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VBACK V1.0


DISCLAIMER

I or any other contributors allow you to use and modify freely under the condition that I or other contributors are in no way responsible for any damage or loss you may suffer.

WHAT'S NEW

HISTORY

History
17/06/02V1.0 Initial version (gjarvis@ieee.org)

DOCUMENTATION

VBACK is a REXX script used to intelligently back up small files when necessary in a consistent manner.

The backups are kept in a directory vback where file resides to avoid cluttering your directory. The backed file has same name including the extension plus a three digit extension for unambiguous naming.

If file date or time has changed for file and vback\file.nnn where nnn is the last number from a previous vback call then it is backed up to next number.

If there is no vback\file.nnn or no directory vback then is file is backed up to vback\file.000.

Backing up file with {date & time} to vback\*.nnn else nothing is displayed.

An optional message can be specified to replace the phrase Backing up.

In practice it is wiser to pre-vback, run update program, and then post-vback. Let vback decide whether actual backups are necessary.

Command Line Syntax

Command Line Syntax
VBACK file [msg]
VBACK
Parameter Description
file name of file
msg optional message to use
Note:
  • if no parameters the usage is printed
  • calling from another REXX script requires a CALL prefix

Examples:

call VBACK 'config.sys'

If date has changed for file config.sys and vback\config.sys.nnn where nnn is the last number from a previous vback call then it is backed up to next number. If there is no vback\config.sys.nnn then is file is backed to vback\config.sys.000. For backups a message appears in the form: Backing up config.sys with 11/23/02 10:52p to vback\*.005

call VBACK 'C:\ibmlan\ibmlan.ini', 'backing existing'

Similar to the above but files are C:\ibmlan\ibmlan.ini and C:\ibmlan\vback\ibmlan.ini.nnn and the optional message is backing existing. For backups a message appears in the form: backing existing C:\ibmlan\ibmlan.ini with 11/23/02 10:58p to vback\*.002