PURPOSE
1) Synchronize directories for routine backup, for example between hard drive and USB drive or synchronize two computers via USB drive.

2) General purpose backup and restore utility to save changes in work directories

FEATURES
- portable - no installation needed - just unzip to any directory on a fixed or removable drive (for example c:\zback)
- works from USB stick, does not write to the registry
- copy modes: update files, mirror source to target, synchronize, dated backup and restore
- filter files based on extension, size, date, subdirectories
- preview and execute operation
- save backup scripts for routine backups
- simple, manual, batch or command line operation
- small size (200 kB)
- personal freeware
 

HOW TO USE

Manual backup is used for one time backup, while Batch backup is used for routine backups. In manual backup you may set all the options and then click [Add to Batch] button to add it to batch command list. Batch commands are DOS like command lines which can be saved in textual files (*.BAL) for further use. You can have many jobs in a single batch script file.

For general backup use, it is good to go to Options and click [Set default backup drive] to choose target location, for example D:\BACKUP. Good backup location is on another physical drive in the system or USB attached drive or USB stick.
After setting backup location, use Update mode to backup files. Use restore mode to copy back previous backup from target to source. Or, simply swap left-right directories using [<>] button and then use Copy all or Mirror mode (mirror mode will erase surplus files and directories from the source too). Restore will overwrite newer files in the source directory and you will have situation like in the moment of last backup.

Using Simple backup is like using Manual backup with default settings. It will Backup, Mirror, Synchronize or Restore all files including subdirectories (if this option is checked). When to-do list is done, click [Execute] button.

In Manual backup you first set Source and Target directory, for example  c:\work and d:\backup\work. You can create Target directory using [MkDir] button. It is useful to think in advance of backup directory structure and naming strategy and how often you want to backup your data.

Then set copy mode:

• update (backup) - it will copy new files from source to target directory and update to new versions of existing files. This is default mode, good for backup files to other disk, external USB drive or a stick
• mirror source to target - target directory will be identical as source (it adds new files to target, updates existing, deletes surplus files and directories from target, overwrites target files even if newer then source). Use this mode only if you are sure that target files may be discarded.
• copy all - copies all source files to target directory regardless of which is newer
• synchronize <> - update bidirectionally (from Source to Target and vice versa). This mode is good for synchronizing home and office computer directories using USB stick.
• erase source - erases files from source directory, no copy (useful for erasing temporary files)
• backup [date] - copy all files to unique dated target directory (for example to D:\Backup\[2009-12-15_9-37-31]\). This mode is good for making chronological backups.
• restore < - restore files from Target to Source. It is used to restore files from backup location back to Source.

When choosing mode, watch statusbar for additional info about modes.

You can choose to copy all files or use several filters:

• include only specific file type (for example: *.doc,*.txt)
• exclude specific file types or specific fiile(s) (for example: *.exe,*.tmp,test.bal)
• include only between file dates
• include based on file size
• include only new files (not existing on Target)
• include only files existing on Target (refresh)
• include files in subdirectories
• exclude subdirectories that do not exist on Target

After making above settings, click on [Make List] to get preview in the to-do list of what files will be copied/ deleted.
On the to-do list you can click on [>>] icons or use right-click for menu of actions. This way you can uncheck lines that you do not want to be executed or you can change copy direction or do other actions. Look at statusbar to see what is the particular meaning of clicked to-do line.
Clicking on [>>] icon in to-do list directory label line (line staring with =[), you can Enable/ Disable/ Reverse all files in the stated directory.
Please note that multiple lines may be selected in to-do list.

When you are satisfied with the list, click [Execute List] to start copy files.

In Batch backup you [Load] batch file(s) or create new one and then you have two options:

• use [Make Batch List] and then [Execute Batch List], or
• use [Batch Run] to execute immediately command lines one by one (this is one-click operation but you do not get preview).

Batch backup line format:

   SourcePath\Mask  > TargetPath  [/mode[options]]

# This is example batch command script for routine backups (*.bal)
c:\work\*.*  >  d:\backup\work  /us   #(backup current work to D:)
c:\work\*.*  >  f:\work  /ms          #(make mirror on stick F:)

Mode:
u= Update (= Refresh existing files+ add New files) (default mode!)
m= Mirror source to target (= Refresh + New + Erase surplus Target files)
c= Copy all files from Source to Target regardless of which is newer
U= Update bidirectional (Sync. from Source to Target and vice versa)
e= Erase Source files (for example: c:\work\*.tmp > (nul) /es)
d= Backup - copy all files to unique TargetDir\[Date_Time] directory
o= Restore files from Target to Source

Options:
s= recourse subdirectories too
n= copy only new files (non existing on Target)
r= copy files existing on Target only (refresh)
y= ask before processing batch line
t= filter source files based on file date (t=[dd.mm.yyyy-dd.mm.yyyy])
z= filter source files based on size (kB) (z=[11-22])
k= exclude source files with extension(s) (k=[*.bac,*.tmp])
p= skip updating subdirectory which does not already exists on Target
x= delete source files after copy (caution!)

Special codes in batch lines:
?=k = define ?: drive to be drive k: for whole batch (or until next ?=)
?:  = prompt user to specify drive (? is wildcard for drive letter)
%:  = drive where Zback.exe is located
%mydocs% = "My Documents" directory (example: %mydocs%\*.* > d:\backup\my /us)
%progfiles% = "Program files" directory (usually C:\Program files)
%backup% = Default backup drive+ directory (as set in Options)
<=> = reverse copy direction for whole batch
#   = comment line
##  = stop processing batch list after line starting with ##

To-do line prefixes (first character):
[ = create directory
+ = copy file
* = delete file
$ = delete surplus directory on target
= = directory label line
# = comment line

second character:
- = copy (new file or directory)
  = copy (refresh existing file)
* = copy (overwrite newer file!)
= = copy (overwrite identical file)
^ = copy (same date but different size)
" = copy (same date but different content)
! = delete (source file)
>, < = executed copy, erase or make directory

Command line operation

• you can start Zback with parameters. Do this using Windows Start menu/ Run or using console window or using BAT file.
• you can specify batch command line as parameter1 (for example: Zback.exe  "C:\totto\*.* > D:\Backup /us").
• you can specify BAL file as command line parameter1, and then you can also set parameter2:
• if you set command line parameter2 to:
   /l it will auto-start [Make B List] (for example: Zback.exe  mybackup.bal  /l),
   /r it will auto-start [Batch Run],
   /R it will minimize Zback, auto-start [Batch Run], then close Zback (quiet run). It is good for making automatic backups using Windows Scheduled tasks.

PROGRAM OPTIONS

• Compare files by content - if file names, dates and sizes are equal, you will get warning if content is different (this option will do [Make List] much slower!)
• Copy file attributes - target attributes will be equal as source, un-check it if you want to remove target read-only, hidden or system attributes.
• Del. non empty dirs-mirror - it should be checked if target should be exact copy of source.
• Set NT Creation dates - Set target files Creation dates on Windows NT or higher
• Make Report - after execution you get listing of all operations.
• Make empty dirs too - copy empty directories from source to target too.
• List  system+hidden too - those files are invisible if not checked this option. if checked they can be copied or deleted (caution!).
• Substitute Special dirs - when clicking [Add to Batch] special directories will be substituted by their code (d:\backup to %backup%, etc.).
• Hide Simple backup - if checked, Simple backup tab will not show.
• Save batch last exec date - remember last date and copy size when batch list is executed. This information is shown later in Zback caption. You also get it listed at startup. For repetitive backups, use context menu on a batch file list to set due interval in days- this way you will be reminded if you did not do this backup on time.
• Ignore NTFS Daylight time - you can ignore NTFS 1 hour delay on NTFS drives that might affect file date compare.
• Set Default Backup Drive - default directory name for backup files is \BACKUP. You can enter %:\backup to use (portable) drive where Zback is located.
• Font - set another font for to-do list, batch commands and report.
• Save Options - save all above options to INI file.
• User's Guide [F1] - opens this file.

TIPS AND TRICKS

• Zback.BAL file is automatically loaded at startup, if it exists
• BAL files may also be located in MAINTAIN subdirectory
• it is useful to associate BAL files to open with Zback.exe. Then put shortcut to BAL file(s) on the desktop to easy access routine backups.
• you can [Load..] multiple batch files at once (they will be appended)
• deleted files can be restored from Recycle bin
• note that using Batch Run instead of List + Execute you might get different results because files on disk change as a result of previous batch line(s) execution.
• Using special directory codes %mydocs%, %progfiles% and %backup% enables synchronization between computers with different Windows versions or different user names, without having to adjust/ change batch list (Auto inserted if enabled option [x] Substitute Special dirs).
• Simple backup creates one line batch command and executes it. After execution you can click Batch tab and save this command for later use.
• To restore default options, delete Zback.ini file and restart Zback
• Please note that manual tweaks in to-do list are not reflected in batch command line (if you click [Add to Batch])
• if you want to abort current operation, press Esc key

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

• my thanks to Bill Pratt for many useful suggestions and beta testing.
• thanks to various authors of code examples for sharing their code.

LEGAL

• This program is PERSONAL FREEWARE but requires payment to the author if used for commercial work or used in for-profit or government organization. Commercial use requires written license by the author.
• The author holds (c) for program concept, look and feel, functionality and actual implementation. It is prohibited to copy, emulate, clone, rent, lease, sell, modify, decompile, disassemble, otherwise reverse engineer, or transfer the licensed program, or any subset of the licensed program, except as provided for in this agreement. 
• Distribution of original package is allowed if it is free and if author name is mentioned.
• Mentioned hardware and software products are (c) of their producers.
• "Zback" IS DISTRIBUTED "AS IS". NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND IS EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED. YOU USE IT AT YOUR OWN RISK. THE AUTHOR WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR DATA LOSS, DAMAGES, LOSS OF PROFITS OR ANY OTHER KIND OF LOSS WHILE USING OR MISUSING THIS SOFTWARE.

DOWNLOAD

Go to Zback homepage  http://www.fsb.hr/~dzorc/zback.html  and then Download the latest version.

CONTACT

Suggestions, comments and bug reports are welcome. Please write me what Windows version you use and be sure to have latest Zback version.

Author Homepage:  http://www.fsb.hr/~dzorc/index.html   E-mail: davor.zorc@fsb.hr

Last update: 03.05.2010