You need Retrospect for getting the log (otherwise why are you reading this?)
A PowerMac (68k version is planned..) running MacTCP or OT, connected to the Internet or Intranet, and a web server software (OS 8 personal web sharing, or any other freebee web server)
Knowledge about how to configure and run the web server on the Mac
(or if you willing to do some extra work, any web server where you can upload and publish files from)
About 3 MB of Free RAM, and some room on your hard disk (double the file size of the Retrospect log)
(Very Short) User manual:
To install, copy it to System Folder:Preferences:Retrospect.
Run it, and it will generate these files:
backuplog.html
dateindex.html
networkerrors.html
index.html
It also creates a temporary file called temp_file. You can delete that file, it will be re-created next time RetroSpinner runs.
Just to see what things look like, drag default.html to an open Netscape window (or open it from within Netscape)
Once the folder is published, everybody at your workplace will have access to color-coded, date indexed backup logs.
If you don't have a Mac web server, you can still ftp the above 4 HTML files, default.html & topframe.html to any web server and get the same results.
When & how to run:
I prefer to configure Retrospect to restart the Mac at the end of a backup. If you do the same, you can put an alias of RetroSpinner in the startup folder. Otherwise, you can simply run this every time you change tapes, or whatever schedule seems good to you. I am trying for an apple-event tie-in with Retrospect, lets see how that goes. Lastly, there are shareware out there that will do tasks at specified times. You can certainly use RetroSpinner with one of those.
Customization:
If you are comfortable with HTML, feel free to edit topframe.html and customize it. If you want, you may also edit default.html, as long as you keep the frame references the same, it will still work.
Lastly:
RetroSpinner is shareware. It is not crippled in any way, so you can use it from day 1. If you like it and want to keep using it, please send in your shareware payment of US $10.00. Contact information is at the top of this window.
Payment will mean bug-fixes, support, and continued development of this and other useful utilities.
If you want to include RetroSpinner in a CD or floppy or other media compilation for subsequent commercial distribution, please feel free to do so, provided you include the whole package (including this Readme file) without modification, notify me via snail- or e-mail, and send me a copy of your compilation.
Small Print:
RetroSpinner is provided AS-IS, and I do not make any claims or warranties as to its suitability.
If RetroSpinner completely trashes your Mac and all files on it, you are completely-- you've been warned.
(Actually it’s very well behaved, but apparently this statement is required in this era of trust and brotherhood.)
