!Back_it V1.62 17th May 2003 by Stuart Halliday   Quantum Software
---------------------------------------------------------------------

First, the legal stuff....
This application is SHAREWARE. See below.
The user is personally responsible for any loss of data or any other damage
caused due to the use of !Back_it.
So I suggest you test !Back_It with non-valuable date before committing it
to valuable data.

This is just a wee backup program that was designed for use inhouse
at Quantum Software. I thought others may like to use it. :-)



REQUIREMENTS
------------
Needs a RISC OS machine running RISC OS 3.1 minimum.
Tested with RISC OS SELECT.
So some file names may have more than 10 characters.

Customers report it works on RISC OS 5 too! Though, see 32bit notice below.


WHAT DOES IT DO?
----------------
It copies directories or applications (and their contents) to a preset 'backup'
directory into a dated directory.
It does the backup as quietly as possible and tries to keep the Desktop
as workable as possible as it does this.


It does this:

1)
The first time that !Back_It is run.
e.g. when you boot up or when ran by a scheduled task like !Alarm for example.

3)
Within half an hour after midnight of each new day.
Handy if you like to leave your machine on over night.


For example: If today was the 2nd April then a directory called 02/04/2003
would be created within the Backup directory and all files you asked to be
backed up will be copied into '02/04/2003'.

If the program is ran again on the same day then files are NOT touched
or backed up.

The program takes up only 120Kbytes on a RiscPC / A7000 machine and uses less
than 0.1% of the computers time when left running idle and does *not* interfere
with any other programs. So it is safe to leave it running 24hours.

However when it is actually performing its backup then there will be a slow down of your computers operation.
 

WHY USE THIS BACKUP PROGRAM?
----------------------------
Due to the way people work they often forget to take a current backup of vital
programs, letters, etc. This program ensures that this process it is not
forgotten and no valuable files are lost.
!Back_it is unique as it tries its hardest to work in the background, so for
the majority of the time you can continue to do work on your computer whilst
it is performing the backup.



FEATURES
--------
It does two types of double checks after it performed a backup.

1. It tests the backed up ZIP files to ensure they can be opened and read.

2. It counts the number of files in the ZIP files and in the source to see
   that they match.

3. It tries to work in the background so you can get on with things.
   However this program was tested on a StrongARM RiscPC. Slower computers
   will take more time to transfer files and compress data.



USER OPTIONS
------------
!Back_It has some User options that you can alter and these are documented in
the file !TempDir.Docs.UserOptions.

  


HOW DO I USE BACK_IT?
---------------------
OK, first place !Back_it in a directory in your computer.
If you are happy with it running you could set it up so it is ran each time
you switch on the computer by placing an entry in !Boot as normal.

Open !Boot_It and double click on the 'Objects' text file.
(If it is not present create a text file called 'Objects').

Place in the text file the full pathnames of any files or directories
you want to be backed up.

ie.
ADFS::HardDisc4.$.!Boot
ADFS::HardDisc4.$.Quantum.Development
ADFS::HardDisc4.$.Images.00-49
ADFS::HardDisc4.$.Images.My_Photos

The *really* easy way to do this is to keep the shift key pressed down and
drag and drop the applications or files into the text file.
 
You may, if you wish, place comments in here by prefixing a comment line
with a '|' character.

ie
| Valuable data, must not lose!
ADFS::HardDisc4.$.Quantum.Development.Keystroke
| How to make the Universe V2
ADFS::HardDisc4.$.Quantum.Development.BigBang

Resave this file again.


Now you need to edit the Mysetting file.
Remove the first two lines to enable it to run.
ie the 2 lines:

| Remove the following line
ERROR 0 You MUST read the !Help file provided before using Back_It

The default setting in MySettings are usually okay. But read the 'USER OPTIONS' section of this !Help file on how to fine tune it. 
By default the Zip compression option is off.


WHAT DO YOU NEED TO BACKUP?
---------------------------
I really recommend backing up EVERYTHING.
Some people say only backup the valuable data. But then if your drive becomes
broken (and this CAN happen overnight) you will have the awful job of
reconstructing your drive. This is very, very time consuming.
I know, it happened to me. :-)

A good idea is to use !Back_it and list each directory in your main Harddrive in the !Back_it Object file. Okay, it will take its time doing all of this. But you'll know your data is save. 

!Back_it is now ready to use...

To run it, double click on it.

The first time it is ran it will ask for confirmation for creating the backup
directory. Then it starts the backup.
  
If you used the ZIP compression setting you can see what it is currently archiving by looking in the Task Display window.

Otherwise you'll see a standard Copying files window. You can alter this as you
would with any other Filer window by clicking on the window with the Menu Mouse
button.


If you use it then please tell me (Stuart Halliday) as I'd be interested.
stuart@quantumsoft.co.uk
(Well, if no one is using it, why bother upgrading it for the outside world?)


Extra Notes
If you've altered the Object file and wish to rerun Back_it. Then you will
have to delete the 'last' file held within !Back_it as this holds
the date of when it was last run. Quit !Back_it and then rerun it again.

STOPPING BACK_IT
To stop it whilst you've started a backup. Do this.
Open the Task Display  and quit the Back_It application
and then quit the BackitZip_<whatever> application.
(Menu click over the Back_It line and choose the Quit option).


TODAYSCMOS?
Back_it also copies the CMOS settings of your computer into a tiny file
called todaysCMOS.
These are compatible with the !SaveCMOS program provided with RISC OS.
To restore your CMOS, place it within !SaveCMOS as a file called Saved.
Then Run !SaveCMOS and click on Restore.
This is just in the very rare case you loose your CMOS settings and now you've
got a backup of them too! :-)


32BIT OPERATION.
If you want to run !Back_It on a 32bit RISC OS like the Iyonix pc, then
you'll need to get the 32bit version of the following files to be put into
!Back_It.Resources
These are:
unzip
zipinfo
zip

You can get these files from 
http://www.sbellon.de/sw-ports.html

======================================================================
======================================================================
READ THE README FILE IN !Back_it.Docs FOR SOME EXTRA IMPORTANT ADVICE.
======================================================================
======================================================================


License conditions :
This software is now SHAREWARE as of 10/12/97 and applies to *all* versions
of !Back_It.
If you continue to use it for more than 28 days then you must register it
with us by sending a 10.00UKP note or cheque (no credit/debit cards).
This will ensure the continued development of the program.
(Especially if you require a tailored version).

As a registered owner you can also claim 5.00 discount from one or more
of our popular commerical programs such as Keystroke, Blinds, Impressive,
Undelete.

Send your details and money to :
Quantum Software
35 Pinewood Park
Deans
Livingston
EH54 8NN
Scotland
Tel:01506 411162
email:sales@quantumsoft.co.uk
web  : http://www.quantumsoft.co.uk/


 Quantum Software 1998-2003