Shareware Overload Trio 2/Shareware Overload Trio Volume 2 (Chestnut CD-ROM).ISO/dir34/bkup10.zip/BKUP.DOC

Text File | 1994-05-18 | 17KB | 340 lines

 A DESCRIPTION OF BKUP.BTM
 (May 16, 1994)

 BKUP.BTM transports files between computers. It can also be used
 for quick 'maintenance of disk' (like deleting unnecessary files).

 Since version 10, BKUP no longer supports 4DOS prior to 5.x. Use
 BKUP version 8 instead.

 BKUP.BTM is written in 4DOS batch language. 4DOS is a registered
 trademark and copyrighted property of JP Software, Inc. For other
 copyrighted programs see below, "Copyrighted programs".


 CREATING A COMPRESSED FILE FOR NEW (UPDATED) FILES
 ==================================================
 BKUP.BTM creates a list of files saved on specified disk (default is
 default [boot] drive) either [a] today, or [b] since a specified number of
 days back, or [c] since a specified date.

 The list of files can be edited in various ways, leaving on it only those
 files you wish to transport to your other computer(s).

 When the list editing is done, BKUP.BTM runs a compressor to create an
 archive on specified drive (default is B:), with the specified date as a
 name (for example, 3-26-93.ZIP). If such an archive already exists, it is
 updated with new versions, or new files, if detected in the list. BKUP
 can run 3 compressors: PKZIP, ZIP, and UC2. However, there are a few
 limitations on using ZIP and UC2 for some options (see below, "Usage
 Notes and Limitations").

 The files are archived with pathnames. This means that they will be
 extracted on the target computer to the same subdirectories where they
 were created on the source computer. By default, files are extracted to
 the default (boot)  drive, unless otherwise specified. If a subdirectory does not
 exist on the target computer, it is created by the extraction program
 during extracting.

 The archive is marked with the description "Updated from: name", where
 "name" stands for an actual "name" given to your computer (see below,
 "'Names' for computers and diskettes".

 EXTRACTING THE UPDATED FILES FROM THE ARCHIVE TO THE OTHER
 COMPUTER(S)
 ==========================================================
 To extract the archived file(s), use the -x (or /x, or x) switch.
 BKUP.BTM can run 3 extractors: PKUNZIP, UNZIP, and UC2. However,
 there are a few limitations on using ZIP and UC2 for some options (see
 below, "Usage Notes and Limitations").

 If there is more than one archive on your diskette, BKUP lets you select
 the one(s) you wish to extract. Extracted files (archives) are marked with
 the description "Extracted to: name; name; ...", where "name" stands for
 the actual "name" of your computer (see below, "'Names' for computers and
 diskettes"). If you try to extract the archive again to the same computer,
 you will be told that it was already extracted, and will be asked to
 decide to either "force extract" it, delete the archive file from disk, or
 quit. If you do not respond, BKUP will leave the archive intact and go on
 after 3 seconds to treat the next one. If in doubt, don't hesitate to use
 the "force extract" option, because all extractors will not overwrite
 files on your disk unless the matching files stored in the archive are
 newer.

 If the archive was extracted, but then was updated again with new versions
 or files (this is normal if both updating and extraction are done the same
 day, or for the same date), it will be marked with the description "Updated
 from: name", to allow subsequent extractions as well as indicate the source
 of the new files (i.e., the computer on which they have been created).

 The extraction utility pops up a menu of archive files, even if only
 one such archive exists. If more than one archive exists, you can mark
 those you wish to extract (by pressing the spacebar at the relevant
 filename).

 EDITING THE LIST OF FILENAMES
 (before compression)
 =============================
 When the list of all the relevant files is created, BKUP.BTM lets you
 select one of the following options:

 (*) View (and handle) filenames on screen, one by one
 (*) Use an editor to edit results (results file)
 (*) View results before making any decision
 (*) Go immediately to archiving (no selection)
 (*) Quit (results file will remain intact)
 If you choose viewing (and handling) files on screen, the following
 options are then available while working:

 (*) Accept or omit a file (from the list)
 (*) View a file before making a decision about it
 (*) Delete a file from disk (after or before viewing)
 (*) Stop selecting and begin archiving immediately
 (*) View the list of selections at each step
 (*) Quit (results file will remain intact)

 CONFIGURING BKUP
 ================
 BKUP can be configured by BKUP.INI. This file can easily be edited
 with any editor. However, the primary parameters and options defined in
 BKUP.INI can be overridden from the command line. Alternatively, aliases
 can be used to avoid editing BKUP.INI. If BKUP.INI is missing or the user
 prefers not to have it, and the user does not provide any commands on the
 command line, BKUP will use its internal defaults.

 The PRIMARY defaults (for both compressing and extracting) are:
 (replaceable from the command line)

 (1) Disk from which files will be compressed - default (boot) drive
 (2) Drive where archive will be created      - B:
 (3) Disk to which files will be extracted    - default (boot) drive
 (4) Drive where archive will be looked for   - B:
 (5) Compression and extraction programs:     - PKZIP and PKUNZIP
 (6) Date for files to be updated:            - today
 (7) Exclude files:                    -  *.zip *.bak *.tmp *.log *.uc2

 The SECONDARY defaults (for both compressing and extracting) are:
 (NOT replaceable from the command line, but BKUP will request you
 to make decisions for options (8)-(11) if BKUP.INI is missing, or
 if they are not defined in BKUP.INI. Option 12 can be defined only
 in BKUP.INI or in the BKUP.BTM file itself.)

 (8)  Checking the name of updates diskette     - yes
 (9)  Name of updates diskette                  - "transmit"
 (10) Name of search and extract drives         - computer's label
 (11) Text editor to be used                    - t.com
 (12) Colors of final message     - bright white & black on white;

 Therefore, if you just type "BKUP", this is equal to typing:

 (compressing:) BKUP c: b: 0 /pkzip /x *.zip *.bak *.tmp *.log *.uc2
    (+ secondary defaults)
    or
 (extracting:)  BKUP -x c: b: 0 /pkzip /x *.zip *.bak *.tmp *.log *.uc2
    (+ secondary defaults)

 "NAMES" FOR COMPUTERS AND DISKETTES
 ===================================
 BKUP is set to use the labels of your "search disk" and "extract disk"
 (both of which would normally be your default [boot] drive) as "names" for
 your computer. This makes it possible to know which of your computers
 has/have been updated, and to which computers the archive has been
 extracted (if there are more than one archive, BKUP will add all of
 their names when the archive was extracted).

 You can change this default by entering a different name for your
 computer at the 'compuname=' line in BKUP.INI.

 If your default (boot) drive has been given no label, BKUP will prompt you
 to give your computer a temporary name for the current session. You
 can make this "name" permanent by labeling your hard disk or typing
 a name at the 'compuname=' line in BKUP.INI.

 BKUP can also be set to check the "name" (i.e., label) of the diskette
 inserted into the "archive drive". If you prefer to always use the same
 diskette for transporting files between your various computers, this
 is the best solution for keeping all of the update archives on one
 device. By default, the name of the update diskette is "TRANSMIT". You
 can change the name at the 'updatedr=' line in BKUP.INI. Also, you may
 cancel this option altogether by typing 'no' at the 'updatename=' line.
 If this line is not defined, or BKUP.INI is missing, BKUP will prompt
 you at the relevant moment to enter a name for the updates diskette.
 If the diskette inserted into the drive is not the dedicated one,
 BKUP will ask you if you wish to continue (i.e., put the archive on
 the current diskette). You can of course switch diskettes while BKUP is
 waiting for your answer.

 USAGE
 =====

 HELP
 ----
 BKUP h (or ?) will display a set of HELP screens.
 BKUP i will take you immediately to the first USAGE screen.

 Usage for ARCHIVING:
 -------------------

  BKUP [<search_drive:> <archive_drive:>] [parameters] [options]
    <search_drive:>  is the drive which should be searched for files
    <archive_drive:> is the drive where the archive should be created

  Parameters are:  [ n|-sMM-DD-YY ]
     'n' stands for 'number of days back from today'.  For example, 'BKUP 3'
         will create a list since three days back from today's date.
     's' (or /s or -s) stands for 'since', followed by date, in the
         MM-DD-YY (month-day-year) format. For example: BKUP s01-29-90 will
         create a list for files created since 29 January 1990.

  Options are:     [ /pkzip|/zip|/uc ] [ /x file(s) file(s) ...]
         '/pkz'                select Katz's PKZIP and PKUNZIP (Default)
         '/zip'                select free ZIP and UNZIP
         '/uc'                 select UC2 (UltraCompressor II)
         '/x file(s) ...'      list of file(s) for exclusion

Note:
 If you specify only one drive, you will be asked by the program to specify
 interactively both. This is necessary because the program cannot tell, when
 you specify only one drive, whether it is 'target' or 'source'.


 Usage for EXTRACTING
 --------------------
  BKUP -x|/x|x [<toupdate_drive:> <archive_drive:>] [options]
  where
      <toupdate_drive:>  is the drive to extract TO.
      <archive_drive:>   is the drive to extract FROM.
      If no drives specified, defaults are default (boot) drive ("to")
      and B: ("from")

  Options are: [ /pkz|/zip|/uc ] [ /x file(s) file(s) ...]

      '/pkz'            select Katz's PKZIP and PKUNZIP (Default)
      '/zip'            select free ZIP and UNZIP
      '/uc'             select UC2 (UltraCompressor II)
      '/x file(s) ...'  list of file(s) not to be extracted

 Note:
 If you specify only one drive, you will be asked by the program to specify
 interactively both. This is necessary because the program cannot tell, when
 you specify only one drive, whether it is 'target' or 'source'.

 USAGE NOTES AND LIMITATIONS
 ===========================
 Excluding files
----------------
 The list of files created by BKUP can include filenames which you actually
 exclude from either compression or extraction. This makes sense if you
 re-edit the list (this can be done by EDLIST.BTM) and use it as a take
 file for other tasks (such as copying or moving). COMFILE.BTM can be
 used for such tasks. (Both EDLIST and COMFILE are included in my
 collection EZ-BTMxx.ZIP on Simtel20 /msdos/4dos.) Also, if you do not
 wish a certain file to be extracted, although compressed in the archive,
 exclude it via the /x switch (it makes no sense of course to put the
 filename into a permanent list in BKUP.INI). You may wish to avoid
 extraction if you are not sure about the version. Excluding the file via
 the /x switch on the command line then makes it possible to extract it
 manually to a different subdirectory and check it before replacing the
 older version.

 Unfortunately, full exclusion options are possible only with PKZIP/PKUNZIP.
 See next section for the limitations of using ZIP/UNZIP and UC2.

 You can enter exclusion files / filespecs at the 'excludes=' line in
 BKUP.INI. The exclusion line will work for both compression and extraction.
 You can also override this line from the command line via the /x switch
 (see "Usage" above). If you exclude many files, BKUP will create an
 exclusion file instead of entering the exclusions on the command line.
 Since ZIP cannot take an exclusion file, and UC2 will hopefully run this
 feature with script files only in future, make sure to use this feature only
 if you use PKZIP/PKUNZIP (for ZIP and UC2 you will simply have to exclude
 files from the results list). If you have a slow computer, you may gain
 some speed by leaving the 'exclude=' line in BKUP.INI empty and refrain from
 using this option altogether.

 Limitations of free ZIP and UNZIP
 ---------------------------------
 (a) ZIP/UNZIP unfortunately needs more memory than PKZIP/PKUNZIP. You may
     have to quit your application to run BKUP with these programs.
 (b) Due to the lack of certain exit codes, BKUP could not be configured to
     put the right messages after completion or non-completion of certain
     operations (like 'freshen', in case there are 'no new files for
     updating').
 (c) ZIP/UNZIP cannot have a take file (script file) for handling a list
     of exclusion files (i.e., files not to be compressed or extracted).
     This makes it impossible to have more than 53 characters in the
     "exclusion line" (after the /x switch or in BKUP.INI). This can
     partly be solved by rejecting undesired files from the updates
     list.

 Limitations of UC2
 ------------------
 UC2 is an extremely strong compressor which is why it is hoped that
 the current limitations be shortly fixed.
 (a) UC2 unfortunately needs more memory than PKZIP/PKUNZIP. You may
     have to quit your application to run BKUP with UC2. Theoretically,
     UltraStealth can make it possible for UC to work with only 32K,
     but then you must load your application beforehand with US, which
     cannot be secured by BKUP. Currently BKUP exits if less then 400K
     are available for UC2.
 (b) Due to the lack of proper exit codes, BKUP could not be configured to
     put the right messages after completion or non-completion of certain
     operations (like 'freshen', in case there are 'no new files for
     updating', and various errors).
 (c) UC2 ignores exclusion files whether written directly on the command
     line (which is the case if the line's size does not exceed 53
     characters) or put into a take file (script file), when compressing or
     extracting takes place via a script file (which is the way BKUP
     works...).
     Therefore, if you use UC2, be careful not to admit any undesired files
     to the updates list when you edit the list.

 HISTORY
 =======
 BKUP.BTM was initiated by Ron Zweig ([e-mail]), then edited
 and augmented by Itamar Even-Zohar ([e-mail]).
 Version 7, November 1993: Fuller filename display and computer "name"
 added for better information about which computer has been updated.
 Version 8, January 1994: (1) A safer procedure for defining a temporary
 drive added; (2) A better file selection menu replace the one-at-a-time
 selection menu (thanks due to Sam Wilson; see label ":operate" for
 details [in BKUP.BTM]). Version 9-10, March-May 1994: The new date range
 option for DIR replaces Winer's PCTODAY for those who work with 4DOS
 5.x; (2) BKUP was split into primary and auxiliary files; BKUP.INI
 added to facilitate configuring; (3) Both Free ZIP/UNZIP and UC2 have been
 added as alternatives to PKZIP/PKUNZIP; (4) Files can now be excluded
 also from the command line (an /x switch added) for both compression and
 extraction.

 Copyrighted programs
 ====================
 PKZIP/PKUNZIP (c) may be purchased from PKWARE, Inc., 9025 N. Deerwood Dr.,
 Brown Deer, WI 53223-2437, USA. Phone: [phone]; FAX: [phone];
 BBS: 414-354-8670. It may also be downloaded from Simtel20 mirror sites in
 /msdos/zip.

 PKZIP/PKUNZIP, can be replaced by (1) the free ZIP and UNZIP, downloadable
 from Simtel20 mirror sites (in /msdos/zip), or by (2) UC2 (UltraCompressor
 II), downloadable from Simtel20's /msdos/archiver.

 To run ZIP/UNZIP or UC2, you must either modify BKUP.INI, or always put
 the /zip or /uc switch on the command line, or put this option into your
 BKUP alias. However, ZIP/UNZIP and UC2 unfortunately have several
 shortcomings. For details see "Usage Notes and Limitations").

 UC is produced by Ad Infinitum Programs, the Netherlands (AIP-NL).
 Address: AIP-NL, P.O. Box 1432, 3430 BK Nieuwegein, The Netherlands.
 Internet: [e-mail]; CompuServe: 100115,2303; Fido: 2:281/713.1.
 Phone: [phone]; FAX: [phone]; BBS: [phone].


 Itamar Even-Zohar
 Porter Chair of Semiotics
 Tel Aviv University
 Tel Aviv 69978 Israel
   Phone: [phone] (office)
   Fax:   [phone] (office)
   e-mail addresses:
   [e-mail]
   or [e-mail]