NTuS Realtime Backup
for Microsoft(R) Windows NT(TM) / Windows 95(TM)
Version 3.04
USERS MANUAL
NT MicroSystems (NTuS) Tomoki NOGUCHI
http://www.vector.co.jp/authors/VA005025/index_e.htm
Overview
Does your backup work as well as it should every day? Are you completely satisfied with your current backup software? And do you have the time, money and disk capacity to provide yourself with sufficient backup capabilities?
The best solution for your backup problem is called "frequent backup".
NTuS Realtime Backup ("NuBak") is an extremely useful backup application software based on the 32bit Windows operating system. The NuBak requires a little disk space and blazes forth with maximum output! The NuBak instantly duplicates your important files and places them in your designated backup folder when your data file has just changed something.
The NuBak works well with fast storage devices such as HDD,MO,Jaz,etc.
If you have a free space in your HDD, you can configure NuBak to utilize the space to back up. And, you are able to optimize the backup configurations to slash the disk space to back up.
The NuBak features include:
- Automatically backs up updated files in your designated folders/files.
- Generation backup. You can keep deleted/overwritten files.
- An efficient real-time watching process. Surprisingly, There is no load to the operating system! The NuBak resides calmly and efficiently.
- It can configure many backup conditions.
- It is capable of scheduling the backup timing using System-Agent (Windows 95) or AT command (Windows NT).
(Use start options: /sa and /q)
- The NuBak can behave like a mirrored drive.
- It can utilize network-path directions: UNC named, e.g., \\pcname\drv
- It runs smoothly, efficiently, and quietly even if the computer itself is slow.
- It can execute external application software when the backup is done.
- Available not only in English but also in Japanese.
- Available on Windows 95, 98, NT3.51, NT4.0 and later.
Installation / Upgrade
You have probably done the NuBak installation because now you are reading this document.
You need to set up your backup environment after the installation.
If you need some information about the NuBak installation and upgrade, please refer README.TXT which contains some important information.
Configure Your Backup Environment
Now explain how to use NuBak. As explained before, the NuBak backs up your important files automatically after configured properly.
1. Run NuBak
After finished installation, you can choose [Start] - [Program] - [NTuS Realtime Backup V2] in Windows menu or the desktop icon to run a NuBak program.
If you have not set up your backup configuration, you will see the following dialog box prior to be shown a NuBak main window. Just read the following message and press OK button.
The NuBak main window will be appeared as follows:
2. General Configuration
First of all, to adapt to your PC's backup environment, select Backup - General Configuration menu (or press Ctrl+G key) to see the following dialog box.
There are some general settings such as backup location, real-time file detection interval, warning size of disk free space and so on.
So you may confuse due to the difficulty, but basically all you have to do is specify the backup storage location which is displayed as "Backup To" in the dialog box.
3. File Configuration
Next, to configure for your backup environment, select Backup - File Configuration menu (or press Ctrl+F key) to see the following dialog box.
There are already a few useful sample settings. Please see and modify or delete these settings.
And you can add your important data folders to back up them. Drag and drop a source folder from Windows Explorer (or File Manager's right view) on the File Configuration dialog box. Alternatively, you can use [Add] button.
4. Scan All Files
You will see "Backup Ready" message in the NuBak report window if you have accomplished General Configuration and File Configuration. If some event is happened now, the NuBak will begin to back up immediately.
To back up all of your designated backup folders, select Backup - Scan All Files menu.
Recommend you to watch the process. If you see anything wrong, you can select Abort! menu to abort the process.
This process may take a long time, but this is inevitable for only first time. Please put up with...
5. Ready to Real-Time Back Up!
Congratulations! You have finished basic configuration for backup.
Now the NuBak is watching your designated disk folders/files very calmly. To test the real-time backup, please try to copy, create, rename or delete some file in your designated folder.
Recommend you to adjust some settings to optimize your backup environment later on.
Menus
Backup
Backup - General Configuration
This dialog box has some general settings such as backup location, real-time file detection interval, warning size of disk free space and so on.
So you may confuse due to the difficulty, but basically all you have to do is specify the backup location which is displayed as "Backup To" in the dialog box.
Real-Time File Detection Interval
Specifies file event detection interval in your designated backup source folders.
The event means any modify,delete or add a file or a folder.
Normally you don't need to change this value.
Recommend you to set this value from 1 to 5.
Backup Delay Time
Specifies delay time after detect any event in your designated backup source folders. NuBak withholds the backup process as long as detect any event within this time.
Recommend you to set this value from 3 to 60.
Backup To
Specifies your backup storage folder. (e.g. D:\BACKUP)
You can press [..] button to choose backup folder visually.
This designation corresponds to environment-variable. (e.g. %TEMP%\BACKUP)
And also corresponds to UNC named network path. (e.g. \\PCLAN\BACKUP)
Recommend you to set this designation to physically different disk drive from your backup source to protect your important data files even if the backup source disk drive has broken physically.
Backup Drive Alert Size
Specifies disk free space alert size of your backup drive.
NuBak alerts if your disk free space is less than this value.
Create Log File
Specifies log file name. The NuBak can write report message to the file as well as display report.
The report message is appended to the tail of the log file.
If you would like to create log, recommend you to designate log file in your desgnated backup folder. (e.g. D:\BACKUP\LOG.TXT)
Maximum Log Display Lines
This function will be supported in the future.
Display Font
Changes display font. See also View - Font
Not Create Drive-Letter Named Folders
Specifies backup file folder structure.
If it is not checked, NuBak automatically creates drive-letter named folders in your designated backup directory to avoid be overwritten same name folders of different drives.
But this designation is useful when you like to duplicate the structure of folders.
Recommend you to un-check this if you don't care about this.
Display Detail Information
Specifies show or hide detail information display.
You can see only important information when you checked this.
Display Debug Info.
Specifies show or hide debug information display.
Recommend you to uncheck this.
Sound Alert
If checked, NuBak alerts by sound when backup is completed or some error is occured.
Forced Backup (Ignore File Time-Stamp)
If checked, NuBak backs up different dated files even if backup file is newer.
Ignore +/- 2sec. Time Difference
If checked, NuBak ignores different time files within +/- 2 seconds even if the source file is newer than backup file.
This designation is effective if you're using both NTFS and FAT file system. The FAT file system manages files 2-seconds unit, but NTFS manages 1-second unit. So it is possible to happen a little time difference even if both backup file and source file are absolutely same file.
Backup - File Configuration
[Add] button
Shows dialog box to choose backup source folder.
In other hand, probably it's the easiest way to add a source folder, you can add your desired source folder with drag and drop the folder from Windows Explorer (or File Manager's right view) on the File Configuration dialog box.
Prior to add, recommend you to select a source folder in the list-box to quote the settings.
[Del] button
Deletes selected backup source folder.
[UP] and [DOWN] buttons
Arranges backup source folder list.
Source Folder
Specifies backup source folder name.
You can press [..] button to choose backup folder visually.
This designation corresponds to environment-variable. (e.g. %TEMP%\BACKUP)
And also corresponds to UNC named network path. (e.g. \\PCLAN\BACKUP)
e.g.#1 : C:\DOS
e.g.#2 : D:\UTL\NuBAK
e.g.#3 : %windir%\system
e.g.#4 : \\NTPC1\C\Windows
Ignore Backup
If checked, NuBak ignores this backup source folder settings.
Contains Sub-Folders
If checked, NuBak backs up whole sub-folders and files in designated folder.
Including Elapsed .. to .. days
Specifies including file condition for backup by the beginning of the elapsed days and the end of the elapsed days. The elapsed day is calculated based on the last modified date of source files.
If there is no designations in the both edit-box, it means that all files in the source folder will be included for backup regardless of the elapsed days.
| e.g.#1 : __ to __ days | ...Including all files
|
| e.g.#2 : __ to _7 days | ...Including files which elapsed less than 7 days
|
| e.g.#3 : _3 to __ days | ...Including files which elapsed 3 days
|
| e.g.#4 : 30 to 60 days | ...Including files which elapsed 30 to 60 days ago
|
Including Files
Specifies backup target files. Use semicolon (;) to separate multiple files.
You can use wildcard direction based on MS-DOS and Windows style such as "*" or "?" characters.
e.g.#1 : *.*
e.g.#2 : *.c??;*.bas;*.src;*.doc;*.txt
e.g.#3 : readme.doc;test?.???
Excluding Files
Specifies unbackup files. Use semicolon (;) to separate multiple files.
If blank here, means there is no excluding file.
You can use wildcard direction based on MS-DOS and Windows style such as "*" or "?" characters.
e.g.#1 : *.BAK
e.g.#2 : *.$$$;~*.*;$*.*;*.$*
Excluding Folders
Specifies excluded backup folders. Use semicolon (;) to separate multiple files.
You have to designate only folder name (e.g. temp) here, not full-path (e.g. c:\temp). Therefore, NuBak cannot distinguish if there are same named folders in different place...
Sub-folders in this excluding folders are included.
If blank here, means there is no excluding folder.
You can use wildcard direction based on MS-DOS and Windows style such as "*" or "?" characters.
e.g.#1 : system;command
e.g.#2 : $*.*
e.g.#3 : tmp.~$*;debug;temp
Old Backup Files
Specifies how to handle old backup files. The old backup file means the file exists only in the backup folder. Such files are made by deleted some file in backup source folders.
Choose None,Warning,Delete or Move from the Combo-box.
These mean:
| None: | ...Nothing to do
|
| Warning: | ...Only warning message
|
| Delete: | ...Delete old files
|
| Move to: | ...Move old files to designated place that is designated in the text-box below.
|
If choose "Move to", you have to designate a transferred place. This designation corresponds to environment-variable. (e.g. %TEMP%\OLDDEL)
Not only old backup files but also old backup folders are moved to the "Move to" place. If existed same file name or same folder name even if it was in different place, the moved files/folders will be overwritten.
Special Backup To
Specifies special backup place. If you need to specify a unique backup place for current selected source folder, designate the place here as well as "Backup To" designation of General Configuration.
Maximum Generations
Specifies generation backup. This generation means that how many older backup files do you want to keep.
If an edit-box shown left side is "0", means no generation. In this case, older files are overwritten.
"1" means only 1 generation. Older files are renamed. The rename method is just add ".$" with generation number to the tail of the file. For instance, if updated TEST.TXT file in your backup source folder, older TEST.TXT in your backup folder is renamed to TEST.TXT.$1
The generation number is shifted to older number and the most older generation file is automatically deleted when backed up.
This value is valid from 0 (means no generation) to 99 (means 99 generations).
An edit-box shown right side (> [180] sec) specifies a least file time different to make generation.
If there is "180", the generation backup is ignored (just overwritten to backup files) as long as the source file is updated within 180 seconds.
This value is valid from 0 (means none) to 30000 (means 8 hour 20 min).
No Create Same-Date Generations
If checked here, the generation backup is ignored (just overwritten to backup files) as long as the source file is updated within the same day.
This check is ignored when Maximum Generations is set 0.
Interval Backup
If checked here, NuBak processes interval backup automatically even if there is no event in the designated backup source folder.
The interval time is designated in the edit-box right.
This value is valid from 1 (means 1 minute) to 1440 (means 24 hours).
Disable Real-Time File Detection
If checked here, NuBak doesn't detect any event in the designated backup source folder.
This check is useful for Interval Backup as mentioned above.
Scan All Files process does backup even if checked this.
Done Execution
Specifies execution program file name and start options.
When backup has been completed, the program is executed.
An edit-box left is execution program file name, and an edit-box right is start options for the execution program.
If the program file name is blank, no program is executed.
e.g.#1 : [notepad.exe]
e.g.#2 : [notepad.exe] [c:\autoexec.bat]
Backup - Edit Configuration File
Edits current configuration information file by Windows Notepad editor.
Usually you don't need to use this function but this function may be convenient to anti-GUI users :-)
Backup - Scan All Files
Does backup all designated backup source folders.
You can use /sa start option to make sure the backup.
Backup - Delete All Generation Files
Deletes all generation files.
Currently this function is not complete because NuBak program cuts corners the internal process... It may delete not only generation files but also similar named normal files rarely.
Therefore, you have to carefully run this function, and you should not run this function simplistic.
Prior to run this function to confirm what files are deleted, you can try this function. When confirmation dialog box appeared, choose [Yes] button with pressing [Shift] key. You will see a lot of errors, but it is correct display because this is a test and actually these files are not deleted.
Backup - Backup Abort
Aborts all backup process.
This menu is available while doing backup.
Backup - Backup Pause
Pauses all backup process.
This menu is available while doing backup.
Backup - Backup Hold
Holds all backup process.
Backup - Backup Off
Disables all backup process.
Backup - Exit
Exits the NuBak.
View
View - Toolbar
Switches tool-bar states on and off.
View - Status Bar
Switches status-bar states on and off.
View - Selected File Property
Shows property dialog box for the selected file.
If there is any selected file, the property dialog box will be appeared as follows.
In addition, you can click on any displayed file on Report or Error/Warning window as well as selecting this menu (View - Selected File Property) to see the property dialog box.
View - Font
Changes display font.
This designation is available for Report/Error window and General/File Configuration dialog box.
View - All Display OFF
Disables Report,Error and Warning display information. This also disables to output log file.
Help
Help - USERS MANUAL
Shows NuBak users manual. (It must be this that you reading now)
You need some browser software such as Netscape Navigator or Internet Explorer to see the users manual.
Help - About NuBak...
Shows the NuBak version information and registration dialog box.
NuBak Start Options
/i<ConfigFileName.NBK>
(e.g. NuBak.EXE /iMyConfig.NBK)
You can designate a unique configuration file using this option to run or to switch multiple NuBak configurations.
NuBak generates the default configuration file. But as for how to generate the unique configuration file for this /i option, is as follows. (Sorry, it must be a little complicated...)
- Copy the default configuration file (NuBak.NBK) to another file name such as MyConfig.NBK in the same folder. Most easy way to do that is using Edit Configuration File menu to open the configuration file by notepad editor and you can copy this file to choose File - Save As menu in the notepad editor.
These must be in a Windows folder such as C:\Windows. In detail, %windir% of an environment variable represents the place. So, you can see the content using "set" command using MS-DOS (or Command) prompt.
- You can use the unique configuration file using this /i option.
Please edit the NuBak shortcut (icon) property using mouse's right-click on the NuBak shortcut.
NOTE that this option will be available only registered users, in the future.
/sa
Executes Scan All Files once when the NuBak has just started.
/q
Exits the NuBak has just done the startup process.
This option is good to use with /sa option if you like to exit the NuBak after backup all.
/p
Disables to control process priority of the NuBak.
If you don't use this option, the NuBak occasionally controls the process priority to lowest or normal. The NuBak is being a lowest process priority is good for other applications because the NuBak doesn't interfere to other applications. But one of bad thing is the NuBak runs so slower. You may feel the NuBak is too slow...
If the NuBak process priority control is disabled using this option, the NuBak can runs so faster. Recommend you to use this option when your PC has enough performance, or you're using a Windows NT operating system which controls multitasking so smoothly.
/nbc
Inhibits to check a folder existence in your designated backup drive.
Usually NuBak checks your designated backup folder, and alert by dialog box if NuBak couldn't detect the backup folder.
If you're using this option, the NuBak never alerts.
/cp
Inhibits a quit confirmation dialog box when the NuBak exits.
Registration
NTuS Realtime Backup (NuBak) is a shareware.
![[PsL]](ccard.gif)
Please register via online!
You will find three links for each product:
- Secure Order Link:
Use this link for fastest service and secure ordering. Note that your browser must support secure transactions.
- Primary Order Link:
Try this link if your browser does not support secure transactions
- Secondary Order Link:
If the primary site is down or too busy, try this one
These links are for placing credit card orders only.
If you have any questions or comments, if you do not receive the REGISTRATION KEY after having placed an order, please contact me, the author, directly at CXK00752@nifty.ne.jp and do NOT call PsL. They cannot help you out. They just inform me that you called.
A frequent problem with Internet orders is that the email address I receive to send the order to is wrong. To reduce this risk, send me an email message after placing your order mentioning your email address in the mail body.
Also note that it can take several days (up to a week if you have bad luck) before you actually receive the registered product. Please take this into account if you are on a deadline. Screaming that you need it fast will not make the order get processed any faster.
* Price
Single Copy US$29 each
Site License US$29 each ( 2 to 9 users)
Site License US$25 each ( 10 to 99 users)
Site License US$20 each (100 to 999 users)
Site License US$10 each (more than 1000 users)
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Version History
95-10-08 V0.10 (Test-Release 1)
95-10-11 V0.20 (Test-Release 2)
95-10-15 V0.30 (Test-Release 3)
95-12-03 V0.40 (Test-Release 4)
95-12-08 V0.50 (Test-Release 5)
95-12-11 V0.60 (Test-Release 6)
95-12-14 V0.70 (Test-Release 7)
95-12-18 V0.80 (Test-Release 8)
95-12-22 V0.90 (Test-Release 9)
96-01-10 V0.99 (Final Test-Release)
96-01-21 V1.00
96-02-04 V1.09
96-02-06 V1.10 Beta 1
96-02-08 V1.10
96-02-13 V1.15
96-02-16 V1.19
96-02-24 V1.20
96-03-17 V1.30
96-04-07 V1.32
96-05-05 V1.40
96-05-23 V1.41
96-05-27 V1.42
96-08-14 V1.43
97-03-02 V1.50
97-03-04 V1.60
97-03-09 V1.70
97-11-30 V1.80 Beta (unpublicity)
97-11-30 V2.00 Beta Begin to develop
97-12-13 V2.00 Beta 1
97-12-18 V2.00 Beta 2
97-12-21 V2.00 Beta 3
97-12-24 V2.00
97-12-25 V2.01
97-12-26 V2.02
98-03-03 V2.10
98-03-08 V2.11
- First public English version is released
98-03-14 V2.20
- Fixed wild-card direction bug in excluding condition
- Display 3 states in task tray; Normal/BackupOff/BackupHold
- Add [Font] button in General Configuration dialog
- Others (Backup OFF tool-bar, Message, Manual, etc.,)
98-03-21 V2.22
- Creates new folder automatically for "Old backup files - Move to" process
- Others (Manual, Message, etc.,)
98-03-22 V2.23
- Fixed bug: Illegible report message when created new folder
98-03-28 V3.00 Beta1
- Improved main window and message classification
- Change log file structure (tab separated text)
- Optimize process priority switching algorithm
- Fixed: Screen-saver was not executed on many of Win95 PCs
- Improved task tray and tool bar display
- Others (Manual, Display lines, Internal process, etc.,)
98-03-30 V3.00 Beta 2
- Implemented "Property" dialog for displayed files.
It features showing file property such as file size,time and attributes
and opening file,folder or explorer for the selected files.
(You can use this function just clicking on a displayed file name)
- If not set up, help message box is appeared.
- Change "test mode" key operation: Shift --> Shift+Ctrl+Alt.
- Fixed bug: On NT4.0 and using /q option, an icon in task tray was not disappeared.
- Change internal process of /q option.
- Others (Manual, Message, Log lines, Reinforced internal verification, etc.,)
98-03-31 V3.00 Beta 3
- Fixed bug: NuBak rarely copied different source files.
- NuBak writes error and warning dialog messages to the display and log file.
- Scan All Files: Includes error reported setting to really scan all files.
- Cope with to avoid ~Page fault" error dialog on exiting Windows.
(So far I couldn't check this work because I've rarely seen the error...)
- Fixed bug: Process of "Disable Real-Time File Detection".
- Others (Manual, Message, etc.,)
98-04-01 V3.00
- Top most dialog is appeared in processing backup.
- Resume previous window focus after a "Not existed backup folder" dialog box is appeared.
- Show dialog state in task tray if the dialog is appeared while backup.
- Show confirmation dialog on exiting Windows
- Others (Manual, Message, Dialog box, etc.,)
98-04-03 V3.04
- Fixed bug: Message of backup place at startup was always displayed as common backup place.
- NuBak default font is changed to Arial 9pt. (only English version)
- Improved "Property" dialog.
- Others (Manual, Abolish task tray state display of dialog, etc.,)
Other Information
A Dialog Box Will Be Appeared Every 30 Minutes When You Are Not Registered
While appearing this dialog box, the backup process is holding.
This dialog box control is unlocked when you are a registered user and enter the registration key (password).
The Structure of the Backup Folder
The following figure is a typical structure of the backup folder.
As you see, special point is that the drive-letter named folder is inserted. You can inhibit this folder generation to check No Create Drive-Letter Named Folders item in General Configuration dialog.
D:\Backup
|
+------ C ...(C: drive)
| |
| +------ Windows
| | |
| | +------ System
| | |
| | :
| |
| +------ My Documents
| |
| :
|
+------ D ...(D: drive)
| :
|
+------ PCLAN ...(UNC named network path)
| |
| +------ D
| | |
| | +------ Data
: : :
Can Execute Different NuBak
You can execute multiple different configured NuBak to use /i start option.
Test Mode While You Pressing Shift+Ctrl+Alt Keys
NuBak assumes test mode when the NuBak is activated and pressed Shift,Ctrl and Alt keys.
On the test mode, the NuBak file processing will be asserted ERROR because the NuBak didn't process the file operation due to the test mode.
This function is just for a developer test. This operation is not assured.
Support and Questions
To check whether you have the most recent version of NuBak, Please check our home page at http://www.vector.co.jp/authors/VA005025/index_e.htm or send email to CXK00752@nifty.ne.jp.
Tested Environment
- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 [JP] (Build 1381, Service Pack 1)
(IBM-PC Compatible, Intel Pentium II 266MHz, 128MB Memory...)
- Microsoft Windows 98 [JP] (Beta3)
- Microsoft Windows 95 [JP] (Version 4.00.950B)
- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.51 [JP] (Build 1057, Service Pack 3)
- Microsoft Windows 95 [US]
- Microsoft Windows 98 [US] (Beta3)
* Not supported on Windows 3.1 + Win32s
* Not supported on Windows NT 3.1
1. and 2. as mentioned above is a primary development environment.
Development language is C++ with MFC, Microsoft Visual C++ 5.0, presently.
NT MicroSystems, Tomoki NOGUCHI (CXK00752@nifty.ne.jp)
http://www.vector.co.jp/authors/VA005025/index_e.htm