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FEATURES.DOC
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1996-10-26
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BACKUP WIZARD
-------------
PARK-A-BYTE INC.
================
~SUMMARY LIST OF FEATURES AND UTILITIES~
----------------------------------------
1. ~AUTOPILOT~
- Automatic Backup of ALL files processed in the previous WINDOWS
AND DOS sessions. (Press Esc and choose 'SetInfo.doc' from
the Menu)
2. ~DATESTAMPING~
- Individual Backups (Compressed archives) can be PROTECTED from
being Overwritten by later Backups. (See below)
3. ~EXTENSIONS~
- Files with any particular extension of interest, such as Doc,
ini, grp, qag etc. can be segregated and backed up
separately (and painlessly) so that they can be processed
easily later. (See below)
4. ~RETRIEVAL~
- 100% AUTOMATIC (COPYRIGHTED) Retrieval of every Single kind of
Backup (Normal, Datestamped or Special Extension) made by
THE WIZARD, by simply naming the ORIGINAL Directory Path
and the Backup Drive (Letter only!) (See below for details)
5. ~MOVEZIP~
- This utility will enable you to MOVE large compressed files in
a jiffy ( UNIX - style) from one Backup Drive to another,
when you run out of space on one Backup Drive and want to
switch to another WITHOUT having to back up again!!
6. ~SYNCHRO~
- Nowadays everybody works on two PC'S, one at office and one at
Home. Obviously you need to 'synchronize' directories,
bring the files in the corresponding directories on both
the PCs to the same status. Now you can transmit or copy
the directories to temporary directories on the other PC
and use SYNCHRO to synchronize the status of files. You
can also have the valuable option of updating (freshening)
of ONLY the existing files in the Target Directory. Once
you get used to using this feature, you will wonder how you
managed without it!
~PRESERVING IMPORTANT BACKUPS FOR FUTURE USE.~
===============================================
Good old DOS and every other Backup software not only OVERWRITES previous
backups but gives the user NO OPTION to PRESERVE any backup for any
individual directory unit (inclusive of its subdirectories) from being
overwritten by later backups.
The User may want to RETAIN certain files in the CURRENT status which he might
NEED in future and can now preserve a specific backup compressed file from
being overwritten and lost. The WIZARD allows him to do so by answering a
single prompt after choosing the menu option 'Bkup or Bkpext' in the GO.Bat
menu. Try it. Press Esc, and choose menu item 'GO.BAT'.
This is accomplished by the WIZARD automatically by DATE-STAMPING that specific
backup. Read about this unique unparalled COPYRIGHTED FEATURE next.
==================
~PRESERVING BACKUPS~
This is the only system which can `preserve' i.e. protect an INDIVIDUAL
compressed backup file from being overwritten by later backups, by actually
`date-stamping' (See below) it so that there is no need to preserve a whole
GENERATION of backups of AN entire drive willy-nilly! It is this datestamp
feature which enables quick, reliable and AUTOMATIC recovery of any
specific individual Directory backup (Preserved or Normal) you may be
interested in, WITHOUT the hassle of Labeling of Tapes or Floppies and
struggling to find the `stored' labeled tapes, floppies or any other media,
WHEN NEEDED, as required by every OTHER software!!
The true hassle you run into with the OTHER backup software is the need to
create and maintain different `generations' of backups, since each
successive backup overwrites the previous ones unless, of course, you have
an easy effortless way to preserve it LIKE THE WIZARD!
With the WIZARD you have complete FLEXIBILITY and CONTROL of `preserving' ANY
individual backup of any first-level directory (including all nested
subdirectories, of course), at your option and whenever you feel like! The
software will create an unique Dos-like DATE-STAMP, (copyright 1995) in the
form of three character filename extension, which the user can visually
interprete as follows:
For example, the extension `4AC' will tell you that the backup was created in
year 1994 The first character of the datestamp, 4, is the last digit of
the year. `A', the second character, (see table below) is 10, and indicates
the tenth month of October. The last character `C' represents the date
12. Dates 10 and beyond are converted as shown in table below. If you see
a backup file with this extension, then, it was created on October 12 1994!
DATE ID DATE ID DATE ID
==== == ==== == ==== ==
10 A 20 K 30 U
11 B 21 L 31 V
12 C 22 M
13 D 23 N
14 E 24 O
15 F 25 P
16 G 26 Q
17 H 27 R
18 I 28 S
19 J 29 T
This is just one among many (copyrighted) features that distinguishes
the WIZARD from the other software.
Try the following right now:
1. Press Esc and choose menu item 'Go.bat'.
2. Choose Bkup from the next Menu and Press Enter.
3. Follow the prompts. The last prompt will ask you if you wish to
'Preserve the Backup (Y/N).' Answer 'Y'and the Backupp will
be datestamped and, therefore will NOT be overwritten.
4. Locate and verify the Backup in the Backup Drive (you specified) by
switching to that Drive and then to the Direcory Path x.zip where
'x' denotes the Original Drive and the name of the zip file will
be same as the name of Original Directory being backed up.
For example, if the directory D:\Lotus was backed up, the compressed
file will be found in a directory, named 'd.zip'. The name of
the compressed file itself will be Lotus.<Datestamp>. This
datestamp will tell you that the file was created today!
See above table for interpretation of this unique extension, which
acts exactly like a DOS Datestamp for your future reference, and
will play a very important role in retrieving original files
through the menu item 'UNPACK'!
It is this UNIQUE copyrighted organization which enables WIZARD to
AUTOMATICALLY RETRIEVE any backup (Preserved or normal), which NO OTHER
Backup software can ever accomplish!
With other software, without this kind of a datestamp, you are forced to retain
every single `generation' of backups (usually for ALL directories) and
label the tapes or floppies and then struggle to retrieve and access them
when you need those backups!!
Obviously, this is impractical and very much PRONE TO HUMAN ERROR! In addition,
it wastes a tremendous amount of time and space! Especially tape or floppy
backups can never give you this FLEXIBILITY and CONTROL.
============================================
~ORGANIZATION OF BACKUP (COMPRESSED) FILES:~
The WIZARD also automatically ORGANIZES your compressed Backup files :
Note that the backup files are COMPRESSED even though the extension
is not necessarily `ZIP'. In a simple elegant and unique Fashion the WIZARD
creates a directory on the Backup Drive such as D.zip which tells the
WIZARD (and you) that the original Directory resided on Drive (or
partition) D:. The name of the original Directory being backed up serves
as the name of the ZIP file itself! Thus Lotus in Lotus.zip or Lotus.528
(for preserved backup), points to original path D:\Lotus. The extension
'528' tells you that it was created on February (2) 8, 1995!
You can specify the datestamp `528' as the third parameter in the UNPACK
command (in answer to a prompt) to recover that specific 'preserved'
backup.
Once you become familiar with this organizational setup, you will realize the
tremendous `productivity' and ease of use, as well as the complete
control and flexibility this feature gives.
===============================
~PROCESSING LISTS OF DIRECTORIES~
You can, if you wish, prepare a simple list of the first-level directories,
the data in which gets modified often (or on day to day basis).
Give this list a name, ^xlist. This file will be used in the feature,
AUTOPILOT. (Press Esc and choose menu item, 'SetInfo.txt' to read about
this feature in detail).
The WIZARD will process this entire list, item by item, EVERY TIME you exit
from WINDOWS AND AUTOMATICALLY BACK UP every file you just processed and
that happened to be in any of the directories listed in ^xlist. This list
should cover 90 to 95% of files you mostly process on day to day basis.
Keep this list edited from time to time as you acquire and delete software
and 90 to 95% of your backup work will be done even without your knowleddge.
Look at my ^xlist file which is included as an example. At any given time it
contains less than six or seven dirs. Most users should have even less than
that!
To make things easier for you, we have provided an `exe' file named `Preplist'
to prepare exactly this kind of a list.
For example, Simply type: `Preplist xlist C:\Lotus!D:\Qpro!F:\Excel'
and press Enter. (Press Esc and choose menu item 'Command.doc' to read more
about this command.)
=======================
~PROCESSING WITH LISTS~
Imagine the flexibility and control you will have by dealing with LISTS OF
first level directories (of your choice), rather than entire drives.
You can segregate `modifiable' data from `programs and other unchanging
data by simply looking at the first-level directory paths.
. Prepare separate lists, for separate projects. Back up just once, the
list/s for Data which does NOT get modified, such as programs, and
reference data, and put away the cartridge safe from any virus, human
or otherwise as well as from acts of God1!
Please read the file 'Setinfo.txt' (Press Esc and choose 'SetInfo.txt' from
the Menu) for details about setting up the system on AUTOPILOT so
that the OPERATING SYSTEM (Windows) (and NOT you) does ALL the Backup work
automatically without a single mouseclick or keypress from you.
AUTOPILOT will work even for files modified through DOS environment, as opposed
to WINDOWS environment, as long as you simply enter a Windows session
through Pilot.bat and exit right away!
======================================================
~BACKING UP `EXTENSIONS' (Another Copyrighted (1995) Feature):~
Many times before I developed this utility, I wished I could segregate
important `windows' files such as `DLL' or `INI' or `GRP', in a separate
directory so that I could deal with these specific files without hunting
for them (e. g. edit `INI' files etc.) and without DISTURBING the windows
setup.
I now use the `Bkpext' command.
1. Press Esc and Choose 'Go.bat', the Executables Menu.
2. Choose option 'BKPEXT' and Press Enter.
3. Follow the Prompts.
Try Retrieving the backup you just made by choosing 'UNPACK' menu item and
following the prompts.
The 'dll' files (if that's the extension you specified) will be recovered and
placed in a NEW uniquely named (`dllx') subdirectory of H:\windows
directory, available for independent processing!
Most projects use distinct extensions in file-names and this facility makes
projects more easily identifiable, and accessible. Your file structure,
therefore becomes more project-oriented and therefore, usetr-friendly!
=================================
~UNDELETING DAMAGED/DELETED FILES:~
This has never been easier!
If you damage or accidentally delete one ( or a group) of files in any
particular directory (or even a whole subdirectory), follow this simple
procedure:
1. Delete all the corrupt or damaged files.
2 Press Esc and choose menu item, GO.BAT. Then choose `Bkup'.
Assuming that the directory, C:\Lotus or one of its subs contained the
deleted or damaged original file or files. This step will pick up all
the files modified since the last backup. This backup should hardly
take any time (provided you name the same Backup Drive as earlier),
since it processes only the modified or added data.
3. Now choose menu item Unpack.exe command, and follow the prompts.
All the deleted/damaged (original) files should be replaced!
In order for this to work, of course, you should have been making backups with
the WIZARD, PRIOR to any such disaster! Same procedure will undelete
a single file, a group of files, or even a whole `subdirectory' if you
happen to delete it accidentally!
==============================================================================
INSTALLING A BRAND NEW DRIVE!
These days, with increasing use of computers, many users find their current
Hard inadequate and they either add-on another larger Internal Drive or
Replace the older one.
This causes an unexpected problem! How do you get ALL the software copied and
INSTALLED on the NEW Drive? What a chore? Can it be done at all? Yes, the
WIZARD can help you. Follow these steps:
Before doing anything else, copy the Installed Directory for the Wizard on
to a cartdridge Drive. Please Note that this procedure will work ONLY
IF you have a Cartridge-based Drive for Backups, especially if you are
REPLACING the old Drive.
1. Backup the Entire Old Drive (e.g. C) using the BKPDRV option on the
cartridge.
2. When you finish the BACKUP, you will find a Directory, named 'c.zip'
on the cartridge drive. This Directory contains compressed 'zip'
files for ALL the Directories on your OLD Drive C:.
3. This is when you should replace your old Drive physically. The
replaced Drive will also have the same letter assignment C:. If
your old Drive had partitions D, E, etc., EACH of these partitions
also would have to be backed up on the cartridge or cartridges
BEFORE replacing the Drive. Dont worry! Your old Data wont be
mixed up! The 'zip' files for Partition D will be found in
Directory D.zip, for partition E in E.zip and so on!
6. AFTER replacement, Partition the new Drive, exactly the way the old
one was, e.g. C,D, E, and so on, using FDISK program in DOS
7. When you use BKPDRV as above it will produce a list file named
"^xDRVLS' where x stands for the Drive letter such as C, D or E.
Thus, the file '^Cdrvls' contains a list of ALL the first-level
Directory paths on the 'old' Drive C.
8. Switch to The Cartridge Drive and Run go.bat. Choose option 4.
UNPACK (RETRIEVE). Name the Cartridge Drive(Letter) as Backup
Drive. When prompted for Directory Path to be Backed up, specify
"Cdrvls' (No ^ reqd.) Next, when prompted for 'Preserving' (or not)
the Backup, answer 'No' and follow the next prompts. ALL the old
Data on your old C: Drive will now BE RETRIEVED on to your new C:
Drive, with the exact same tree and Directory structure as your
old C: Drive.
9. Follow the same procedure to retrieve the other partitions, D,E,
etc.
For ADD-On Drives, the procedure is slightly Different.
1. Backup ALL old Drives and Partitions using the BKPDRV option as
above.
2. This will create list files '^xDRVLS' as explained above.
3. Also, Directories such as 'c.zip', 'd.zip'. etc. will have been
created on the cartridge drive.
4. Let us now assume that the new add-on drive is assigned letter 'G'
and you wish to transfer all the data on your old C: partition
to G: the new add-on Drive.
5. Switch to the Cartridge Drive. Make a new directory named 'g.zip'
6. Type 'Mv \c.zip\*.* \g.zip and press Enter
7. Copy file '^Cdrvls' to a file named '^Gdrvls'.
8. Using any popular text-editor Replace 'C:' in this file with 'G:'.
9. Run go.bat. Choose option 4, UNPACK (Retrieve).
10. Specify the cartridge drive as the Backup Drive.
11. Specify Gdrvls as the Directory Path (for retrieval).
12. Answer No to Preservation prompt.
ALL the old data on the old C: drive should now be on the new G: Drive.
However, you have to tweak the 'ini' files required by Windows software
for them to run properly. That's Microsoft Windows for you! And Bill Gates
or anybody else is not going to help! Using Wizard BKPEXT program to create
backups of files with extensions 'ini' and 'grp' files from your old
'Windows' Directory and retrieving them back using the Wizard, which places
them in newly created subdirectory would help. You can now edit the files
in the new subdirectory, change them as needed and place them in the new
Windows directory. It is not a trivial or easy task, but we cannot advise
you in connection with Microsoft Windows!
For users who would like more detail about command-line parameters, Press Esc
and choose Menu item, 'COMMAND.DOC' to read about various commands.
Run go.bat from DOS or the Windows File Manager, or through the Program Manager
after creating an icon for go.bat file.
----------------
************IMPRTANT WARNINGS**********
----------------
1. PLEASE MAKE SURE TO INSTALL THIS SOFTWARE ON AN EXTERNAL DRIVE IF YOU
POSSIBLY CAN!!
Otherwise, you might lose the software along with the rest of the data on
the Internal Drive! Get an External or Portable Drive today. We will be
glad to recommend one by email if you would write to us.
INTERNET Address: actuary@nmaa.org
Compuserve Address: 70154.3043@compuserve.com
If you and five of your associates, referred to by you, (by placing your
name in the field, Referred By: in the Order.doc form), pay for the
WIZARD in full, we will sell you iomega zip DRIVE for $99! This offers
lasts until Nov. 30 1996.
================================================================
GUARDIAN OF MOST IMPORTANT COMPUTER DATA IN THE WORLD ---YOURS!
Park-a-Byte Inc.
Fax: (703) 893-9330 1127 Buchanan St.
Voice: (703) 893-0660 McLean VA 22101