Backup (Was:Re: Safe way to quit Pluto externally?)


I have posted this here because this is not really a Pluto issue.

In plutousers Rob Hemmings wrote:
I'm using Safestore to run scheduled backups including of all my
e-mail. At the moment I have to manually quit Pluto first to prevent
any errors during the backup which is a shame since the backup is
automated.

It isn't really automated then, is it? If it can't handle a file which
may be open by skipping over it and trying later....

If TRUE then R-Comp should {
point="gun at foot" ;
sfx="bang" ; }
Endif

And there was me thinking about getting SafeStore because I find all
freely available RISC OS backup programs sadly lacking. (I obviously have
too many files and dare to have some open; the apps I have tried all
report non-transient errors and/or crash).

I've just remembered that Safestore lets you run a command before the
backup so does anyone know if there is a way to get Pluto to quit
safely by running an external command and/or BASIC program?

Perhaps the solution needed is a better backup program, not some hacky
solution which quits a program you may be in the middle of using. Bear in
mind you would need a solution to cover every app which may have a file
open, not just Pluto.

[Snip]

Please, oh please, can we have a decent backup program which logs errors
but carries on and backs up other stuff, trying again until the 'errored'
and 'pending' file can be accessed. Maybe at the end showing a log which
says "I couldn't back up the following files because you were using them
at the time."

Anybody writing such a utility could do worse than look at WD Anywhere
Backup for <spit> Windows.

1. You specify a source (say, C: and E:).

2. You specify a destination (say, P: - a public virtual drive on NAS)

3. You click 'go'.

4. Er, that's it. It doesn't require user intervention or fiddling with
wimpslots or variables, though it's probably a good idea to keep an eye
on the transient messages and error log it produces.

There it sits, in the background, working away when you aren't. One of
the few apps on 'doze I don't mind being there at start-up. As you add
files, they are backed up too. Zero user intervention is required once
past the initial set-up and any recovery of files you feel you ought to
perform. I have even considered running Samba on RISC OS so I can use
this program, because dragging in the filer and dealing with error boxes
works on RISC OS here as well as any 'solution' I have come across. :-(

If anybody would like to recommend a RISC OS backup program I have missed
which will deal with pretty full 114GB drives with thousands of files
(some of which may be open at any given time) WITHOUT throwing up any
halting errors and by properly working automatically in the background,
please shout.

For the pedants: Safestore is a chain of storage sheds
www.safestore.co.uk , SafeStore is a piece of RISC OS software
http://www.arsvcs.demon.co.uk/r-comp/safestore/index.html
Ah, that 'camel case'. Dontcha just LoVe it!

Perhaps it is high time the RISC OS *Backup command was updated. It's
help is arguably wrong anyway. What's a floppy disc(sic.) ? ;-)

T

--
Tim Hill
--------
tjrh.eu

.... "I can express no kinder sign of love, than this kind kiss" Henry VI, Act i, Sc.1
.

Relevant Pages

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