Using PABE Lite    PowerArchiver Backup Express Lite - Automatically Backing Up Files

Introduction

PowerArchiver has an easy-to-use, yet powerful auto-backup feature called PowerArchiver Backup Express Lite (PABE Lite).

The PowerArchiver Auto-Backup tool creates .pbs scripts through an easy to use wizard that lets you add files and configure options for .pbs scripts. You can then execute scripts when you want to backup your work or simply schedule a task in Windows Scheduler to execute scripts at defined time. Read on for step by step instructions on using PowerArchiver Backup Express Lite.

Step 1. Creating a PABE Lite Script

To create a new auto-backup script, you can click on "New" in the toolbar, select "PowerArchiver Backup Express Lite" from the "Save as Type" drop-down box, and enter the desired file name for your PABE script. Additionally, you can click "Tools > PowerArchiver Backup Express Lite > Create/Edit".

Please note for future references, that PowerArchiver Backup Express Lite script files are saved with the ".pbs" extension.

Step 2. Selecting Files and Folders to be Backed Up

After you create an PABE script, a new screen will open up.  

• "Type in a backup archive" - you will need to click on the browse button, select a destination folder and enter the name of your new backup archive. This should be a new file, as if you enter an existing file name, it will be overwritten.
• "File List" - as you can see, there are separate buttons for "Add File" and "Add Folder".  By using these buttons, you can select files and folders that will be backed up.  Once you select files and/or folders, they will be added to the File List and displayed. If you wish to remove an object from the list, simply select it and click on the "Remove" button.
• "Include Subfolders" - if unchecked, subfolders of folders on your File List will not be added to the backup archive.
• "Filters" - advanced users can select filters to be used on folders added to the list. Please understand that backup filters work only on contents of the folders that you selected and not on files you specifically selected. This option is not required and you can proceed without setting it up.

Once you are done with adding files, you can move on to the next screen by clicking on "Next".

Step 3.  Configure Backup Options

A new screen will now show up with options that you can select to customize your backup script.

If you wish, you can immediately proceed by clicking on the "Next" button, as none of these options are required.

• "Compression Type" - at the top, you will be able to change type of destination archive (also known as your backup archive). If you have selected "ZIP" as your file type previously, that option will be selected here as well. If you wish to change that format, you may do so now. We recommend using the ZIP format for backups.
• "Compression" - you also select the compression you want, depending on what destination format you have chosen. We recommend using maximum compression, and although it may take more time, the resulting backup will be smaller.
• "Protect with password" - you can password protect your backup archive (this option is only available with ZIP archives). If you choose to do so, please make sure you remember the password, since you will need it to eventually extract files from your backup archive.
  • "AES 128-bit" - enables support for advanced AES ZIP encryption. (enabled only when password option is selected)
• "Add timestamp to archive name" - you can add a timestamp to keep track of your backup archives. If you check this box, the default option will show up, which is "_YMDHmS", together with the "Use as suffix " option.  Here is more detailed information on these options:

"_YMDHmS" shows what timestamp data will be added to archive.

• "Y" - adds the current year (e.g. "2002")
• "M" - adds the current month (e.g. "07"  would be added for July)
• "D" - adds the current day in the month (e.g. "17")
• "H" - adds the current hour of the day  (e.g. "15" for 3 PM, "20" for 8 PM, etc)
• "m" - adds the current minute
• "S" - adds the current second
• "WW" - adds the day of the week (e.g. "Sunday")

"Use as suffix" - option denotes whether you want to add timestamp information to the front or back of the backup archive's file name.

• "Store relative folder information" - will save the relative path with backed up files (instead of the full path).
• "Show "Backup Done" when finished" - displays a confirmation window after the backup is complete.
• "Run silent if run from Windows" - allows you to turn on the silent backup mode. With silent mode enabled, when you run the auto-backup script from Windows by either double clicking on it or scheduling it to run using Windows Task Scheduler, the backup will complete in the background without any notice. This feature is a great option to use if you schedule a backup using Windows Task Scheduler.

After you are done with adjusting backup options to suit your preferences, you can continue by clicking on the "Next" button.

Step 5. Configure File Time Options:

• File Time options - these are filters that PowerArchiver can use to add files to a backup based on their date. This feature is designed for advanced users. If you do not understand it, you can just proceed to the next screen by clicking the "Next" button.
  • "Include files option" - gives you the ability to select an inclusion filter based on the date of the file. For example, if you wish to only include files that were created in the past 7 days, you can select the "newer than" option and enter "7" in the number of days box.
• Additional Zip Options - configure additional options available only with ZIP format backs
  • "Write directly into Zip" - writes directly into backup archive (without the use of a temporary folder)
  • "Add Only if "Archive" attribute is set" - adds only files with "Archive" attribute
  • "Clear Archive attribute" - removes Archive attribute from the files that were backed up
  • "Make Large ZIP File (over 4 GB)" - creates PkZip 4.5 compatible zip files that can be bigger than 4 GB and can have more than 65,555 files. Keep in mind that these files can be opened only in programs that support the PkZip 4.5 standard.
  • "Enable automatic disk spanning" - enables automatic disk spanning for backup archives - only useful if you are doing backup to removable media.
  • "Do not delete original backup file" - when enabled, PowerArchiver will not delete existing backup archive before executing backup. It will add new files to the existing backup archive and update ones that are already in the archive. It works exactly as Add (and replace) option from standard PowerArchiver compression interface.

After setting up these options, proceed by clicking on "Next".

Step 6. FTP Options

PowerArchiver has an FTP function that allows you to upload your backup archive to an FTP server after the backup is complete. This is a purely optional feature; you may skip it by clicking on "Next".

To use the FTP feature, check "Upload backup archive after compressing to FTP server". After you do that, FTP options will be enabled.

• FTP Profile - here you can select an already saved FTP profile or create a new one by clicking on "New Profile". That profile will be saved so you can use it throughout PowerArchiver.
• File Information - you can configure local and remote filenames with this option. We recommend this feature for advanced users only. Click here to find out more about PowerArchiver's FTP profiles and Options.

After you are done with the FTP options, you may proceed by clicking on "Next".

Step 7.  Running a Backup

You will now see a final preview of all selected options.

Finally, to perform the backup of your data, click the "Do Backup" button.


Please Note:
You can click on the close button at anytime while setting backup options. This will automatically save all changes you made to your PowerArchiver Backup Express Lite script file (.PBS).

You can find more info on PowerArchiver Backup Express Lite here.

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