Zback user's guide
portable backup and synchronize tool for Windows 9x, XP, Vista, Win7.

(c) by Davor Zorc, Zagreb, Croatia , 2001.-2010.

Freeware for personal use.   davor.zorc@fsb.hr

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 (cca 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. Backup works in incremental mode (only files changed since last backup are updated).
After setting backup location, use Update mode to backup files. Use restore mode to copy back previous backup from target to source. 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. Before using it it is good to Set default backup drive/ directory in Options tab - this way you will not need to set backup location each time. It will Backup or Restore all files including subdirectories (if Include Subdirs option is checked). Option Include Source Path is used to backup files on the same path as source path (for ex. if Source path is C:\Dev\zback actual backup directory will be D:\Backup\c(#)\Dev\zback). When to-do list is done, click [Execute] button.

Using Simple Synchro is used to synchronize directories, for example directories on hard drive with ones on the USB stick. When done, both directories will contain latest versions of all files. It will include subdirectories (if Include Subdirs 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:

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

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

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 starting 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 a [New] one and then you have two options:

Each line in batch file (command script) represent one job. It specifies source and target paths and mode of operation:


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 (Backup) (= 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 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])
f= include only given directories and its subdirs (f=[Work,My Pictures])
g= exclude some directories and its subdirs (g=[Windows,Temp])
p= exclude subdirectories that do not exist on Target
q= include only new dirs - not existing on Target
v= when updating keep old versions of target files (old file will be renamed)
x= delete source files after copy (caution!)

Special codes to use in batch command 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
\=  shortcut for Source Dir name:
   c:\beta\toto > d:\back\=
   will do:
   c:\beta\toto > d:\back\toto 
\== shortcut for Source Path:
   c:\beta\toto > d:\back\==
   will do:
   c:\beta\toto > d:\back\beta\toto 
\=== is shortcut for Source Drive + Source Path
%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 ##

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

second character in To-do list means:
- = copy (new file or directory)
  = copy (refresh existing file)
@ = copy (refresh existing file and keep old version)
* = 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

PROGRAM OPTIONS

TIPS AND TRICKS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

LEGAL

DOWNLOAD

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

CONTACT

I tried to make program that is simple to use but still able to perform many useful functions. Enjoy!

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: 16.12.2010