Personal Backup Version 5.2
© 2012, J. Rathlev, IEAP, Kiel University

Main menu structure

Backup task
New - Create new backup task
Open .. - Open saved task stored on disk
Save - Save a modified task
Save as .. - Save task under new name
Import .. - Import directories to be backed up from saved task
Export .. - Save as a new task an individual directory from an opened task
Recently-opened tasks .. - List of recently-opened tasks to facilitate reopening
Quit - Exit or minimize program
Actions
Start backup .. - Start the current backup task
Add directory to task .. - Select a directory to be backed up and add to task
Verify backup
Open dialog .. - Configure and carry out verification of files
Load task .. - Load saved task and open Verify dialog
Restore
Open dialog .. - Configure and carry out a restore of files
Load task .. - Load saved task and open Restore dialog
Cleanup
Open dialog .. - Configure and carry out Cleanup
Load task .. - Load saved task and open Cleanup dialog
Create desktop shortcut .. - Create a shortcut to the currently-opened backup task on the computer desktop. Double-clicking this shortcut will immediately start the backup.
Log
View - Display and optionally print the log file
Delete - Delete log file
View other .. - Select and display any log file
Update view (Function key F5) - Update the view of the selected directories
Tools
Scheduled Tasks
Add current backup task - Configure Windows Task Scheduler to perform the currently-loaded backup
Edit scheduled task - Select a backup task performed by Windows Task Scheduler and edit the schedule.
Configure backup schedules - Launch the supplementary program PbPlaner, to configure alternating backup schedules using Windows Task Scheduler.
Restore single files - Launch the supplementary program PbRestore to select single files from backup (even when compressed and encrypted) for restore to any location. You can copy this supplementary program onto a USB stick to restore files in emergency without installing Personal Backup in its entirety.
Preferences
Compress ..
File types not to be compressed .. - File types that are already compressed, such as Zip files or OpenOffice documents, should just be copied.
Set file types to default values .. - The following types are by default excluded from compression: zip, zipx, gz, 7z, arj, pdf, jpg, gif, png, odt, ott, ods, ots, odg, odp, otp, docx, pptx, xlsx, mp3.
Copy options
Copy buffer .. - The program uses an internal buffer when copying or compressing files. The size of this buffer is adjustable in multiples of 1 kB. Here you can set your default value for new tasks (256 kB for Windows, 64 kB for FTP).
You can change this value for each backup task individually.
Security copies .. - Change the filename suffix (an identifier, default bak, placed before the extension) for backup copies of files at the destination
View
Show automatic task - After clicking one of the task buttons 1 through 8 the selected task is shown in the main window.
Wait time after auto backup - After an automatic backup, the status window is shown for a short time. This time can be set here.
Window
Default size - Change the size of the window to the default values
Default position - Set the window to the upper left corner
Reduced height - Change the height of the window to a value that fits smaller screens
Narrow - Toggle between normal and narrow window (without toolbar and start options)
Show tooltips - Show or hide the additional tooltips when moving the mouse over the program desktop
Printer
Selection .. - Select the printer for printing the log
Page settings .. - Set the page margins for printing the log
Font .. - Set the font for printing the log
Log file
Settings - Preferences for logging Backups, Restores and Cleanups
Directory
Application data - (default)
Select .. - The user can select a preferred directory for the log
Program start
Without splash screen - Enable or disable the splash screen showing the version of the program (see command line option /hide)
Delay .. - The time the program waits on automatic start (see automatic backup) can be adjusted between 10 s (default) und 5 min. If there is an automatic backup to be performed on logon, this will start after the given delay.
Scan directories .. - When selected, causes the directories of the backup task to be scanned on program start
Check for updates - On program start, a connection to the Internet will be established to check if a program update is available (default: enabled).
Use proxy for updates - Configure a proxy server for program updates.
Shutdown - Action after backup on logoff:
and power off - After backup, the computer will be switched off on all current Windows systems.
and restart - After backup, the computer will be restarted.
Task directory .. - Select the directory where tasks are to be stored (default: My Documents\PersBackup).
Ini directory - Location of the file PersBackup.ini where all the basic settings of the program, including automatic tasks, are stored (see also).
Default - C:\Users\<name>\AddData\Roaming\PersBackup
Select .. - Any user-selectable folder.
Password length .. - Minimum length of password for encrypted backups
Language
Default - Use the system default language
English
German
Help
Overview - Brief summary
Desktop - Show this help file
License - User license
Version - Version info
Changelog - Information on version history
References - Information on components used from other authors
Check for update .. - A connection to the Internet will be established to check if a new update is available (details).
Homepage - Homepage of Personal Backup
Donate - Make a donation to Personal Backup

Context menus

A right-click on certain areas of the desktop opens one of the following context menus.

Area "Task"

Save task - Save current task to disk
Save task as .. - Save current task to disk as new file
Start backup .. - Start current backup task immediately
Create desktop shortcut .. - Create a desktop shortcut for starting the currently-open backup task
Log settings .. - Settings for the backup log

Area "Destination directory"

Cut selected text - The marked text in the destination field will be copied to the clipboard and then deleted.
Copy selected text - The marked text in the destination field will be copied to the clipboard.
Paste from clipboard - Text from the clipboard will be inserted into the destination field.
Delete selected text - The marked text in the destination field will be deleted.
Clear selected list item - The selected destination directory will be removed from the internal list of recently-used directories.
Clear whole list - The internal list of recently-used directories will be deleted entirely.

Area "Directories to be backed up"

Show all selected files - Show all files that are selected for backup using the current filter settings
Show all excluded files - Show all files that are excluded from backup using the current filter settings
Show all files to be backed up - This item is only available when using the archive bit for selection. All files with this bit set are displayed.
Show all files not to be backed up - This item is only available when using the archive bit for selection. All files with this bit not set are displayed.
Rescan all directories - All directories to be backed up will be scanned to update all views.

Area "Subdirectories"

Show files of subdirectory - All files located in the selected subdirectory will be displayed. This is very useful for checking whether there are any files that should or should not be backed up.
Show all selected files - Show all files that are are selected for backup using the current filter settings
Show all excluded files - Show all files that are excluded from backup using the current filter settings

Area "Directory selection"

Add to task -The selected directory will be added to the backup task.
Update - Update directory tree.

Notes for experienced users

Where to find the ini file (program settings) and the log file

All program settings including the configuration of automatic backup tasks are saved in an ini file (Persbackup.ini). This is a text file and can be read with any text editor. Editing this file is, however, not recommended.
The ini file and the standard log file (Persbackup.log) are located in the user's application data directory. You will find this at the following locations:

Note: By default this directory is hidden. To make it visible, change the Windows Explorer setting via Tools ⇒ Folder Options ⇒ View ⇒ Show hidden files and folders.

Starting the program from a USB flash drive

It is possible to configure Personal Backup in such a way that it can be started from a USB stick or drive without leaving traces on the host PC. Copy all files from the program directory (usually C:\Program Files\Personal Backup x) or the downloadable zip file to a directory on the USB drive (e.g. K:\PersBack).
When starting the program from there all settings (Ini file) and the log file are not stored at their usual location (AppData) but in the program directory on the USB drive.

J. Rathlev, Kiel, Germany, November 2011