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Information about “POINT & SHOOT BACKUP/RESTORE”
Finally a program that makes backing up your hard disk so simple you'll
wonder why you didn't buy POINT & SHOOT BACKUP/RESTORE sooner.
POINT & SHOOT BACKUP/RESTORE is a companion program for the POINT &
SHOOT HARD DISK MANAGER (PC-SIG disk #930) but can also be used as a
stand-alone product. It provides fast, easy backups of your hard disk
data to floppy disks. Your involvement is minimized in the backup and/or
restore process. If you own a hard disk, POINT & SHOOT BACKUP/RESTORE
is a necessity.
POINT & SHOOT BACKUP/RESTORE currently supports the following functions:
~ Up to 10 user-defined backup configurations, each of which may contain
a list of up to 10 subdirectory backup sources. Each backup source
directory may include trailing directories for complete flexibility in
backup definitions
~ Each backup definition allows selection of matching file specs,
modified files only, optional disk formatting and optional file
compression during the backup process. A graphic directory tree display
assists in the selection of backup source directories
~ Files remain intact on backup disks (except when disk boundaries must
be crossed, or compression is used)
~ Required number of backup disks are automatically calculated
~ Restoration options include source drive, restoration to other than
the original path, prompts for duplicate or modified files, and
selective file restoration. Again, a graphic directory tree assists in
selection of restoration paths and files to restore
~ Configuration options include colors, an hourly chime, and drive
designations
~ Backup speeds approach 1 Megabyte per minute with 1.2 MB or 1.44 MB
disks, 0.5 Megabyte per minute with 360K or 720K disks.
CHANGES.TXT
POINT & SHOOT BACKUP/RESTORE REVISION HISTORY
Version 1.0 - June 1988
-----------------------
Original version of the program released
Version 2.0 - May 1990
----------------------
Revised program SETUP to match drive specification of version 2.0 of the
Point & Shoot Hard Disk Manager. Program now allows use of external
floppy disk drives with letters higher than B and can be executed from
any drive or directory.
Improved disk formatting routines
Increased directory tree capacity to 255 entries
Added file compression option (approx. 50% average compression ratio)
Enhanced backup speed with direct format/write loop. Backup approaches
1 megabyte per minute on 1.2MB or 1.44MB disks.
Added file selection list on restoration for easy single file restorations.
Added ability to make subdirectories during restoration if files are
restored to other than the original path to allow user to have complete
control over the structure of the hard disk to which files are restored.
Enhanced error detection/recovery
Added single file compression/decompression routines to assist
in reconstruction of files outside of the restore process.
Added parameter option to immediately move into and execute any one
of the 10 backup configurations: PASBR 1..10
Revised and enhanced program documentation
FILE1188.TXT
Disk No: 1188
Disk Title: Point & Shoot Backup/Restore
PC-SIG Version: S2
Program Title: Point & Shoot Backup/Restore
Author Version: 2.0
Author Registration: $35.00
Special Requirements: 320 K RAM, hard drive, and one floppy drive.
Finally a program that makes backing up your hard disk so simple you'll
wonder why you didn't buy POINT & SHOOT BACKUP/RESTORE sooner.
POINT & SHOOT BACKUP/RESTORE is a companion program for the POINT &
SHOOT HARD DISK MANAGER (PC-SIG disk #930) but can also be used as a
stand-alone product. It provides fast, easy backups of your hard disk
data to floppy disks. Your involvement is minimized in the backup and/or
restore process. If you own a hard disk, POINT & SHOOT BACKUP/RESTORE
is a necessity.
POINT & SHOOT BACKUP/RESTORE currently supports the following
functions:
~ Up to 10 user-defined backup configurations, each of which may contain
a list of up to 10 subdirectory backup sources. Each backup source
directory may include trailing directories for complete flexibility in
backup definitions
~ Each backup definition allows selection of matching file specs,
modified files only, and optional disk formatting during the backup
process. A graphic directory tree display assists in the selection of
backup source directories
~ Files remain intact on backup disks (except when disk boundaries must
be crossed)
~ Required number of backup disks are automatically calculated
~ Restoration options include source drive, restoration to other than
the original path, prompts for duplicate or modified files, and
selective file restoration. Again, a graphic directory tree assists in
selection of restoration paths
~ Configuration options include colors, an hourly chime, and last drive
designation
~ Supports 360K and 1.2MB 5-1/4", 720K and 1.44MB 3-1/2" floppy disks
PC-SIG
1030D East Duane Avenue
Sunnyvale Ca. 94086
(408) 730-9291
(c) Copyright 1989 PC-SIG, Inc.
FILES.TXT
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
POINT & SHOOT BACKUP/RESTORE 2.0 -- BY AMST (MEMBER ASP)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
POINT & SHOOT BACKUP/RESTORE IS A COMPANION PROGRAM FOR THE POINT & SHOOT
HARD DISK MANAGER BUT CAN ALSO BE USED AS A STAND-ALONE PRODUCT. POINT
& SHOOT BACKUP/RESTORE IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE FAST, EASY BACKUPS OF YOUR
HARD DISK DATA TO FLOPPY DISKS. USER INVOLVEMENT IS MINIMIZED IN THE
BACKUP AND/OR RESTORE PROCESS. IF YOU OWN A HARD DISK, POINT & SHOOT
BACKUP/RESTORE IS A NECESSITY.
POINT & SHOOT BACKUP/RESTORE CURRENTLY SUPPORTS THE FOLLOWING FUNCTIONS:
o UP TO 10 USER-DEFINED BACKUP CONFIGURATIONS, EACH OF WHICH MAY
CONTAIN A LIST OF UP TO 10 SUBDIRECTORY BACKUP SOURCES. EACH
BACKUP SOURCE DIRECTORY MAY INCLUDE TRAILING DIRECTORIES FOR
COMPLETE FLEXIBILITY IN BACKUP DEFINITIONS.
o EACH BACKUP DEFINITION ALLOWS SELECTION OF MATCHING FILE SPECS,
MODIFIED FILES ONLY, OPTIONAL DISK FORMATTING DURING THE BACKUP
PROCESS, AND OPTIONAL FILE COMPRESSION. A GRAPHIC DIRECTORY TREE
DISPLAY ASSISTS IN THE SELECTION OF BACKUP SOURCE DIRECTORIES.
o FILES REMAIN INTACT ON BACKUP DISKS (EXCEPT WHEN DISK BOUNDARIES
MUST BE CROSSED, OR WHEN FILE COMPRESSION IS USED).
o REQUIRED NUMBER OF BACKUP DISKS AND TIME IS AUTOMATICALLY CALCULATED.
o RESTORATION OPTIONS INCLUDE SOURCE DRIVE, RESTORATION TO OTHER
THAN THE ORIGINAL PATH, PROMPTS FOR DUPLICATE OR MODIFIED FILES,
AND SELECTIVE FILE RESTORATION. AGAIN, A GRAPHIC DIRECTORY TREE
ASSISTS IN SELECTION OF RESTORATION PATHS AND A FILE LIST AND
DIRECTORY TREE ALLOW QUICK SELECTION OF FILES TO RESTORE.
o COMPRESSION ROUTINES ALLOW COMPRESSION/DECOMPRESSION OF SINGLE
FILES USING A FILE LIST AND DIRECTORY TREE.
o CONFIGURATION OPTIONS INCLUDE COLORS, AN HOURLY CHIME, AND DRIVE
DESIGNATIONS.
o SUPPORTS 360K AND 1.2MB 5-1/4", 720K AND 1.4MB 3-1/2" FLOPPY DISKS.
o BACKUP SPEED APPROACHES 1 MB PER MINUTE WITH 1.2MB and 1.44MB DISKS.
o BACKUPS MAY BE AUTOMATICALLY EXECUTED FROM THE COMMAND LINE.
POINT & SHOOT BACKUP/RESTORE REQUIRES THE FOLLOWING HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE
TO OPERATE CORRECTLY:
o IBM OR 100% COMPATIBLE COMPUTER
o 320K MINIMUM MEMORY
o A HARD DISK AND 1 FLOPPY DISK
o MS-DOS VERSION 2.0 OR GREATER
o COLOR/GRAPHICS, MONOCHROME, EGA OR VGA DISPLAY ADAPTOR
THE FILES CONTAINED ON THE DISTRIBUTION DISK ARE:
CHANGES TXT REVISION HISTORY
FILES TXT THIS FILE
INSTALL BAT HARD DISK INSTALLATION PROGRAM
PASBR EXE THE POINT & SHOOT BACKUP/RESTORE PROGRAM
PASBRDOC TXT PROGRAM DOCUMENTATION
READ ME LAST MINUTE CHANGES AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
GO.TXT
╔═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ <<<< Disk #1188 POINT & SHOOT BACKUP/RESTORE >>>> ║
╟─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╢
║ To start using the program, type: COPY READ.ME PRN (press Enter) ║
║ ║
║ To view author's notes, type: TYPE FILES.TXT (press Enter) ║
║ ║
║ To type documentation, type: COPY PASBRDOC.TXT PRN (press Enter) ║
╚═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
(c) Copyright 1990, PC-SIG, Inc.
PASBRDOC.TXT
POINT & SHOOT BACKUP/RESTORE 2.0
Copyright (C) 1987-90
All Rights Reserved
Applied Micro Systems Technology
Kurt H. Diesch
Member, Association of Shareware Professionals
Revised: April 20, 1990
Point & Shoot Backup/Restore is a hard disk backup and restoration
program designed for IBM Personal Computers and 100% compatibles.
Applied Micro Systems Technology reserves the COPYRIGHT to this
program and all related materials. The user is granted a
non-exclusive license to use the program and is encouraged
to pay for the program if it is found to be useful. Payment of
the $35 registration fee will entitle the user to full
registration including printed documentation and user support.
Government and business entities may not use the program without
paying the full registration fee. Please register your program
with the form included at the end of the documentation or by using
the [Alt-P] command within the program to print a registration
form. REMEMBER: Shareware is not free! Send payments to:
Applied Micro Systems Technology
P.O. Box 1596, Welch Ave.
Ames, Iowa 50010
The user is also granted permission to make unlimited copies of
the program and to distribute those copies as long as no fee is
charged for the program. A duplication charge not to exceed $5
may be collected.
Applied Micro Systems Technology specifically disclaims all
warranties, expressed or implied, including but not limited to,
implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for any
particular purpose. In no event shall Applied Micro Systems
Technology be liable for any loss of profit or any other
commercial damage, including but not limited to special,
incidental, consequential or other damages.
MEMBER - ASSOCIATION OF SHAREWARE PROFESSIONALS
The author of this program is a member of ASP and has agreed to
comply with its standards:
Programming standards-
- The program meets ASP's definition of Shareware.
- The program has been thoroughly tested by the author and
should not be harmful to other files or hardware if used
properly (although ASP cannot warrant this; therefore, the
user should take normal precautions in trying new software).
Documentation standards-
- Sufficient documentation is provided to allow the average
user to try all major functions of the program.
- The program author has explained the Shareware concept in a
professional and positive manner.
Support standards-
- The program author will respond as described in the
documentation to people who send registration payments. At a
minimum, the author will send an acknowledgement of payment.
- The author will respond to written bug reports from
registered users when the user provides a self-addressed,
stamped envelope (some authors will respond by phone, but
this is not an ASP requirement).
- Incompatibilities with other software or hardware, major or
unusual program limitations, or known problems are noted in
the documentation that comes with the shareware version of
the program.
General-
- The author keeps his/her membership in ASP current.
- The author recognizes that any user may appeal to ASP for any
unresolved dispute that arises.
If you feel that the author has not complied with these standards
in some manner or if you register the program with the author and
subsequently have any disputes with the author which cannot be
resolved, please write the ASP at:
Association of Shareware Professionals
PO Box 5786
Bellevue, WA 98006
While ASP cannot warrant programs nor the actions of members, ASP
will do what it can to assure that all authors who claim
membership comply with ASP standards. These standards are the
assurance of quality and support that you will get when you
register Shareware produced by ASP members.
SHAREWARE
To promote better understanding of the shareware concept, ASP has
developed the following definition of Shareware:
Shareware distribution gives users a chance to try
software before buying it. If you try a Shareware
program and continue using it, you are expected to
register. Individual programs differ on details -- some
request registration while others require it, some
specify a maximum trial period. With registration, you
get anything from the simple right to continue using the
software to an updated program with printed manual.
Copyright laws apply to both Shareware and commercial
software, and the copyright holder retains all rights,
with a few specific exceptions as stated below.
Shareware authors are accomplished programmers, just
like commercial authors, and the programs are of
comparable quality. (In both cases, there are good
programs and bad ones!) The main difference is in the
method of distribution. The author specifically grants
the right to copy and distribute the software, either to
all and sundry or to a specific group. For example,
some authors require written permission before a
commercial disk vendor may copy their Shareware.
SO, Shareware is a distribution method, not a type of
software. You should find software that suits your needs
and pocketbook, whether it's commercial or Shareware.
The Shareware system makes fitting your needs easier,
because you can try before you buy. And because the
overhead is low, prices are low also. Shareware has the
ultimate money-back guarantee -- if you don't use the
product, you don't pay for it.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
-----------------
QUICK START GUIDE ............................... 1
INTRODUCTION .................................... 2
INSTALLATION .................................... 4
GENERAL OVERVIEW ................................ 5
MAIN MENU COMMANDS .............................. 7
Backup ....................................... 7
Compression .................................. 7
Restore ...................................... 7
Setup ........................................ 7
Quit ......................................... 7
BACKUP COMMANDS ................................. 8
Backup ...................................... 8
Calculate .................................... 9
Delete ....................................... 10
Format ....................................... 10
Update ....................................... 11
COMPRESSION COMMANDS ............................ 13
RESTORE COMMANDS ................................ 14
Restore ...................................... 14
Update ....................................... 16
SETUP ........................................... 17
EXAMPLES & BACKUP STRATEGY ...................... 18
REGISTRATION FORM ............................... 19
QUICK START GUIDE
-----------------
IF YOU ARE NOT AN EXPERIENCED USER, YOU WILL DO WELL TO SKIP THIS
SECTION AND READ THE DOCUMENTATION BEFORE USING THE PROGRAM!
If you are an experienced computer user, you may use this quick
start guide to install and run the Point & Shoot Backup/Restore
program. Most of the commands found in the program are
self-explanatory, and you can refer to the documentation later
when you have questions.
To install Point & Shoot Backup/Restore, copy the PASBR.EXE file
to a subdirectory of your choice on your hard disk. Modify the
PATH command in your AUTOEXEC file appropriately. When you run
the program for the first time, use the SETUP command to define
your disk drives.
The only tricky part of the program is found in the BACKUP
section. When you modify the backup configurations, place the
cursor on any one of the FILE SEARCH lines and use the [F7] key to
select a subdirectory for backup. If you set the INCLUDE TRAILS
option to "Y", all child directories following the BACKUP SOURCE
PATH you selected will be included in the backup. All 10 lines of
each backup configuration may define different directories, file
specifications and drives, giving you a lot of flexibility in
defining your backup. You may run backups directly from the
command line by entering PASBR x where x is the backup
configuration number you wish to execute.
Please note that the fastest form of backup is on 1.2MB 5.25"
disks or 1.44MB 3.5" disks, without formatting or compression.
Speeds for these backups will approach 1 MB of data per minute.
Other disk sizes backup approximately 1/2 MB per minute.
Formatting is automatically performed if the disk used is not
formatted, so you can potentially leave the FORCE DISK FORMAT
option off. Compression adds significantly to the time required
for a backup, but will compress files by approximately 50%.
An index of all files backed up is kept on the last backup disk.
If you elect to restore selected files, a file list and directory
tree will allow you to quickly select the files you wish to
restore. Files may be optionally restored to drives and/or
directories other than where they originally existed. You can
also manually create directories during the restoration process.
The COMPRESSION command allows you to compress or decompress
individual files. This is also aided by a file list and directory
tree. The compressed files are a special AMST format which
defaults to an ".APK" extension. Currently, a compressed file may
only contain a single file. Future versions of the program will
provide more options in this area, similar to other available
compression programs.
- 1 -
INTRODUCTION
------------
Point & Shoot Backup/Restore is a companion program for the Point
& Shoot Hard Disk Manager but can also be used as a stand-alone
product. Point & Shoot Backup/Restore is designed to provide
fast, easy backup of your hard disk data to floppy disks. User
involvement is minimized in the backup and/or restore process. If
you own a hard disk, Point & Shoot Backup/Restore is a necessity.
Point & Shoot Backup/Restore currently supports the following
functions:
o Up to 10 user-defined backup configurations, each of which
may contain a list of up to 10 subdirectory backup
sources. Each backup source directory may include
trailing directories for complete flexibility in backup
definitions. Backups may be run from the command line.
o Each backup definition allows selection of matching file
specs, modified files only, optional file compression, and
optional disk formatting during the backup process. A
graphic directory tree display assists in the selection of
backup source directories.
o Files remain intact (DOS readable) on backup disks (except
when disk boundaries must be crossed or when the files are
compressed). Required number of backup disks and estimated
backup time are automatically calculated.
o Restoration options include source drive, restoration to
other than the original path, prompts for duplicate or
modified files, and selective file restoration. Again, a
graphic directory tree assists in selection of restoration
paths and a combination file list/directory tree allow
easy selection of specific files for restoration.
o Self-contained compression/decompression utility uses a
file list and directory tree to select files to compress
and decompress. This feature will be expanded in the
future to allow multi-file options and other features
found in similar programs. NOTE: We are not attempting
to provide yet another compression program to cloud the
compression war issue. Rather, we are providing an option
in this software to work with compressed files created
during the backup process using the optional file
compression. We fully support and encourage the use
of industry standard compression programs.
o Configuration options include colors, an hourly chime, and
drive designations.
o Supports 360K and 1.2M 5-1/4", 720K and 1.44M 3-1/2"
floppy disks.
- 2 -
Point & Shoot Backup/Restore requires the following hardware and
software to operate correctly:
o IBM or 100% compatible computer with 320K minimum memory.
o A hard disk and 1 floppy disk
o MS-DOS version 2.0 or greater
o Color/graphics, monochrome, EGA or VGA display adaptor
I am more than willing to enhance the program to meet the needs of
you, the user. As you are well aware, part of the reward for
writing well-received software is monetary. If you would like to
continue to use Point & Shoot Backup/Restore, a $35 payment will
register your copy of the program. The registration fee entitles
you to printed documentation and user support. Please use the
registration form found in this documentation file to register
your copy of the program.
Special thanks go to Mike Davenport for his assistance in
developing the compression routines utilized in this program.
Thanks also go to John Newlin for his help in improving the disk
formatting routines.
- 3 -
INSTALLATION
------------
Following are installation instructions. If any problems are
encountered, first check your computer. If you still have
problems, enlist the aid of someone who is perhaps more
knowledgeable with computers than yourself. A third alternative
is to contact AMST.
1) Place the Point & Shoot Backup/Restore program disk in
a floppy disk drive.
2) Log onto the floppy disk drive containing the backup
program and type the following command:
INSTALL source: target:
where:
source is the floppy drive letter you are
installing from
target is the hard drive letter you are
installing to
3) The Point & Shoot Backup/Restore program may now be run
from the Point & Shoot Hard Disk Manager (if you own it)
or directly from DOS. If you are NOT running the backup
program from the Point & Shoot Hard Disk Manager, you
must add "\P&S" to the PATH command in your AUTOEXEC.BAT
file. If you don't have a PATH command in your
AUTOEXEC.BAT file, then make the following the first
line in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file:
PATH \P&S
4) To run the program, change to the \P&S directory and type
PASBR.
To print the documentation, change to the \P&S directory and type
the following command from the DOS prompt:
COPY PASBRDOC.TXT PRN:
Another option to print the documentation is to use the File Print
command in the Point & Shoot Hard Disk Manager file commands.
Following is a complete list of the Point & Shoot Backup/Restore
program and data files contained on the distribution disk.
CHANGES.TXT Revisions of Point & Shoot Backup/Restore
PASBR.EXE The Point & Shoot Backup/Restore program
PASBRDOC.TXT Point & Shoot Backup/Restore documentation
FILES.TXT Description of the files on the disk
INSTALL.BAT Point & Shoot Backup/Restore installation file
READ.ME Last minute changes to the program
- 4 -
GENERAL OVERVIEW
----------------
Point & Shoot Backup/Restore may be executed in three ways. If
you own the Point & Shoot Hard Disk Manager, Point & Shoot
Backup/Restore may be executed with the BACKUP command from Point
& Shoot's main menu (PASBR.EXE must reside in the P&S directory or
a directory in the PATH command of your AUTOEXEC.BAT). You may
also install the Backup/Restore program as a user-defined menu
item in the Point & Shoot Hard Disk Manager. The Point & Shoot
Backup/Restore program may also be executed as a stand-alone
program by entering PASBR from the DOS command line.
To automatically run a backup configuration, enter the PASBR
command followed by the desired backup configuration number:
PASBR x (where x is the backup configuration number)
If you do not provide the optional parameter, the program operates
by user interaction. If the parameter is specified, the program
will immediately go into backup mode and will terminate when the
backup has finished.
When Point & Shoot Backup/Restore is run, the main program screen
will appear. The top line of the screen displays the name and
version of the program, a copyright notice and the current date
and time. The center portion of the screen displays a detailed
copyright notice and registration information. The bottom section
of the screen displays the program menus with an explanatory line
on the bottom. If your copy of the program is unregistered, a
flashing message will request that you register the program.
Registered copies of the program do not have this message.
Most of the program functions are executed through the list of
commands shown in the bottom area of the screen. The
[left-arrow], [right-arrow], [Space] or [BackSpace] keys may be
used to highlight the desired command. The one line description
of the command shown on the last line of the screen will change
appropriately. To execute any of the functions, press the first
letter of the command. The command corresponding to the selected
letter will be immediately executed. Alternately, highlight the
desired command and press the [Enter] key.
Some commands will invoke another command list. The name of the
current command list is always shown on the left side of the
command list. You may move to a previous command list by pressing
the [Esc] key. Each command list also has a QUIT command which
will move to the previous command list. In general, the [Esc] key
serves to abort any operation or selection.
To quit the program and return to the operating system (or back to
the Point & Shoot Hard Disk Manager), press [Esc] or select QUIT
from the Main Menu command list.
- 5 -
At many points in the program, you will be entering or changing
information on the screen. The procedure is generally the same
and is outlined here. Differences that occur in this procedure
are covered in the appropriate detail sections of this
documentation.
When entering or updating data screens a flashing "*" will appear
on the data screen to indicate where your information is to be
entered. A cursor will also show the current position within a
data field. (Data fields are the hilighted areas of the screen).
Some or all of the following commands will be available for data
entry:
[left/right arrow]: Moves the cursor within the current
field. If the cursor is at the first
position within a field, then the
previous field will be selected. If the
cursor is at the last position within a
field, then the next field will be
selected.
[ctrl-left/right]: Moves the cursor to the first position
or last character of the field.
[up/down arrow]: Selects the previous or next data field
for editing.
[Enter/return]: Same as right or down arrow for next
field.
[F8]: Blanks the current data field.
[Esc]: Aborts changes made to the data screen
and completes enter/update action.
[F10]: Accepts changes made to the data screen
and completes enter/update action.
- 6 -
MAIN MENU COMMANDS
------------------
The Main Menu is the center of Point & Shoot Backup/Restore
activity. Some of the Main Menu commands move to another command
list, while others will immediately execute a command. Following
is a description of the Main Menu commands.
BACKUP
Moves to the BACKUP menu from which you may perform a backup of
hard disk data to floppy disks.
COMPRESSION
Moves to the COMPRESSION screen from which you may compress or
decompress files.
RESTORE
Moves to the RESTORE menu from which you may perform a restoration
of previous backup disks to your hard disk.
SETUP
Moves to the program setup data screen described later.
QUIT
Returns to DOS.
- 7 -
BACKUP COMMANDS
---------------
The Backup Menu consists of a set of commands that perform the
following functions:
o Backup your hard disk using up to 10 different
user-defined backup configurations
o Calculate the number of disks required for a selected
backup configuration
o Format floppy disks to be used for backup
Point & Shoot Backup/Restore performs backups on a file by file
basis with some files crossing disk boundaries. Extensive error
checking is included to provide a high level of backup integrity.
Subdirectories may be selectively backed up and previous backups
may be optionally restored to different subdirectories. For your
protection, Point & Shoot Backup/Restore will not back up the
hidden system files found in the root directory of your hard disk.
BACKUP
The BACKUP command starts the backup process according to the
displayed current backup configuration. See the UPDATE command
for details concerning changes to the backup configuration.
When the BACKUP command begins, a backup status screen will appear
to show the progress of the backup including the following:
Disk: Current disk number
Track: Current track being written to
Side: Current side being written to
File Name: Path and name of the current backup file
Comp Size: Compressed size of file (in bytes)
File Size: Size of the current backup file (in bytes)
# Copied: Number of bytes of the current file that has
been copied
Comp Total: Total number of compressed bytes backed up
Curr Total: Total number of bytes that have been backed up
Total Bytes: Total bytes of files defined for backup
Bad Sec: Total bad sectors encountered during backup
- 8 -
# Files: Total number of files that have been backup up
Total: Total number of files defined for backup
Comp Ratio: Average compression ratio
Perc Done: Percent of backup that has been completed
Disk Space: Remaining space on current backup target disk
The program will next instruct you to insert a disk in the drive
indicated by the backup configuration. Insert a disk and press
[Enter] to proceed with the backup. The backup process may be
aborted at this point by pressing [Esc]. Once the backup process
begins, it may only be stopped when the prompt for the next backup
disk appears.
If the FORCE DISK FORMAT option is selected, each new backup disk
will be formatted before files are transferred. See the FORMAT
command for details regarding the built-in format program. With
or without the format option, Point & Shoot Backup/Restore will
delete all files from the target disk before transferring files.
The transfer of files to the backup disk will then begin.
If a file is to large to fit on a single disk, Point & Shoot
Backup/Restore will split the file between two or more disks and
mark it as a split file for restoration purposes. A situation may
occur where the target backup disk contains a duplicate filename
(when two or more hard disk subdirectories are placed on the same
backup disk). In this case, Point & Shoot Backup/Restore will
automatically rename the file. The original name is also stored
so that the correct file name will be maintained during the
restoration process.
When the backup process is complete, a message will appear to
indicate completion. Make sure that all backup disks are
correctly numbered as the restoration process will require that
the disks are restored in sequential order.
CALCULATE
CALCULATE calculates the number of disks required for the current
backup configuration. The total number of files, along with the
total number of bytes contained in those files, will be displayed.
Note that the correct disk type must be selected prior to using
the CALCULATE command.
- 9 -
Several factors are considered when calculating the number of
disks required for a backup. Point & Shoot Backup/Restore stores
one special file called PASBRID.DAT on each backup disk, leaving a
total possible of 111 files for 360K and 720K disks, and 223 files
for 1.2M and 1.4M disks (a DOS limit). In addition, the special
file will reduce the available space (in bytes) of each backup
disk to the following:
360K 342,016 bytes available
1.2M 1,193,472 bytes available
720K 709,632 bytes available
1.4M 1,437,184 bytes available
It should be noted that every file copied to a backup disk
requires a minimum of 1024 bytes for 360K and 720K disks and 512
bytes for 1.2MB and 1.44MB disks (this is a DOS requirement). The
result is that more bytes must be available on a backup disk than
the total of the individual file sizes. CALCULATE takes this into
account when determining the required number of backup disks. It
is a good idea to have several extra disks available for the
backup session in case a bad disk is encountered.
CALCULATE also assumes an average of 50% compression of files if
the compression option is selected in the backup configuration.
Compression ratios may vary substantially, depending on the type
of file compressed. EXE and COM files may only be compressed by
20% to 30%, while text files, word processing files, and database
files may be compressed by 80% or more. Just remember that the
CALCULATE results may not be accurate if compression is used.
The Point & Shoot Backup program also stores an index of all files
backed up on the last backup disk. This file will be included in
the disk space and file count of the CALCULATE results.
DELETE
DELETE clears the current backup configuration to default entries.
FORMAT
The FORMAT command is used like the DOS FORMAT command to format
diskettes. For your protection, the FORMAT command will only
operate on floppy disk drives. When you select the FORMAT
command, the program will automatically initiate the format
process based on the current backup configuration drive and disk
type. If you have floppy disk drives with letters other than A or
B, see the SETUP command for instructions on using these drives.
- 10 -
All disks formatted with the FORMAT command will be checked for
bad sectors. Progress of the format operation will be shown on
the screen. When the format operation is complete, the total and
available bytes on the formatted disk will be shown. If any bad
sectors are found during the format operation, they will be marked
bad and excluded from further use.
UPDATE
Update modifies the settings for the backup configurations. Data
entry is accomplished according to the commands described in the
GENERAL OVERVIEW section of this documentation.
In addition to the standard editing commands, the [F7] function
key is used to select backup source paths. When the cursor is on
any one of the FILE SEARCH or INCLUDE TRAILS lines, the [F7] key
invokes the graphic directory tree display from which a path may
be selected with the [up/down arrow], [PgUp], [PgDn], [Home],
[End], and [Enter] keys. The [Esc] key will abort from the path
selection process without selecting a path. Note that the cursor
will not go to the BACKUP SOURCE PATHS fields. All path selection
is done with the [F7] key. If the directory tree does not show
all of your hard disk drives, see the SETUP command to define your
drives.
A different backup configuration may be selected with the [PgUp]
and [PgDn] keys. The [F10] key saves all the backup
configurations, and [Esc] will cancel changes made.
Following is a description of the data fields found on the backup
configuration screen:
BACKUP CONFIGURATION DESCRIPTION: A short description of the
backup configuration
DESTINATION DRIVE: The floppy disk drive to be used for the
backup
BACKUP DRIVE TYPE: The type of the destination drive
FORCE DISK FORMAT: Option to format backup disks during
the backup process. If this option is set to "Y", all
disks will be formatted. If this option is set to "N",
the program will detect and format unformatted disks.
MODIFIED FILES ONLY: Option to include only files modified
since the last backup
USE FILE COMPRESSION: Option to compress disk files during
the backup process. This option significantly slows the
backup but will use fewer disks.
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Ten backup source paths are available for each backup
configuration. Each path line allows for entry of the following
data:
BACKUP SOURCE PATHS: The directory from which files will be
backed up. The cursor will not stop in this field, but
the [F7] key is used when the cursor is in the FILE
SEARCH or INCLUDE TRAILS fields to invoke a directory
tree for path selection.
FILE SEARCH: The filename search string to match. Any
string of characters may be entered including ? and *.
Only those files matching the FILE SEARCH will be
selected for backup. Refer to your DOS manual for
a discussion of file search strings.
INCLUDE TRAILS: Option to include the child subdirectories
following the BACKUP SOURCE PATH. If enabled here and
a subdirectory is duplicated in another specification
line, the duplicated subdirectory will be backed up
twice.
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COMPRESSION COMMANDS
--------------------
The COMPRESSION command is used to compress or decompress single
files using the same file format as the compression in BACKUP and
the decompression in RESTORE.
When you select the COMPRESS command, a file list and directory
tree will appear on the screen. If the directory tree does not
show all of your hard disks, then refer to the SETUP command to
define your drives.
The [left arrow] and [right arrow] move between the file list and
the directory tree. A "*" will mark the current directory. The
file list will show the files in the current directory sorted by
name. Use the [up arrow], [down arrow], [Home] and [End] keys to
move around the file list and directory tree. The [Enter] key
selects the hilighted directory as the current directory.
To compress a file, hilight the desired file and press "C" for
compress. A prompt will appear asking for the name to use for the
compressed file. The default file name for compression is the
same as the original file except the extension is changed to
".APK". You may edit the target file name at this point. If the
target file already exists, you will be asked if it is okay to
replace. After the file is compressed, it will be shown on the
file list. The original file is left intact.
To decompress a file, hilight the desired file and press "D" for
decompress. Only files that have been compressed with the Point &
Shoot Backup/Restore program may be decompressed in this fashion.
A prompt will appear asking for the name to use for the
decompressed file. You may enter any valid DOS filename at this
point. If the target file already exists, you will be asked if it
is okay to replace.
More options will be added to the COMPRESSION command in future
versions of the program.
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RESTORE COMMANDS
----------------
The Restore Menu consists of commands used to restore files to a
hard disk from backups made with the Point & Shoot Backup/Restore
BACKUP command.
RESTORE
The RESTORE command starts the restore process according to the
Point & Shoot Restoration Options. Some of the files on a backup
disk could be copied to a hard disk with a standard copy command,
but files that cross disk boundaries, files that have been renamed
during the backup process, and files that have been compressed
require the use of Point & Shoot Backup/Restore for proper
restoration. In general, it is best to use Point & Shoot
Backup/Restore for all restoration activity.
The Restoration Options should be checked for accuracy before
starting the restoration (see UPDATE). The restore process begins
by prompting for the first backup disk. Disks must be restored in
the same order that they were backed up. If an error occurs
during the restoration process, the program will attempt to
recover from the error and continue with restoration.
Restoration may be cancelled when a prompt appears for the next
disk by pressing [Esc], but this action may result in partial
files restored to the hard disk if a file crosses a disk boundary.
If restoring to a new subdirectory (see UPDATE), a graphic
directory tree will appear for path selection each time the
original path changes on the backup disks. The commands used to
select a new path are the same as with the BACKUP command.
Target subdirectories may be created during the restoration
process when the directory tree appears. To create a new
directory, hilight the directory which will be the parent of the
new directory, then press "M" for make. A prompt will ask for the
new directory name. Any valid DOS filename may be used for a
subdirectory. After you enter the new directory name, the new
directory will appear on the tree.
If the restoration requires more than one disk, the program will
prompt for additional disks. During the restoration process, the
status is displayed at the bottom of the screen. The status
display includes the following information:
Current Disk: The current disk being restored
File Name: The original path and file currently in
restoration
Copy To: The path and file to restore to
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File Size: The size (in bytes) of the file being restored
Total Bytes: Total number of bytes restored from all disks
Files: Total number of files restored from all disks
Disk Space: Number of bytes left on the target disk
Point & Shoot Backup/Restore maintains a record of how many disks
were used for the backup and will automatically stop after the
last disk has been restored. Point & Shoot Backup/Restore also
tracks of the appropriate disk number during restoration and will
issue an error message if an incorrect disk is inserted.
If the RESTORE SELECTIVELY option is enabled (see UPDATE), you
will be prompted to insert the LAST backup disk in the floppy
drive. The program uses this disk to maintain an index of all
files backed up. After the program reads the index file, a file
list and directory tree will appear on the screen to allow you to
select specific files for restoration.
The [left arrow] and [right arrow] move between the file list and
the directory tree. A "*" will appear next to any files selected
for restoration and also next to any directories that contain at
least one file marked for restoration. All the files backed up
will appear in the file list, sorted by name within each
subdirectory group. Use the [up arrow], [down arrow], [Home] and
[End] keys to move around the file list and directory tree. As
you move through the file list, the subdirectory that contains the
currently hilighted file will be hilighted.
When you are in the file list, the [Enter] key selects or
deselects the currently hilighted file for restoration. The [+]
and [-] keys select and deselect all files. The [Ctrl-PgDn] key
selects the current file and moves the cursor to the next file.
When you are in the directory tree, the [Enter] key selects or
deselects all files in the current directory for restoration. The
file list will scroll to show files in the selected directory when
[Enter] is used. The [+] and [-] keys select or deselect all
files for restoration.
After you have selected the files you wish to restore, the [F10]
key will continue with the restoration process. You will be
prompted for the appropriate disks to insert as the restoration
proceeds.
- 15 -
UPDATE
Update modifies the data fields in the Restoration Options screen.
Data entry is accomplished according to the commands described in
the GENERAL OVERVIEW section of this documentation. The [F10] key
saves all the Restoration Options, and [Esc] will cancel changes
made.
Following is a description of the data fields found on the
restoration options screen:
RESTORE SOURCE DRIVE: The floppy disk drive to be used for
the restoration.
RESTORE TO ORIG. PATH?: Option to restore backup files to
the directory from which they came, otherwise the
program will prompt for a target directory with a
graphic directory tree.
PROMPT ON DUPLICATES?: Option to force prompting if the
restoration encounters a duplicate file name
PROMPT ON MOD FILES: Option to force prompting if the
restoration encounters a file that has been modified
since the last backup
RESTORE SELECTIVELY?: Option to bring a file list and
directory tree to the screen to allow selection of
specific files for restoration.
- 16 -
SETUP
-----
The SETUP command is used to establish the configuration for Point
& Shoot Backup/Restore. In SETUP, you can select program colors
and other defaults. Available fields for SETUP include:
COLORS: If your computer has a color monitor, you will
be allowed to edit the program colors. Only
some of the colors can be set including the
background, low text, normal text, headline,
and help line. A sample screen is shown to
assist in color selection. Use the up and
down arrow keys to select a color to modify,
then use the left and right arrow keys to
choose a color. The new colors will take
affect when you quit SETUP.
BEEPER ON?: If "Y", the computer's beeper will sound
on errors and other places within the
program. Set this to "N" if the beep is
not desired.
HOURLY CHIME?: If "Y", the computer's beeper will sound
when the time reaches the hour mark.
DISK DRIVE USAGE: Determines the disk drives used on your
system for directory tree scanning. Set each
drive letter that your computer supports to
"Y". If you do not set the correct drive
letters, the directory tree used in many
places in the program will not show all of
your disk drives.
FLOPPY DISK #: Floppy disk drives on MS-DOS computers have
a number from 0 to 3 associated with them.
Standard numbering is 0=A and 1=B. This is
the default for the program. Some systems
have additional floppy disk drives that may
have other letters such as F or G. If your
system has a non-standard configuration of
floppy disks, you may have to designate the
correct floppy disk number for your drives
by entering the appropriate drive letter next
to the number for your drive. These fields
must be correctly set for the built-in format
feature to operate correctly.
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EXAMPLES & BACKUP STRATEGY
--------------------------
Proper backups of your valuable hard disk data are extremely
important. Hard disks seem to fail at the worst possible time.
Reconstruction of data is often difficult and expensive, and is
sometimes impossible. The Point & Shoot Backup/Restore program
will provide safety for your data, but only if you perform backups
on a regular basis. Different users will choose different backup
strategies. Following are some suggestions to use when
formulating your backup strategy.
Always use a rotating set of backup disks. Alternate the set for
each backup. If anything happens to one set, you will always have
another (albeit slightly older) set of backup disks. A common
scheme is to mark one set for Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and
the other set for Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Occasionally
(perhaps weekly or monthly) perform a complete hard disk backup
using another set of disks and store them in a safe place (your
bank or a fireproof safe).
Always use high quality diskettes when performing a backup. Your
data is worth the higher price of a few disks.
Example 1: Backup of entire hard disk.
MODIFIED FILES ONLY: N
BACKUP SOURCE PATH: C:\
FILE SEARCH: *.*
INCLUDE TRAILS: Y
Example 2: Full backup followed by incremental backups.
Use example #1 for first backup. After that
set the MODIFIED FILES ONLY option to "Y" and
perform your backups. ALWAYS USE NEW DISKS
when MODIFIED FILES ONLY is set to "Y" because
some of your files will only be backed up on
prior backup disks. If you must restore your
disks, start at the very first disk and restore
them in order. Newer files will eventually
replace older ones. If the number of backup
disks gets too large, start over with a complete
backup as shown in Example #1.
Example 3: Selected file backup.
Set the BACKUP SOURCE PATH and FILE SEARCH fields
to restrict the backup to files you wish to back up.
- 18 -
REGISTRATION FORM
-----------------
PROGRAM: Point & Shoot Backup/Restore VERSION: 2.0
SERIAL #: ___________________________ (see program main screen)
Applied Micro Systems Technology (AMST)
P.O. Box 1596, Welch Ave.
Ames, Iowa 50010
Name __________________________________________________
Company __________________________________________________
Address __________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
Phone ( ) _______________________
Write for information on volume discounts and site licenses.
Payment $_______ $35 for full registration, printed
documentation and user support.
(no cash please).
Payment Method: ____Check ____VISA ____MC
Credit Card #: _________________________ Exp. Date _______
Name on Card: ____________________________________________
Auth Signature: ____________________________________________
Where did you hear about this program? ____________________
Comments __________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
- 19 -
Directory of PC-SIG Library Disk #1188
Volume in drive A has no label
Directory of A:\
CHANGES TXT 1354 4-20-90 10:10a
PASBR EXE 141712 5-22-90 1:47p
PASBRDOC TXT 55555 4-23-90 1:34p
FILES TXT 2945 4-22-90 2:01p
INSTALL BAT 985 4-30-90 7:36p
READ ME 1746 4-17-90 2:13p
GO BAT 38 12-09-87 4:29p
FILE1188 TXT 3849 9-13-90 3:33p
GO TXT 728 1-01-80 7:27a
9 file(s) 208912 bytes
109568 bytes free