MacUpdate is a general-purpose file synchronization utility program written for Macintosh computers. It is simple enough to be used for every-day backups, yet is flexible enough to do specialized backups according to user-specified criteria. (for example, backup only files of a particular type).
MacUpdate also includes the MUDDaemon and MUDControl, which can be used to automatically perform backups and file synchronizations at times or intervals that you can specify.
MacUpdate can perform faster than other backup solutions because it looks at the modification dates of your files, and only copies to the backup disk if a file has been changed on the original source disk. Files that have not changed since the last backup have the same modification date, and are ignored by MacUpdate. MacUpdate can also be configured to create items on the backup disk that are new on the original disk. Similarly, MacUpdate can be set up to delete items from the backup disk that were deleted from the original disk.
MacUpdate is also useful when working on different Macintoshes in different locations. You can use a Zip, SyQuest, or floppy disk as a "shuttle disk", and do file synchronization from one location to the removable disk, then go to the other location, and do file synchronization from the removable disk to the other location. This accomplishes synchronizing the two locations.
Of course, MacUpdate works with AppleTalk networks, so you can also use MacUpdate to ensure all locations on your network have the latest version of some particular piece of software. MacUpdate works with any Hierarchical Filing System (HFS) disk. This includes pretty much any disk you can mount on your Mac's desktop. However, if you have a Tape Backup or CD-Recordable unit, and you use special software to access it (because it's icon is never displayed on the desktop), MacUpdate will probably not be able to access that device. You should be able to use MacUpdate on anything you can access directly from the Finder.
System Requirements
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MacUpdate needs at least 768 KB of memory allocated to it in the Finder's Get Info window. It is currently set up to prefer 1280 KB. This prefered memory setting is probably more than enough for 90% of MacUpdate's users, but you may need to increase it under extreme circumstances, for example, if you do a folder Compare on a Pair of folders with many items in them. MacUpdate will take up approximately 600K on your hard disk.
MacUpdate requires a 68020 processor or later, or a PowerPC processor to run. Sorry, this leaves out 68000 CPU Macs like the orignal Mac, Mac 512K, Mac Plus, PowerBook 100, Mac Portable, and Mac Classic. There is a reason for this: The original 68000 CPU could not access memory located at an odd address. From here, there are two solutions if you are a programmer like me: (1) painstakingly go over all of your code and make sure you never access odd memory locations (this makes it difficult to do string comparisons and the like), or (2) don't support 68000 Macs.
MacUpdate requires System 7.0 or later (System 7.5 is fine...). If you have System 6.x, you'll have to stick with MacUpdate 3.5 (which runs fine under System 6), or upgrade your system software to System 7.
If your machine does not meet MacUpdate's system requirements, you'll be notified with an informative alert.
QuickStart Instructions
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(1) You may install the MacUpdate program anywhere you like. MacUpdate does not rely on other files being in the same folder as itself, and does not require installation into a special folder. It is recommend that you copy/move the MacUpdate program to a "Utilities" folder of some sort. You may want to make an alias of MacUdpate, and put it on your desktop, or in your Apple Menu Items folder so you have easy access to it.
(2) Just double-click on MacUpdate to start it for the first time. Once you have some Settings Files saved, you can double-click on the Settings Files to start MacUpdate, and have MacUdpate automatically read in the Settings File.
(3) To create a new Settings File (and you really can't do anything with MacUpdate until you have created a new Settings File, or opened up an existing Settings File) choose New from the File menu.
(4) Once a Settings File Window is open, you can add Pairs (of folders/files) to the window. You can use the "Add New Pair" command from the Pairs menu, or, if you have the Drag-and-Drop extension loaded, or System 7.5 or later, you can drag icons directly from the Finder into the Settings File Window. You must drop the icons either (a) over an existing icon or (b) in the Staging Area at the very bottom of the window. To add a Pair via Drag-and-Drop, drag the first icon of the Pair to the left side of the Staging Area, and the second icon of the Pair to the right side of the Staging Area. You will see the area "hilited" when it is OK to drop an icon at a particular location within the window.
(5) Once you have one or more Pairs added to the Settings File Window, you can set Synchronization Settings for the entire window, and Pair and Loner Settings for individual Pairs. Select "Synchronization Settings..." from the Pairs menu to set settings for the entire Settings File Window. Just double-click on a Pair in the Settings File Window's list to set settings for the Pair.
(6) When everything is set up as you desire, you should probably go ahead and "Save As..." your new settings. This will create a Settings File you can open up and use later.
(7) Note you can have as many Settings Files as you desire, and you can store them in any folder on any disk you desire.
(8) Now all you have to do is select a Pair in the Settings File Window, and choose "Synchronize" from the Pairs menu to synchronize the selected Pair. If you have multiple Pairs in a window, you can choose "Synchronize All" to synchronize all of the Pairs, instead of manually processing them one at a time. It is suggested that you do a Preview before synchronizing, to make sure everything is set up as you intended.
(9) MacUpdate displays a status window to show you what it is doing, and how many files it has processed. The status window has a "Stop" button on it, so you can cancel a synchronization if you desire. MacUpdate checks for many kinds of errors and inconsistencies while synchronizing, so you may be alerted to discrepancies with your data files while synchronization is taking place. You can work with other programs while MacUpdate is synchronizing. It is very well-behaved in the background. MacUpdate's icon will flash in the menu bar if it is running in the background and needs your attention. Note if this happens, synchronization will be suspended until you give MacUpdate the attention it needs (typically, this attention is simply answering a question, or repsonding to an error message).
