Freedom Data Center for help. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.3.7.3. Confirm Removal for Multiple Selection ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ If you press the 'Yes' push button, then the files selected in the user files to backup list will be removed from the list. These files will no longer be backed up with the desktop. If you press the 'No' push button, the remove operation will be cancelled. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.3.7.4. Confirm Removal of Specified File ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ If you press the 'Yes' push button, the named file will be removed from the user files to backup list. That file will no longer be backed up with the desktop. If you press the 'No' push button, the remove operation will be cancelled. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.3.7.5. Duplicate Name Error ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ The extract dialog will not allow you to write over existing files when you extract files from backup. If you press the 'OK' button, the extract dialog will reappear and you will be given the opportunity to choose a different output name. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.3.7.6. INI File Save Confirmation ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ You have made changes to the WPSbkup.ini file that have not yet been written to disk. Press the 'Yes' push button to save the changes. If you press the 'No' push button, then the changes that you have made will be lost. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.3.7.7. Logo Panel ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ The logo panel's only purpose is to display the version and release level of your copy of the Workplace Shell Backup Utility. You may be asked for this information when you report a problem to the New Freedom Data Center. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.4. Qlog Diagnostic Program ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Qlog is a trace facility that can be used to monitor the progress of the desktop backup. Monitoring is only helpful if WPSbkup is unable to successfully backup your OS/2 Desktop settings. Should you need to report a problem, you may wish to first execute the following procedure: 1. Start Qlog 2. Open a new log file from the File action bar item 3. Reset the priority from the Options/Priority/Critical action bar item 4. Set the Qlog Messages backup parameter using the WPSadmn utility 5. Run WPSbkup 6. After the error occurs stop WPSbkup as normal 7. Close the Qlog file from its File action bar item 8. Edit out the last ten lines or so and send them to the New Freedom Data Center Armed with this information, we can usually resolve backup problems quickly. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4. Hints and Tips ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ This topic is a combined " tips" and " frequently asked questions" area. Below, you will find hypertext links to topics that may be helpful or of general interest. Do I need to re-register WPSbkup 4.01? Do I need to use WPSadmn? Why would I want more than one target directory? Can I manually move backup files to other locations? Can I restore my desktop to a different machine? Can I restore a desktop backup from a different release of OS/2 to my system? Is there a limit to the number of user files that can be backed up with the desktop? How does the restore work? Is WPSbkup 4.01 compatible with the REXX procedures that I designed to use with WPSbkup 3.x? What is the limit for the number of backups to keep? Does the New Freedom Data Center have any other OS/2 products? ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.1. Do I Need to Re-register WPSbkup 4.01? ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ I'm sorry, but I am asking for an update fee for those who have registered individual copies of earlier releases of WPSbkup. The upgrade fee is 33% of base ($5 for individuals and $50 for corporate sites.) Thirty percent is toward the low end of upgrade prices in the industry. I apologize for the need to require an update fee for individual registrants. Since WPSbkup's first release in 1992, upgrades to individual registrants have been free of charge and I was disappointed that I could no longer afford to continue that policy. Hopefully you will find the enhancements in version 4.01 to be well worth your additional investment. If not, your currently registered copy of WPSbkup should continue to be of service to you for some time to come. Once again, my most sincere apologies, but I'm just trying to raise a family and pay the bills. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.2. Do I need to use WPSadmn? ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Not really. If you are happy with the program defaults, then you can use WPSbkup just by double clicking its icon in the installation (Home) directory. However, most people will want to keep more than one desktop backup for their system. So, if nothing else, that will require that you use WPSadmn at least once. Of course, at some point in time you will wish to register the Workplace Shell Backup Utility. You will need to run WPSadmn to do that as well. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.3. Why would I want more than one target directory? ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ If you manage more than one configuration on your PC, then you will probably want to keep more than one desktop target directory. Some examples of multiple configurations might be: You use a laptop and keep one configuration for when you are in the office and LAN attached, and a different configuration for when you're on the go. You use the OS/2 Boot Manager to keep more than one copy of OS/2 on your PC. You frequently perform PC demonstrations and want a simple and quick way to re-establish the demo desktop. You share the PC with others and each of you want to have your own desktop "look and feel." Each of the above situations could be helped by having multiple desktop backup and restore directories. Each backup target environment would also have a distinct set of user files to backup and restore along with the desktop. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.4. Can I manually move backup files to other locations? ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Absolutely! Just be sure to copy WPSrest.exe into the same location. That way, you won't have any trouble restoring with the files that you move. Note: You must have read and write access to the backup files. This is true when you access them with WPSrest or WPSadmn. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.5. Can I restore my desktop to a different machine? ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Sure, so long as those machines are very similarly configured. In particular, the source and target machines need to: Have the same version and release of OS/2 Have the same display types Have the same Workplace Shell enabled applications installed The last item is tricky. Some newer applications install Workplace Shell extensions. Unpredictable results may occur if the target machine has these extensions defined in the Workplace Shell without have the supporting programs installed on the PC. Note: Whenever attempting first time desktop restores, use the backup before restore parameter. That way you'll always be able to at least get back to where you started. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.6. Can I restore a desktop backup from a different release of OS/2 to my system? ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ You really shouldn't attempt to do this. The Workplace Shell is a tightly coupled component of OS/2. Mis-matching the base component with the desktop is just asking for trouble. If you are absolutely compelled to try this: Note: Whenever attempting first time desktop restores, use the backup before restore parameter. That way you'll always be able to at least get back to where you started. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.7. Is there a limit to the number of user files that can be backed up with the desktop? ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ The real limitation would be: How much disk space that you are willing to devote to desktop backup How patient are you when the backup is running 500,000 bytes is about the average amount of space that a desktop backup will require with no additional files. Text based configuration files and Windows .INI files required very little space when compressed by WPSbkup. You will have to experiment to see what your actual space requirement will be. Obviously, when the backup includes a lot of files, it will run longer. However, WPSbkup is pretty well behaved when run in the background. So, unless you are waiting for it to finish before installing a big product or rebooting, then the run duration of WPsbkup is of little concern. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.8. How does the restore work? ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ It's pretty straight forward. First, you have to boot to a recovery environment. If you're running OS/2 2.x, then this usually means booting from diskettes. If you're running Warp, then using the Alt-F1 boot procedure could not be easier. When you get an OS/2 command prompt, you will need to change to your backup target directory. Then, just enter WPSrest and the desktop restore is rolling! ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.9. Is WPSbkup 4.01 compatible with the REXX procedures that I designed to use with WPSbkup 3.x? ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ There are a lot of you out there who have written REXX wrappers for older releases of WPSbkup. I have tried my level best not to mess things up for you. WPSbkup 4.01 will accept all of the parameter input that worked for earlier releases. Its parameter defaults are not changed. In particular, WPSbkup will still accept its backup target directory as a command line parameter input. However, if WPSbkup finds a WPSbkup.ini file in its backup target directory, the parameter values found within that file will take precedance over any command line parameter input. Also, if your REXX program accesses the old FLSTORE or EASTORE directories, then you're in for trouble. Those directories no longer exist. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.10. What is the limit for the number of backups to keep? ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ The largest number that you can enter into the "number to keep" field is 999. However, you probably won't want to devote that much space to desktop backups. Also, the more backups that you have, the longer it takes for the WPSadmn utility to initialize. At initialization, WPSadmn validity checks all of the backup files in the target directory. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.11. Does the New Freedom Data Center have any other OS/2 products? ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ How very kind of you to ask! <g> IconEase is another shareware product offered by the New Freedom Data Center. IconEase is an icon management tool that allows you to store large icon collections in a compressed format. IconEase's easy to use notebook interface gives you the flexibility to organize your icons in ways that make sense to you. Built in keyword and descriptive text searches make it a snap to find icons when you want to use them to change the appearance of desktop objects. IconEase 2.0 (and above) uses Distributed System Object Model (DSOM) on OS/2 Warp systems. This makes it very easy to change the icon for almost any desktop object. IconEase is available for download from: BMT Micro Web page: http://wwwilm.vnet.net/bmthtm/bmtmicro.htm CompuServe forum OS2AVEN, lib 1 (Other Vendors) as file IconEs.zip Pete Norloff's OS/2 ShareWare BBS (703) 385-4325 as file IconExxx.zip (where xxx is the release number, 20b at the time of this writing) ftp.cdrom.com in /pub/os2/wpsutils as file IconExxx.zip (where xxx is the release number) ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5. We Love Hearing From You ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Please, be sure to send us your comments about WPSbkup or any other product from the New Freedom Data Center. If you have suggestions for future products, send them along as well. It is not always possible to reply to each of your messages, but we really do try our best. Be assured that we read every card, letter, email and fax and try our hardest to include your suggestions in each new release of our products. Contact us at: By mail: - Dave Lester - New Freedom Data Center - Box 461 - New Freedom, PA 17349-0461 Compuserve - dave lester 75600,237 Internet - dlester@ibm.net FAX - (717) 235-0985 Voice - (717) 235-7315 ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6. How To Register WPSbkup 4.01 ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Thank you for taking the time to consider registering WPSbkup. Only your support makes it possible to undertake shareware projects. WPSbkup has five registration options: 1. Individual Upgrade: If you have registered an older release of WPSbkup, you can upgrade to WPSbkup 4.01 at a very reduced rate. 2. Corporate Site Upgrade: If your company has registered WPSbkup for unlimited use at a business location, that registration can be upgraded to WPSbkup 4.01 on a per location basis. 3. Individual Registration: Individuals may register WPSbkup for their personal use on a single PC. When you register WPSbkup, you will be given a registration code that will disable that pesky trial counter. 4. Corporate Site Registration: Companies may register WPSbkup for unlimited use at a single corporate location. (A location is defined as any building from which that company transacts business.) Site registrants receive customized copies of WPSbkup programs which clearly display the company's name and right to copy the software. Future update notifications are also automatically sent to site registrants. 5. Enterprise Wide Registration: Large organizations may register WPSbkup for unlimited use by their employees without regard to location. Future updates to WPSbkup are shipped to Enterprise registrants at no additional charge. Separate fee schedules are available for orders received through: Credit Card orders (on-line, voice and fax by BMT Micro) CompuServe** on-line SWREG facility Check or purchase order by mail ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6.1. BMT Micro - Credit Card Orders ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Registration services for US and non-US WPSbkup users are available through BMT Micro. The quality services provided by BMT Micro include: Register by major credit card including Visa, MasterCard, AMEX, Optima, Discover, NOVUS, EuroCard: $10.00 Individual user upgrade from an earlier release of WPSbkup $60.00 Corporate site upgrade (per site) $20.00 First time individual user registration $175.00 Corporate site registration (per site) $1,650.00 Enterprise wide registration Convenient on-line registration facilities: AOL: bmtmicro BBS: (910) 350-8061 10 lines, all 14.4K (910) 799-0923 Direct 28.8K line Order by phone 9:00am-7:00pm EST (-5 GMT): (800) 414-4268 (orders only) (910) 791-7052 Order by FAX, Email or Mail (Please use BMT order form): FAX: (910) 350-2937 24 hours / 7 Days Email: orders@bmtmicro.com Mail: BMT Micro P.O. Box 15016 Wilmington, NC 28412-2411 USA Download the most current release and/or fixes: ftp: 166.82.142.130 (login as anonymous, your inet id as password) Web page: http://wwwilm.vnet.net/bmthtm/bmtmicro.htm BBS: (910) 350-8061 10 lines, all 14.4K (910) 799-0923 Direct 28.8K line ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6.1.1. BMT Micro - Order Form - WPSbkup 4.01 ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Voice Orders: 9:00am - 7:00pm EST (-5 GMT) Mail Orders To: BMT Micro (800) 414-4268 (orders only) P.O. Box 15016 (910) 791-7052 Wilmington, NC 28412-2411 Fax Orders: (910) 350-2937 24 hours / 7 Days U.S.A. Online Orders via modem: Ordering and general ordering questions: (910) 350-8061 10 lines, all 14.4K Via AOL: bmtmicro (910) 799-0923 Direct 28.8K line Via Internet: thomas.bradford@bmtmicro.com WPSbkup 4.01 Quantity Price Number of copies _______________________________ ______________ ________________ Individual Upgrade $10.00 x ________________ = + $ ________________ Individual Registration $20.00 x ________________ = + $ ________________ Corporate Site Upgrade $60.00 x ________________ = + $ ________________ Corporate Site Registration $175.00 x ________________ = + $ ________________ Enterprise Wide Registration $1,650.00 x ________________ = + $ ________________ TOTAL AMOUNT = $ ________________ FOR CREDIT CARD PAYMENT ONLY Circle one: VISA / Master / Discover / American Express / Optima / NOVUS / EuroCard Credit card number: ________________________________________________________________ Expiration date: ________________________________________________________________ Authorization signature: ________________________________________________________________ SHIP TO / TECHNICAL CONTACT Name: ________________________________________________________________________________ Company: ________________________________________________________________________________ Address: ________________________________________________________________________________ Address: ________________________________________________________________________________ Phone: _____________________________ Email Address: __________________________________ Currently using WPSbkup shareware version & release number: ____________________________ CORPORTATE SITE ADDRESS (IF SITE REGISTRATION & DIFFERENT THAN ABOVE) Company: ________________________________________________________________________________ Address: ________________________________________________________________________________ Address: ________________________________________________________________________________ ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6.2. Ordering By CompuServe SWREG ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ You may register WPSbkup on CompuServe. Simply enter "GO SWREG" and follow the automated instructions that will follow. When registering, please use quantity fields that are provided to indicate that you are registering more than one individual copy or corporate location. You will need to know the SWREG code that is associated with the WPSbkup registration option you wish to use: Code Registration Option 6153 $10 - Individual upgrade from a prior release. 6154 $58.82 - Corporate site upgrade from a prior release. 6155 $17.65 - First time individual registration. 6156 $176.47 - Corporate site registration. 6157 $1,764.71 - Enterprise wide registration. Note: All fee amounts are expressed in United States Dollars (USD.) Double click here to view the topic that contains registration option definitions. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6.3. Ordering By Check or Purchase Order ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Double click here to go to the Registration overview. The payment schedule for ordering by check or purchase order follows. Please double click an option description to display the order form that is appropriate for you. You may use the Print button to print the order form. Fee Registration Option $5.00 Individual upgrade from a prior release. $50.00 Corporate site upgrade from a prior release. $15.00 First time Individual registration. $150.00 Corporate site registration. $1,500.00 Enterprise wide registration. Note: All amounts are shown in United States Dollars (USD.) Checks must be written in US dollars and drawn upon a US bank. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6.3.1. 4.01: Individual Registration (by check or cash) ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Please, print this form and register WPSbkup. My Name and Address: Remit Payment and Order To: ________________________ Dave Lester ________________________ New Freedom Data Center ________________________ Box 461 ________________________ New Freedom, PA. 17349-0461 Qty. Description Unit Extended Price Price ____ I would like to register WPSbkup for my individual use. $15 _______ TOTAL: _______ Please remit payment in US dollars or check written in US dollars drawn upon US bank. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6.3.2. 4.01: Individual Upgrade (by check or cash) ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Please, print this form and to upgrade WPSbkup. My Name and Address: Remit Payment and Order To: ________________________ Dave Lester ________________________ New Freedom Data Center ________________________ Box 461 ________________________ New Freedom, PA. 17349-0461 Qty. Description Unit Extended Price Price ____ I would like to upgrade my individual use registration of WPSbkup. $5 _______ TOTAL: _______ Please remit payment in US dollars or check written in US dollars drawn upon US bank. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6.3.3. 4.01: Site Registration (by purchase order or check) ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Please, print this form and register WPSbkup. Remit Purchase Order and Order Form To: Dave Lester New Freedom Data Center (717) 235-7315 (Voice) Box 461 (717) 235-0985 (FAX) New Freedom, PA. 17349-0461 Qty. Description Unit Extended Price Price _1__ I am registering WPSbkup to be used at one of my company's business locations. A purchase order is enclosed and the following addresses should be used to deliver and bill WPSbkup to us. $150 _150___ Technical Contact Ship To Address Registered Site Address Bill To Address _____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ _____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ _____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ _____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____ Additional business sites at which WPSbkup will be run in my company. $150 _______ _____________________ ____________________ ____________________ _____________________ ____________________ ____________________ _____________________ ____________________ ____________________ _____________________ ____________________ ____________________ _____________________ ____________________ ____________________ _____________________ ____________________ ____________________ _____________________ ____________________ ____________________ _____________________ ____________________ ____________________ _____________________ ____________________ ____________________ _____________________ ____________________ ____________________ _____________________ ____________________ ____________________ _____________________ ____________________ ____________________ TOTAL: _______ Please remit payment in US dollars or check written in US dollars drawn upon US bank. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6.3.4. 4.01: Site Registration Upgrade (by purchase order or check) ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Please, print this form and register WPSbkup. Remit Purchase Order and Order Form To: Dave Lester New Freedom Data Center (717) 235-7315 (Voice) Box 461 (717) 235-0985 (FAX) New Freedom, PA. 17349-0461 Qty. Description Unit Extended Price Price _1__ I am upgrading my company's site registration of WPSbkup to be used at the indicated location. A purchase order or check is enclosed and the following addresses should be used to deliver and bill WPSbkup to us. $50 _50____ Technical Contact Ship To Address Registered Site Address Bill To Address _____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ _____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ _____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ _____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____ Additional business sites at which WPSbkup is registered in my company. $50 _______ _____________________ ____________________ ____________________ _____________________ ____________________ ____________________ _____________________ ____________________ ____________________ _____________________ ____________________ ____________________ _____________________ ____________________ ____________________ _____________________ ____________________ ____________________ _____________________ ____________________ ____________________ _____________________ ____________________ ____________________ _____________________ ____________________ ____________________ _____________________ ____________________ ____________________ _____________________ ____________________ ____________________ _____________________ ____________________ ____________________ TOTAL: _______ Please remit payment in US dollars or check written in US dollars drawn upon US bank. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6.3.5. 4.01: Enterprise Registration (by purchase order or check) ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Please, print this form and register WPSbkup. Remit Purchase Order and Order Form To: Dave Lester New Freedom Data Center (717) 235-7315 (Voice) Box 461 (717) 235-0985 (FAX) New Freedom, PA. 17349-0461 Qty. Description Unit Extended Price Price _1__ I am registering WPSbkup for unlimited use within our enterprise A purchase order is enclosed and the following addresses should be used to deliver and bill WPSbkup to us. $1,500 _1,500_ Technical Contact Ship To Address Bill To Address _____________________ ____________________ ____________________ _____________________ ____________________ ____________________ _____________________ ____________________ ____________________ _____________________ ____________________ ____________________ I understand that by registering WPSbkup for my enterprise I secure the following rights: - Ability to make unlimited copies of the software for use at any of our corporate facilities - Employees of my corporation may copy the software for their home use - Updates to the software (as they occur) will be automatically mailed to the technical contact listed above TOTAL: _$1,500_ Please remit payment in US dollars or check written in US dollars drawn upon US bank. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 7. Acknowledgments ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ WPSbkup incorporates compression code by the Info-ZIP group. There are no extra charges or costs due to the use of this code, and the original compression sources are freely available from CompuServe in the IBMPRO forum and by anonymous ftp from the Internet site ftp.uu.net:\pub\ archiving\zip. Specific thanks for the compression code that I used goes to: Mark Adler for chunks of Deflate.c / Inflate.c Jean-loup Gailly / Richard B. Wales for Trees.c That being said, I would like offer my thanks and respect to all members of the Info-ZIP group whose level of collaboration makes individual acknowledgment risky at best. A very special thanks goes out to all of those OS/2 fanatics who have made suggestions and recommended WPSbkup to their associates over the years. Finally, I would like to thank my family for their patience, support and understanding as I embark upon this new career. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 8. Statement of Limited Warranty ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ The New Freedom Data Center warrants the Workplace Shell Backup Utility 4.01 utility and related programs and documentation to be free from defects in materials and workmanship for a period of 60 days from time of software registration. The New Freedom Data Center will replace defective programs and materials free of charge during this warranty period. Replacement is the exclusive remedy for any such defects, and the New Freedom Data Center shall have no liability for any other damages. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE NEW FREEDOM DATA CENTER BE LIABLE FOR ANY LOSS OF PROFIT OR ANY OTHER DAMAGE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR OTHER DAMAGES. THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. THE NEW FREEDOM DATA CENTER SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS ALL OTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR USE. THE NEW FREEDOM DATA CENTER DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE SOFTWARE WILL MEET YOUR REQUIREMENTS OR THAT THE OPERATION OF THE SOFTWARE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED OR ERROR-FREE. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 9. Trademarks ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ TRADEMARK NOTICES: The following trademarks appear in this documentation and are marked by an asterisk at their first mention. * - IBM, OS/2 and Workplace Shell are registered trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation. ** - CompuServe is a registered trademark of CompuServe Incorporated, an H&R Block Company.