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- A DESCRIPTION OF BKUP.BTM, version 8
- (February 2, 1994)
-
- If you have updated 4DOS to version 5.x, use BKUP10.BTM and up.
-
- BKUP.BTM is designed for easy updating of your other computer(s). It
- can also be used for quick 'maintenance of files' on your disk (deleting
- unnecessary files, etc.).
-
- CREATING A COMPRESSED FILE FOR ALL NEW (UPDATED) FILES
- ======================================================
- BKUP.BTM creates a list -- using Ethan Winer's freeware PCTODAY.EXE
- (c) -- of files saved on specified disk (default is default drive)
- either [a] today, or [b] since a specified number of days back, or
- [c] since a specified date. It then allows you to edit the list in
- various ways, leaving only those files you wish to transport to your
- other computer(s). When editing is done, BKUP.BTM runs Katz's
- PKZIP (c), creating a ZIP archive on specified drive (default is
- B:), with the specified date as a name (for example, 3-26-93.ZIP).
- If such an archive already exists, it is updated with new versions,
- or new files, if detected in the list.
-
- The files are archived ("zipped") with pathnames. This means that
- they will be extracted to the same subdirectories where they were
- created. By default, files are extracted to the default drive,
- unless otherwise specified. If a subdirectory does not exist on the
- target computer, PKZIP creates it while extracting.
-
- The archive is marked with the description "Updated from: name",
- where "name" stands for an actual "name" you have given your
- computer (see below on "Giving your computer a name"). This helps in
- reminding you from which computer you have already created the
- archive. (If you accumulate several such archives, this is very
- helpful for orientation.)
-
- EXTRACTING THE UPDATED FILES FROM THE ARCHIVE TO THE OTHER
- COMPUTER(S)
- ====================================================================
- To extract the archived file(s), use the -x (or /x, or x) switch.
- BKUP.BTM runs Katz's PKUNZIP (c) for extraction. If there is more
- than one such archive on your diskette, BKUP lets you select the one(s)
- you wish to extract. Extracted files (archives) are marked with the
- description "Extracted to: name; name; ...", where "name" stands for
- an actual "name" you have given your computer (see below on "Giving
- your computer a name"). This helps in reminding you to which
- computer(s) you have already extracted the archive. If you try to
- extract the archive again to the same computer, you will be told
- that it was already extracted, letting you decide to either "force-
- extract" it (it will NOT extract anyway, even if you "force-
- extract", if no new files were detected), delete the archive file
- from disk, or quit. If the archive was extracted, then was updated again
- with new versions or files, it will be marked by BKUP.BTM with the
- description "Updated from: name", to allow subsequent extractions as
- well as indicate the source of the new files (i.e., the computer on
- which they have been created).
- The extraction utility pops up a menu of archive files, even if only
- one such archive exists, to allow you cancel the operation. If more than
- one archive exists, you can mark those you wish to extract (by pressing
- the spacebar at the relevant filename).
-
- Edit options (before compression)
- ============ ====================
- When the list of all the relevant files is created, BKUP.BTM lets you
- select one of the following options:
-
- (*) Viewing (and handling) filenames on screen one by one
- (*) Use an editor to edit results (results file)
- (*) View results before making any decision
- (*) Go immediately to archiving (no selection)
- (*) Quit (results file will remain intact)
- If you choose viewing (and handling) files on screen, the following
- options are then available while working:
-
- (*) Accept or omit a file
- (*) View a file before making a decision about it
- (*) Delete a file from disk (after or before viewing)
- (*) Stop selecting and begin archiving
- (*) View the list of selections at each item
- (*) Quit (results file will remain intact)
-
- Customization
- =============
- Default parameters are marked by '^^^' strings in BKUP.BTM, and can
- easily be changed there. Alternatively, use aliases to avoid editing
- the batch file itself. For example, ALIAS BK=BKUP C: A: will create
- a customized command to override the default definition of compressing
- to drive B:.
-
- Giving your computer a name
- ===========================
- BKUP.BTM makes it possible to distinguish between various computers,
- if you have given each of them a name. If you haven't, BKUP.BTM
- prompts you to do so, and displays -- if you choose to -- a help
- screen explaining how to configure your computer for a name. The
- name you choose while running BKUP.BTM is saved only for the current
- session. If you choose not to give your computer a name as
- explained, BKUP.BTM will prompt you for the relevant name each time
- it runs.
-
- To give your computer a permanent name, add the following line
- anywhere in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file:
-
- set compuname=name
- (Where "name" stands for the actual name you wish to give it. For
- example, "office", "home", or whatevcer. Don't choose too longs
- names, because the description line will not hold more than 3-4
- names of 4-5 characters.)
-
-
- USAGE:
- ======
-
- BKUP [<search_drive:> <archive_drive:>] [options]
- where, <search_drive:> is the drive which should be seached for
- files <archive_drive:> is the drive where the archive should be
- created
-
- Options are:
-
- n|-sMM-DD-YY|h|?|i|-x [<target_drive> <archive_drive:>]
-
- where
- [none] will create archive on drive B: for today's files on
- default drive.
- 'n' stands for 'number of days back from today'. For example, 'BK 3'
- will create a list since three days back from today's date.
- '-s' (or /s or only s) stands for 'since', followed by date, in the
- MM-DD-YY (month-day-year) format. For example: BK s01-29-90 will
- create a list of files created since 29 January 1990.
- 'h' (or ?) stands for 'help'.
- 'i' stands for 'show only usage (instructions) screen'.
- '-x' (or /x or only x) extracts archive(s).
- <target_drive> is the drive to extract TO (the drive to be
- updated).
- <archive_drive:> is the drive to extract FROM (the drive where the
- archive is stored).
-
- Usage Notes
- ===========
- If BKUP.BTM is run with no parameters at all, it will create a list
- of saved files on your default drive for today, then create the ZIP
- archive on drive B:. Specifying update and archive drives is
- optional, but if you specify only one drive, you will be asked by
- the program to specify interactively both. This is necessary because
- the program cannot tell, when you specify only one drive, whether it
- is 'target' or 'source'.
-
- If you wish to change the defaults, you can easily put the names of
- the respective drives by the relevant '^^^^' strings. Alternatively,
- you can use aliases to avoid even doing that. For example, an alias
- like 'BX=BKUP x d a' will make it possible to have a command for
- extraction to drive d: from drive a: (while BKUP.BTM stays configured
- for drives c: and b:).
-
- History
- =======
- BKUP.BTM was initiated by Ron Zweig (ron@ccsg.tau.ac.il), then edited
- and augmented by Itamar Even-Zohar (itamarez@plato.tau.ac.il).
- Version 7, November 1993: Fuller filename display and computer "name"
- added for better information about which computer has been updated.
- Version 8, January 1994: (1) A safer procedure for defining a temporary
- drive added; (2) A better file selection menu replace the one-at-time
- selection menu (thanks due to Sam Wilson; see label ":operate" for
- details [in BKUP.BTM]).
-
- Copyrighted programs
- ====================
- PCTODAY.EXE (c) by Ethan Winer is downloadable from SIMTEL20:
- <msdos.pcmag>VOL10N21.ZIP.
-
- PKZIP/PKUNZIP (c) may be purchased from PKWARE, Inc., 9025 N.
- Deerwood Dr., Brown Deer, WI 53223-2437, USA. Phone: 414-354-8699;
- FAX: 414-354-8559; BBS: 414-354-8670. It may also be downloaded from
- Simtel20 <msdos.zip>.
-
- If you do not wish to use PKZIP/PKUNZIP, you can replace them by
- freeware ZIP and UNZIP downloadable from Simtel20 (in <msdos.zip>),
- but then you must modify the definitions in BKUP.BTM accordingly.
-
- Itamar Even-Zohar
- Porter Chair of Semiotics
- Tel Aviv University
- Tel Aviv 69978 Israel
- Phone: +972-3-6427233 (office)
- Fax: +972-3-6422141 (office)
- e-mail addresses:
- itamarez@plato.tau.ac.il, or itiez@ccsg.tau.ac.il