Backup Help File

This is the Help "file" for the Python Application whose main page is: Python Backup Program

Help file for backup application.

Application Features

• Highly configurable.
• Only copies new and updated files.
• Produces detailed and summary logs.
• Once set up runs an update with a couple of clicks.
• Recurse down a directory structure ( how far is configurable ).
• Can select files with "file filters" For example only *.png and *.gif files.
• GUI shows activity.
• Can pause.
• Can set to throttle the backup so it does not degrade computer performance.
• Directory structure, file names, file format preserved in backup.
• Backup files may be inspected without need for a restore.
• Can be set to simulate mode where you can see ( via the log files ) what would have been copied.

Download and Install

There is really no install program. Currently the application is intended for those who have at least a little familiarity with Python coding and can just insert the downloaded code into their development environment and run it. Code not yet available.

How To:...

General

• Setup for backup of a directory. See section below.

• Edit the parameter file: Use your development environment for Python or a text editor to edit parameters.py. See also: The section below, Configuration Files For Python. Normally I have a button on the GUI for this, but this function does not seem so useful for this application
• View the log: Use the application button ( after configuring for your editor ) or any text editor on the file smart_plug.py_log. This is the default file name, it can be changed in parameters.py.

• Install: see section above.

• Debug: see section below.

• Quick Restart of the application: Not in this app, just shutdown and restart.
• Use your preferred text editor. In the parameter file, see below.

How to Use the Parameter File

See: Configuration Files For Python

Editing of the parameters.py file

• • See above in Download and Install
• Enable your favorite editor to work with the application.
  • self.ex_editor = r"D:\apps\Notepad++\notepad++.exe" # use r" or the backslashes will not work, or you can use forward slashes instead they may be wrong but they work.
• Lots of other settings:
  • Read the comments in parameters.py and change as desired. If a setting does not work let me know.
• If you mess up.
  • Re download and get back to the original parameter file.

The GUI

see: Backup GUI Images

Debugging

There are several application outputs that may be useful for debugging.

• Watch the GUI
• Check the Python console.
• Look at the python log file ( use the GUI button <Edit Log> ( specify your editor in parameters.py first ) or use your editor on the default name of the log file ...\smart_plug\smart_plug.py_log.

Most issues will probably be missing libraries, parameters.py issues, or just bugs in my code (email me ).

Links

• Python Backup Program main page for this project

• Click on category page for this project ( Python Backup ) below.
• Click on What links here on the left of this page