Category : Utilities for DOS and Windows Machines
Archive   : PREBAK13.ZIP
Filename : PREBACK.DOC

PREBACK 1.3 Registration Request


Thank you for your registration. It is sincerely appreciated!

--------------------------------------------------------------------
VISA/Mastercard orders are only accepted through telephone orders.
Call the Public (Software) Library at 800-242-4775 to order NOW!
--------------------------------------------------------------------

_____ Registration of all Patri-Soft Utilities with
program disk and User's Guide........................$45.00

When you register the below versions, you will receive registration
codes along with the latest version of the utility.

_____ PREBACK -- Backup preprocessor and interface........$15.00
_____ PCOPY -- Advanced windowed DOS COPY alternative...$20.00
_____ PALERT -- Warns you of low disk space..............$15.00
_____ PATTR -- Manage attributes of DOS files...........$10.00
_____ PDAILY -- Automatically execute commands once/day..$10.00
_____ PDELETE -- Save space with automatic disk cleanup...$15.00
_____ PPRINT -- Advanced file print w/special formats....$15.00
_____ PSEARCH -- Search for files with specified words....$15.00

_____ Update a registered set with new disk and manual.
Registered users only Ser: __________ ........... $15.00

****************************************************************

Name: __________________________________________________

Company: _______________________________________________

Address: _______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

City: ________________________ State: ________ Zip: __________

I learned about the PREBACK from: ______________________________

If BBS indicate name and number please._________________________

________________________________________________________________

Please register the software under the following name:

____________________________________________________________

Send to: Patri-Soft
P.O. Box 8263
San Bernardino, CA 92412











P R E B A C K

-----------------------------------------------------------
A system to automate the decision of backing up your system
-----------------------------------------------------------


-------------------------
Users Guide and Reference
-------------------------




Version 1.3
April 1990




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³ ÚÄÄÄÄÄÁÐÄÄ¿ ³ Association of
³ ³ ³ÄÙ Shareware
ÀÄÄij o ³ Professionals
ÄÄÄij º ³ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ
ÀÄÄÄÄÐÄÄÄÄÙ * Member *





Patriquin's BBS 714-369-9766

Copyright 1990 by Patri-Soft






PREBACK Users Guide/Reference Copyright 1990 Patri-Soft
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Table of Contents



PREBACK -- Advanced replacement for DOS COPY . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Features: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

The Display Screen and Window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Implementing PREBACK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Command Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Program Maintenance: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Registering The Utilities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

About the Patriquin Utilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Site License . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Registration form. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Reporting Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18





















i

PREBACK Users Guide/Reference Copyright 1990 Patri-Soft Page 1
----------------------------------------------------------------------

PREBACK -- BACKUP preprocessor and interface
--------------------------------------------

It is incredible that our fancy computers rely on manual methods
and decisions to keep them working! Why is it that we need to
manually manage and make decisions regarding hard disk backup?
Isn't this why we have computers? PREBACK is a facility to
remind us of backup needs, and automate the decision to perform
backups...

Most every hard disk user has backup facilities implemented to
protect their data, but many times backup is simply forgotten or
bypassed. There are many reasons for this but the most common
one is that backup requires time and we often get in a rush to
do other things and delay taking the time to backup our systems.

Although it is very important to do backups frequently, they are
not necessary every day. Some days we just do not do things of
significant enough importance to back them up. I personally
found that if I backup my system once every 3 to five uses, this
is sufficient.

Unfortunately, I often forget how long it has been since my last
backup and assume it was done more recently than it really was.
In my haste, backup can be forgotten for a couple of weeks
before I get to it. Often important data is severely exposed to
loss due to my inattention to backup....

PREBACK was developed as a facility to enhance my backup system
to help me determine when to perform backups and to remind me
when they are being neglected. PREBACK is intended to be
implemented in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file to be run every time your
system is started. Its job is to determine the last backup
date, and remind you that backup is needed. In addition,
PREBACK can optionally show you the files needing backup and
allow you to exclude files from the backup process. This saves
backup time and disks.

If you prefer to backup your data at the end of each day,
PREBACK can be implemented as a DOS command or from a menu to
help you manage backup.

PREBACK Users Guide/Reference Copyright 1990 Patri-Soft Page 2
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Here are some of PREBACK's features:

-- Reminds you once each day that backup is needed. Lets you
decide to run backup or not.

-- Informs you of the last backup date. This allows you to
make an informed decision about backup.

-- PREBACK will only remind you of backup, or start backup,
when there are files to be backed up. If none exist, you
will not be bothered with a reminder to backup.

-- Informs you what kinds of files need backup. This also
lets you make a better decision about backup. If you can
see an important document or file has not been backed up
since it was last updated, you are more apt to run backup.
We often forget about the things we have been working on.

-- Exclude files from backup. We often find ourselves wasting
disk space and time backing up files that are not
important. You may provide PREBACK with a list of files to
be excluded from backup. This often results in very
significant savings.

-- Since todays backup procedures often backup your data once,
then process only updated data, PREBACK can show
information about all files on your hard disk or just those
updated since your last backup.

-- PREBACK will search one or more drives for files to be
backed up.

-- Forced backup mode. If you are implementing backup
procedures for users that must perform daily backup,
PREBACK can force a backup when it determines one is
needed.

As you can see, PREBACK adds a much needed aspect and
intelligence to the backup process. Within these features you
will find your own additional benefits to using PREBACK. PREBACK
lets your computer automate its own decisions!

PREBACK Users Guide/Reference Copyright 1990 Patri-Soft Page 3
----------------------------------------------------------------------

The PREBACK Display
-------------------

PREBACK has two different displays. The first display is
for the default mode of operation that shows you what files
need backing up and then asks if backup is to be started...


ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ»
º PREBACK 1.3 Copyright 1990 by Patri-Soft º
º -------------------------------------------------- º
º Previous backup: Friday 29DEC89 at 8:42pm º
º It has been 1 days since previous backup. º
º 138 files with 2031152 characters need backup. º
º º
º Backup file extension summary by size (Top 10) º
º #Files -EXT- --Size-- #Files -EXT- --Size-- º
º 8 *.EXE 357738 36 *.OBJ 125002 º
º 29 *.PUB 280879 1 *.CVT 123104 º
º 1 *.NDX 270300 1 *.CAP 112392 º
º 10 *.MAC 256555 5 *.BIT 84799 º
º 1 *.OVL 141296 1 *.MAP 48014 º
º º
º Do you want to start backup? Press or º
ÈÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ


The second display format is used when you do not desire PREBACK
to scan disks and show the files needing backup...

ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ»
º PREBACK 1.3 Copyright 1990 by Patri-Soft º
º -------------------------------------------------- º
º Previous backup: Friday 29DEC89 at 8:42pm º
º It has been 1 days since previous backup. º
º º
º º
º Do you want to start backup? Press or º
ÈÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ


PREBACK Users Guide/Reference Copyright 1990 Patri-Soft Page 4
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Implementing PREBACK
--------------------

PREBACK is implemented by placing statements to invoke it, and
your backup procedure, in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. If you prefer
to backup your data at the end of every day, you can invoke
PREBACK from a separate batch file, or from any end of day
routine they may already exist.

If you use a menu system, the commands to implement PREBACK may
be implemented before your backup menu item.

PREBACK is a system that sets the DOS ERRORLEVEL indicator to
indicate if backup is to be performed or not. When PREBACK
completes, your batch file may issue any backup command to begin
backup. Following is the basic PREBACKUP commands to be
implemented:

Commands in AUTOEXEC.BAT or other .BAT file...

---------------------------------------------------
PREBACK /X:*.BAK/R
if ERRORLEVEL 1 backup
---------------------------------------------------

The above command implements PREBACK to check backup
once per day and cause backup processing to ignore
update backup processing for files with extensions
of .BAK (backup files).

Use your normal text file editor to implement
PREBACK in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file.

PREBACK Users Guide/Reference Copyright 1990 Patri-Soft Page 5
----------------------------------------------------------------------


As another example, following is an example of a normal
AUTOEXEC.BAT file without PREBACK implemented:

---------------------------------------------------
PATH c:\bat;c:\ut;c:\;c:\dos
PROMPT $t$h$h$h$a $e$a[0;31;1m$P$a $Q$Q$Q$G$a $e$a[0;36m
ced
kbrate a2
set wp=/NC/NK
\MOUSE1\cpanel
MENU
---------------------------------------------------

Below is the same AUTOEXEC.BAT file with PREBACK implemented:

---------------------------------------------------
PATH c:\bat;c:\ut;c:\;c:\dos
PROMPT $t$h$h$h$a $e$a[0;31;1m$P$a $Q$Q$Q$G$a $e$a[0;36m
ced
kbrate a2
set wp=/NC/NK
\MOUSE1\cpanel
PREBACK /X:*.BAK/R <==== PREBACK command
IF ERRORLEVEL 1 BACKUP <==== your backup command
MENU
---------------------------------------------------


Manually starting backup using PREBACK
--------------------------------------

A sample batch file (PREBK.BAT) is provided with the PREBACK
system. You may modify and use it to implement PREBACK when
you desire to manually start backup. The file contains the
following statements:

PREBK.BAT
---------------------------------------------------
echo off
preback /m %1 %2 %3 %4 %5 %6
if errorlevel 1 (implement your backup command here)
---------------------------------------------------


PREBACK Users Guide/Reference Copyright 1990 Patri-Soft Page 6
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Command Parameters
-------------------

PREBACK allows several command parameters to be specified to
alter PREBACK operation. All these parameters are optional. If
no parameters are specified PREBACK, will scan your current disk
to determine updated files needing backup, and will present a
window asking you if backup is desired.

A quick review of command parameters is always available by
entering the PREBACK command with the ? parameter.


COMMAND FORMAT:
---------------

PREBACK [ (/ parameters) ]


/A Process all files. Not just updated files.

PREBACK normally assumes a complete backup has already
been done and you are only backing up updated files. It
normally only shows files that have been updated since
their last backup.

The /A parameter causes PREBACK to show all files on your
disk.

To determine if a file needs backing up, PREBACK uses the
DOS "ARCHIVE" flag. This flag exists in every file's
directory entry and is set when any application or
program references a file in the update or create mode.
Most applications that read the file will not set this
flag.

Backup programs use this flag to determine if the file
has been changed since it was last updated. In this way,
BACKUP programs may add changed files to a backup set and
let the user avoid making complete backups of their
system every time backup is run.

PREBACK Users Guide/Reference Copyright 1990 Patri-Soft Page 7
----------------------------------------------------------------------


/NS Don't scan directories and display files needing backup.

PREBACK normally scans directories to determine if a
backup is needed and shows what files would be processed
by backup.

The /NS (No Scan) parameter indicates PREBACK is not to
scan disks. It will simply remind you that backup is
needed.


/L List files to backup during scan process

Use this parameter to watch PREBACK as it scans files
to determine what ones need backup.


/F Force backup, do not allow to bypass.

To implement PREBACK to force backups when needed.
PREBACK will not ask of backup is to be performed, it
will automatically start backup if it is needed.


/X: Exclude list of ext names. I.E. /X:*.BAK,*.TMP,TEST*.*

You may specify a list of file names to be excluded from
PREBACK's statistics of files to be backed up.

Use this facility when your backup system will
automatically ignore some files. This will make
PREBACK's statistics accurate with the action of the
BACKUP program.


/R Reset excluded files to exclude them from backup.

When PREBACK lists all updated files, and the /X:...
parameter is used to specify files not to be included in
backup, the /Reset parameter indicates PREBACK is to
reset the DOS "ARCHIVE" flag for each excluded file.
This will have the effect of excluding these files from
any backup program only processing updated files.

See the /A parameter description for more information
about the DOS "ARCHIVE" flag.

PREBACK Users Guide/Reference Copyright 1990 Patri-Soft Page 8
----------------------------------------------------------------------


/T Test only, do not reset backup date.

/Test is used to verify the action to be taken by the
/R parameter. No file dates will actually be reset.


/B Scan/show backup totals only.

If you want PREBACK to only perform backup if there are
updated files to process, but do not want a list of the
files to be backed up, use the /B parameter to eliminate
the list from PREBACK's display.


/M Change check from once a day, to force after every boot.

Normally PREBACK will only function one time each day. If
you want PREBACK to recheck backup needs every time the
system is started in a single day, specify the /Many
parameter.


/D:xx Disk volumes to be checked. /D:CD

PREBACK normally only scans the current disk for files to
be backed up. To process an alternate drive or more than
one drive, specify the /D: parameter with one or more
drive letters to process.


/RE Register PREBACK program / Remove evaluation messages.

PREBACK issues a evaluation messages to encourage users
to register the Shareware. Upon registering PREBACK you
will receive registration numbers to deactivate
evaluation messages and activate bonus features. The /RE
parameter invokes the registration procedure.

Note, every registered user will receive a disk with the
newest version of PREBACK and copies of other Patriquin
utilities.

PREBACK Users Guide/Reference Copyright 1990 Patri-Soft Page 9
----------------------------------------------------------------------


/X Exclude files. The exclude facility allows you to
provide a list of pathname and filename specifications
that are to be excluded from backup processing. Since
searching through data on your hard disk requires
extensive processing and disk read time, excluding files
from the process will save you time.

The exclude facility is implemented with two actions.
First, you will need to create an exclude specification
file and place it in the same directory where PREBACK is
installed on your hard disk. This file will contain the
names of all the files and paths to be excluded. Name
the file PREBACK.EXC.

You may specify DOS pattern names to exclude groups of
files with a single specification. Like DOS, use the '*'
to indicate the last part of a filename or filename
extension may be any set of characters. Also like DOS,
use the '?' to indicate that any single position of a
filename may be any character.

In addition to DOS, two additional pattern features are
available. You may place an '*' anywhere in the filename
to indicate any set of characters may exist in this point
in the name. For pathnames, you may place an '**' at the
end of a directory path specification to indicate the
specification applies to the specified directory and all
subordinate directories. Using '**', you can exclude an
entire path with a single specification.

PREBACK Users Guide/Reference Copyright 1990 Patri-Soft Page 10
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Following are examples:

1. *.EXE
2. *.COM
3. TEST*.*
4. *TEST*.*
5. DO?FIX.*
6. PC*XX.*
7. C:\DOS\*.*
8. \TEST\*.*
9. D:\GAMES**\*.*

Explanations for the above examples:
1. Excludes all filenames with the extension .EXE from
processing.

2. Excludes all filenames ending with extension .COM.

3. Excludes all filenames beginning with the letters
"TEST" from processing.

4. Excludes all filenames having the characters "TEST"
anywhere in the first portion of the filename.

5. Exclude files having 'DO' as the first 2 characters
of the filename, and 'FIX' as the 4th, 5th, and 6th
filename characters. The 3rd character of the
filename may be any character.

6. Exclude files having a name beginning with the 2
characters PC and where the first portion of the
filename ends with the characters 'XX'. Any 0 to 4
characters may exist between the 'PC' and 'XX' in
the first portion of the filename.

7. Exclude all files from the DOS directory on drive C:.

8. Exclude all files from the TEST directory existing
on any drive searched.

9. Exclude all files from the D:\GAMES\ directory and
also exclude all files and directories subordinate
to the GAMES directory.

PREBACK Users Guide/Reference Copyright 1990 Patri-Soft Page 11
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Activating exclude --

Exclude will only be functional when the /X command
parameter is specified. When /X is specified, you
must have a valid exclude file. PREBACK will not
continue without one.

PREBACK Users Guide/Reference Copyright 1990 Patri-Soft Page 12
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Program Maintenance:
--------------------

Version 1.0 December 1989
-- Developed and released
Version 1.1 January 1990
-- Added backup already checked message.
Version 1.3 April 1990
-- Added /X and exclude file feature
-- Press any key during disk scan to immediately terminate
PREBACK.

PREBACK Users Guide/Reference Copyright 1990 Patri-Soft Page 13
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Registering The Utilities
-------------------------

PREBACK is distributed under the Shareware concept. This allows
users to evaluate software for a short time to determine if it
is useful to them. If you decide the software is of value to
you, you are asked to support it by registering.

This concept allows for quality software to be distributed at a
reasonable cost. Many of hours of time has been invested in
PREBACK. Continued registration will justify the continued
upgrading of this utility to insure it remains up to date with
current technology. In any case, I do greatly appreciate all
users that care enough to register. I try to provide the best
possible software for all you faithful supporting users.

You may use the order form on the next page when registering PREBACK.

Send registration requests to:

Norm Patriquin
P.O. Box 8263
San Bernardino, CA 92412

The registration cost is a one time fee that entitles you to all
future versions of the product. These may either be obtained
from normal Shareware sources or directly from our support BBS.

PREBACK Users Guide/Reference Copyright 1990 Patri-Soft Page 14
----------------------------------------------------------------------

About the Patriquin Utilities...

The first Patriquin Utility released was developed in 1985 and
released in 1986. PSEARCH, a utility to allow users to locate
files containing specific words, was developed to aid in
in the development of other PC systems being developed by
Norm Patriquin. It was developed because other available
search facilities on the market did not provide the power
needed for the complex systems being developed. Later, PMOVE
(later to be called PCOPY) was developed to avoid all the
problems caused when the DOS COPY command could not update one
disk with files from another without accidently overlaying
existing files.

Over the years the Patriquin Utilities have been used by power
PC users all over the world. Unlike other facilities, the
Patriquin Utilities are intended to work in an intelligent
fashion and not just provide a slick manual interface for
users to manage their files.

The Patriquin utilities have been reviewed in the following
publications --
PC Magazine
"Managing Your Hard Disk" Berliner
"MS DOS Utility Programs" Ronny Richardson
"Public Domain Software and Shareware"
Demaria/Fontaine
Computer Shopper
Shareware Magazine
Compuserve Online Magazine

And most recently, PC Computing magazine selected PCOPY as
one of their 10 utilities that DOS forgot (Nov 1989).


PREBACK Users Guide/Reference Copyright 1990 Patri-Soft Page 15
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Site Licenses
-------------

I do welcome organizations to Site License one or more utilities
at a reduced cost. Site Licenses allow you to be confident all
users in your organization are using authorized versions of the
utilities.

Following is a schedule of site license fees at the time this
document was created.

Site license fees --

5 - 10 copies $100 51-100 copies $800
11 - 30 copies $300 101-200 copies $1500
31 - 50 copies $500 201-400 copies $2000
Unlimited copy license $4000


A site is considered to be one individual company at a given
location. Different departments located as the same address
are considered to be part of the same site.

To help companies avoid problems with software taken home for
personal use, any employee having use of PREBACK as part of a
site license agreement, also is allowed to use the software
on any machine for their own personal use. This may be at the
site location or any other location.


PREBACK Users Guide/Reference Copyright 1990 Patri-Soft Page 16
----------------------------------------------------------------------

VISA / Mastercard / Telephone Registration
------------------------------------------

You may place a telephone order for the utilities using your
credit card by calling Nelson Ford's Public (Software) Library.
Site license agreements must be arranged directly with the
author.

Telephone orders: 800-242-4775

The PSL supplies Shareware software at a nominal cost to
its customers. Consider them for all your Shareware needs.


PREBACK Users Guide/Reference Copyright 1990 Patri-Soft Page 17
----------------------------------------------------------------------
PREBACK 1.3 Registration Request

Thank you for your registration. It is sincerely appreciated!

--------------------------------------------------------------------
VISA/Mastercard orders are only accepted through telephone orders.
Call the Public (Software) Library at 800-242-4775 to order NOW!
--------------------------------------------------------------------

_____ Registration of all Patriquin Utilities with
program disk and User's Guide........................$45.00

When you register the below versions, you will receive registration
codes along with the latest version of the utility.

_____ PREBACK -- Backup preprocessor and interface........$15.00
_____ PCOPY -- Advanced windowed DOS COPY alternative...$20.00
_____ PALERT -- Warns you of low disk space..............$15.00
_____ PATTR -- Manage attributes of DOS files...........$10.00
_____ PDAILY -- Automatically execute commands once/day..$10.00
_____ PDELETE -- Save space with automatic disk cleanup...$15.00
_____ PPRINT -- Advanced file print w/special formats....$15.00
_____ PSEARCH -- Search for files with specified words....$15.00

_____ Update a registered set with new disk and manual.
Registered users only Ser: __________ ........... $15.00

*******************************************************************

Name: __________________________________________________

Company: _______________________________________________

Address: _______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

City: ________________________ State: ________ Zip: __________

I learned about the PREBACK from: ______________________________

If BBS indicate name and number please._________________________

________________________________________________________________

Please register the software under the following name:

____________________________________________________________

Send to: Norm Patriquin
P.O. Box 8263
San Bernardino, CA 92412

PREBACK Users Guide/Reference Copyright 1990 Patri-Soft Page 18
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Reporting Problems (PREBACK 1.3)

I welcome all comments or enhancement suggestions. Please document
each item clearly and provide printed examples, if possible. Please
be sure to include this form with all requests. It will help to
make sure we can provide you with the best possible service.


Name: __________________________________________________________

Company: _______________________________________________________

Address: _______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

City: __________________________________ State: _______________

Zip: ______________________________

Telephone: _______ / ________________________ (Home / Work)


Date: _________________________ Machine Type:_______________


Name of Utility: _______________________ DOS Level: ____________

Description of problem or enhancement:

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

Suggested solution:

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________