NTBackup - save files based on dates relative to system date

Hi,

I have a folder on a drive where I copy twice-daily versions of a software
project. So each day I have two copies of the project.

Now I would like to store to tape the most recent versions of the project.
So in fact my selection would be based on a date relative to the system
date.
Example : all the copies made in the last two months.

I would like to do this on a daily basis with a scheduled task using
unattended NTBackup with a bks fileset.
Is there a way - in the bks file - to specify a selection based on dates ?
Or is there another way to specify a certain number of the most recent files
?

TIA

Alex

"Alex Lawnmower" <> wrote in message
news:43f1a890$0$18312$...
> Hi,
>
> I have a folder on a drive where I copy twice-daily versions of a software
> project. So each day I have two copies of the project.
>
> Now I would like to store to tape the most recent versions of the project.
> So in fact my selection would be based on a date relative to the system
> date.
> Example : all the copies made in the last two months.
>
> I would like to do this on a daily basis with a scheduled task using
> unattended NTBackup with a bks fileset.
> Is there a way - in the bks file - to specify a selection based on dates ?
> Or is there another way to specify a certain number of the most recent
files
> ?
>
> TIA
>
> Alex

Use xxcopy.exe (downloadable from various sites) or robocopy.exe
(Windows Resource Kit) to perform this three-step operation:
1. Copy all files made in the last two months to a holding area.
2. Back up the holding area to tape.
3. Delete the files from the holding area.

Thanks.
I understand the technique but it is not feasible because I don't have
enough space on my disk to create such a large holding area.
(I'm backing up programme sources plus data).

I was thinking of using vbscript to create the bks file on the fly just
before the backup started.
The script could run through the folder where the copies are and create a
temp file with the file paths and names, sorted on the date in descending
order.
Then loop read through the temp file and take the first 20 entries and add
them into a bks file.
If that is my only option then I will post a message to a vbs newsgroup.

That is if nobody here has any better ideas.

Thanks for your help.

Alex




"Pegasus (MVP)" <> a écrit dans le message de news:
...
>
> "Alex Lawnmower" <> wrote in message
> news:43f1a890$0$18312$...
>> Hi,
>>
>> I have a folder on a drive where I copy twice-daily versions of a
>> software
>> project. So each day I have two copies of the project.
>>
>> Now I would like to store to tape the most recent versions of the
>> project.
>> So in fact my selection would be based on a date relative to the system
>> date.
>> Example : all the copies made in the last two months.
>>
>> I would like to do this on a daily basis with a scheduled task using
>> unattended NTBackup with a bks fileset.
>> Is there a way - in the bks file - to specify a selection based on dates
>> ?
>> Or is there another way to specify a certain number of the most recent
> files
>> ?
>>
>> TIA
>>
>> Alex
>
> Use xxcopy.exe (downloadable from various sites) or robocopy.exe
> (Windows Resource Kit) to perform this three-step operation:
> 1. Copy all files made in the last two months to a holding area.
> 2. Back up the holding area to tape.
> 3. Delete the files from the holding area.
>
>

Have you tried costing your time in order to find a solution
in comparison with buying a larger disk? Disk space is
ridiculously cheap these days!

You can still use my suggestion, with a twist: Instead of
***copying*** the most recent files to the holding area,
you ***move*** them. On completion of the backup
process, you move them back to where they came from.


"Alex Lawnmower" <> wrote in message
news:43f2f559$0$19687$...
> Thanks.
> I understand the technique but it is not feasible because I don't have
> enough space on my disk to create such a large holding area.
> (I'm backing up programme sources plus data).
>
> I was thinking of using vbscript to create the bks file on the fly just
> before the backup started.
> The script could run through the folder where the copies are and create a
> temp file with the file paths and names, sorted on the date in descending
> order.
> Then loop read through the temp file and take the first 20 entries and add
> them into a bks file.
> If that is my only option then I will post a message to a vbs newsgroup.
>
> That is if nobody here has any better ideas.
>
> Thanks for your help.
>
> Alex
>
>
>
>
> "Pegasus (MVP)" <> a écrit dans le message de news:
> ...
> >
> > "Alex Lawnmower" <> wrote in message
> > news:43f1a890$0$18312$...
> >> Hi,
> >>
> >> I have a folder on a drive where I copy twice-daily versions of a
> >> software
> >> project. So each day I have two copies of the project.
> >>
> >> Now I would like to store to tape the most recent versions of the
> >> project.
> >> So in fact my selection would be based on a date relative to the system
> >> date.
> >> Example : all the copies made in the last two months.
> >>
> >> I would like to do this on a daily basis with a scheduled task using
> >> unattended NTBackup with a bks fileset.
> >> Is there a way - in the bks file - to specify a selection based on
dates
> >> ?
> >> Or is there another way to specify a certain number of the most recent
> > files
> >> ?
> >>
> >> TIA
> >>
> >> Alex
> >
> > Use xxcopy.exe (downloadable from various sites) or robocopy.exe
> > (Windows Resource Kit) to perform this three-step operation:
> > 1. Copy all files made in the last two months to a holding area.
> > 2. Back up the holding area to tape.
> > 3. Delete the files from the holding area.
> >
> >
>
>