Category : Utilities for DOS and Windows Machines
Archive   : UPDATE.ZIP
Filename : TERSE30.DOC
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Purpose:
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Copy byte-for-byte newly-changed | added files from any/all hard | floppy |
RAMdisk | logical drive sources, to any hard | floppy destination.
SEE the complete UpDate "User Manual" PROLIX30.DOC for full information about
UpDate.
==============================================================================
Files:
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UpDate System Filenames (ARCed in this file):
UPDATE.BAT Program
UP.EXE Program
TERSE30.DOC Documentation
PROLIX30.DOC Documentation
Setup Files (interactively Installed/Created by
PATHS.CNF List [Sub]Dirs and/or Filenames to UpDate
LASTDATE.CNF Record Last Execution Time & Setup Parameters
==============================================================================
SUMMARY OF OPERATION: [] = option {} = if necessary | = and/or
Preliminary:
-----------
{Use USA date/time formats, i.e. COUNTRY=001 in CONFIG.SYS}
{Create adequate BUFFERS in CONFIG.SYS, e.g. BUFFERS=15 to 30}
{Create adequate FCBS in CONFIG.SYS, minimum FCBS=10,10}
{Set DOS DATE and TIME}
Create Path specifications (file PATHS.CNF):
-------------------------------------------
Locate files UPDATE.BAT and UP.EXE in one directory.
Command UPDATE T from DOS, to create | edit PATHS.CNF.
Specify all [sub]directories [and files] to copy, indicating the path FROM the
root dir TO the directories[files] which will be copied. Console
prompts indicate correct syntax.
Maximum length/spec: 59 characters w/o filenames | 72 chars w/filenames
Maximum specs: 255
Source [sub]directories [files] may be located anywhere, on any drive.
Wildcards "*" and "?" accepted in file-copy specs.
If filenames without extensions are specified, append an `*' extension (to
distinguish filenames from directory_names), e.g. NOEXTDOC.*
UpDate Summary 2
If whole directories WITHOUT filenames are specified, all *.BAK and *.TMP
files located in the source dir are DELETED when UPDATE executes. To
PRESERVE a directory's .BAK and .TMP files, append wildcards to the spec:
syntax, d:\[path\]source_directory\*.*
(cf. d:\[path\]source_directory which deletes all *.BAK | *.TMP)
Special Features of PATHS.CNF:
-----------------------------
"Skip filename specs" ( &S) point at specific files included within broader
copy specs. These files will not be copied despite new|changed.
Syntactically, Skip specs resemble regular Path specs but always include
EXACT full filename with appendage " &S" -- NO wildcards are permitted. A
separate Skip spec is required for EACH individual file to be skipped.
"Floppy-Only and Hard-Only specs" ( &F) and ( &H) are blanket specs for whole
directories that restrict them to FLOPPY ONLY ( &F) or HARD-DISK ONLY ( &H)
copy destinations. Specify FIRST the directories [filenames] which you
wish to monitor and copy, in REGULAR Path specs. Then make a SECOND
general directory spec (no filenames) with appendage ` &F' or ` &H'.
Sample PATHS.CNF Specs:
----------------------
C:\ - monitor all root dir files
C:\TEXTS\ART - monitor all \ART subdirectory files
C:\TEXTS\ART &F but copy only to floppy backup diskettes
C:\TEXTS\*.D?C - monitor all TEXTS dir DOC/DQC/D?C extensions
C:\TEXTS\DULL.DOC &S but skip file DULL.DOC
Test PATHS.CNF:
--------------
After specifying all directories [files] to copy, Test PATHS.CNF from within
UPDATE T. Fix all UpDate or DOS errors flagged by the Test before
executing UpDate. ("Skip filename specs" are not thoroughly tested.)
Repeat until error-free.
A directory [file_spec] which is empty [non-existent] at test-time is flagged
"Bad" by the test. Copy a dummy into the directory [filename]
temporarily in order to pass the Test.
NEVER execute UpDate without Testing first!
UpDate Summary 3
Make Hard-Disk Backup Directories:
---------------------------------
UpDate offers three different target drive organizations. Collect copies in:
a) "Mirror-image dirs", which bear the same dir_names as their sources,
on one DIFFERENT backup hard drive [additional floppy copies
collected in root only]
or
b) "Parallel backup directories", which bear slightly different dir
names than their sources, and are located on the SAME drive as
source files [floppy copies collected in root only]
or
c) "Root directories", i.e. one catch-all dir, for floppy-copying | hard
drives
UPDATE T can automatically make your "Mirror-image" or "Parallel" backup
directories. This is especially valuable for Parallel backup dirs,
which have unconventional names (the name of the PATH from the ROOT dir to
the SOURCE dir, plus the numeric suffix "1" (suffix "D" for root dir only).
LASTDATE.CNF set-up file must already exist. If you want UpDate to make your
hard backup dirs, "Install UPDATE" (see below) to create LASTDATE.CNF, then
Abort to DOS & re-run UPDATE T.
Install UPDATE (First UpDate Run Only):
--------------
Situate in the UpDate module directory.
Command UPDATE from DOS.
Initial run creates LASTDATE.CNF record of destination drive & directory
parameters, plus date/time of `last' UpDate run:
a) Floppy destination drive-letter d (or omit)
b) Hard destination drive-letter d (or omit)
c) Target directory organization, for collecting file copies:
M = Mirror image (other disk)
P = Parallel (same disk)
R = Root only (other disk, floppy
or hard)
d) Universal or Selective copy mode: U = copy all new | changed (hands-off)
S = copy/skip/delete new | changed at
runtime
e) UpDate `N' linkage: Y = copy old/new files at once
N = copy new only
f) `Last' run date: integers DDMMYY
g) `Last' run 24-hour time: integers HHMM
UpDate Summary 4
Run UPDATE (Daily Runs):
----------
Situate in the UpDate module directory. Never run UpDate from a different
dir.
Command UPDATE from DOS.
[Toggle between Universal and Selective copy modes.]
[Alter the `Last' date|time, to copy files from any moment in the past.]
[Alter the set-up Parameters.]
[Abort to DOS.]
Execute 1: Copy to Hard Disk only.
or
Execute 2: Copy to Floppy diskettes only.
or
Execute 3: Copy to Both.
Special Feature of UpDate: UPDATE N
------------------------------------
The `N' option requires DOS file SORT.EXE in UpDate module dir.
UpDate `N' copies EVERYTHING with either new OR old creation dates which is
newly-written in specified dirs since last UpDate run (modemers, take
note!). It requires more run-time.
`N' maintains a special archive ARCH-UPD.CNF, created on the first `N' run (no
copying occurs).
`N' may be run SEPARATELY (DOS command: UPDATE N), or LINKED with standard
UpDate (command: UPDATE) so that both always function simultaneously and
deliver one integrated report with file copying. Linkage is desirable, if
old-date files are regularly added to specified dirs.
Linkage is established in set-up parameter #5 (respond "Y").
Separate UPDATE N runs should PRECEDE the standard UpDate run.
`N' cannot be backdated (re-run) like standard UpDate.
Adding a new dir to PATHS.CNF between `N' runs will flag ALL files in
that dir for copying.
Separate UPDATE N does not re-write LASTDATE.CNF
UPDATE N omits but does not delete *.BAK | *.TMP
==============================================================================
General:
-------
Before copying to floppies UpDate looks for the filename in the diskette
directory. A Warning is displayed if File not found. You have one further
opportunity to swap floppies if wrong diskette is inserted.
Delete-file and Omit-copy options available only in Selective copy mode.
Enter Path specs in PATHS.CNF for source dirs only, not for backup
dirs.
File copying is fully automatic (hands-off) in Universal copy mode, unless you
swap floppies.
If you Abort to DOS in UpDate `N', the old ARCH-UPD.CNF record of old-
date/newly-added files is lost (i.e. replaced by a new ARCH-UPD).
UpDate Summary 5
Never erase LASTDATE.CNF | PATHS.CNF [| ARCH-UPD.CNF for Update `N'] from
UpDate module directory.
On a single-drive high-capacity diskette-only system, set-up target drive as
B:
Periodically copy Parallel or Logical drive backups (one real hard drive) to
floppies, for safety.
Target destinations offered at runtime depend upon your LASTDATE set-up
parameters: e.g. if you only set-up a floppy target drive, no hard-drive
copying is additionally offered at runtime.
Time required by UpDate increases with the number of specified dirs.
UpDate ends if it finds no new files in addition to LASTDATE.CNF.
UpDate is NOT USEFUL on low-capacity floppy-only systems.
You may copy TO only one hard target drive. For two or more hard targets, use
multiple UpDate modules.
==============================================================================
Table of User Variables:
Function Implementation
-------- --------------
Current Date/Time DOS
Alter LASTDATE.CNF Parameters/Backup Date and Time Runtime
Directory to Copy [Path specification] PATHS.CNF
Filename to Copy [Path specification] PATHS.CNF
Directory to Copy to Floppies Only [ &F Path spec] PATHS.CNF
Directory to Copy to Hard-Disk Only [ &H Path spec] PATHS.CNF
Filename to Skip (Omit-Copy) [ &S Path spec] PATHS.CNF
Runtime Copy/Skip Control [Selective mode only] Runtime/LASTDATE.CNF
Copy Old-Date Files Linked or Separate UPDATE or UPDATE N
Hard Disk Only UpDate All Files Runtime/LASTDATE.CNF
Floppy Only UpDates All Files Runtime/LASTDATE.CNF
Floppy AND Hard UpDates All Files Runtime/LASTDATE.CNF
Delete File [Selective mode only] Runtime
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