RoboCopy question

I've always used xcopy in the past, but recently decided I need to become
familiar with RoboCopy. I found a sample batch file to back up folder(s) to
an external drive. Modified it a little. And it does just what I need.
When run manually it creates a log file with this command:
SET log_fname=%prefix%%date:~-4,4%%date:~-10,2%%date:~-7,2%.log

But I'm running it from Task Scheduler. It ran fine last night, the first
time it was run. Everything backed up. But, no log file was created.
How could running it from the scheduler affect that?

"JohnB" <> wrote in message
news:...
> I've always used xcopy in the past, but recently decided I need to become
> familiar with RoboCopy. I found a sample batch file to back up folder(s)
> to an external drive. Modified it a little. And it does just what I
> need. When run manually it creates a log file with this command:
> SET log_fname=%prefix%%date:~-4,4%%date:~-10,2%%date:~-7,2%.log
>
> But I'm running it from Task Scheduler. It ran fine last night, the first
> time it was run. Everything backed up. But, no log file was created.
> How could running it from the scheduler affect that?

Can't tell without knowing the value of %prefix%. Anyway, you can easily
find out yourself by logging what's going on, e.g. like so:
@echo off
echo %date% %time%
log_fname=%prefix%%date:~-4,4%%date:~-10,2%%date:~-7,2%.log>>c:\problem.txt

It would also help if you posted your whole robocopy command line.

This is the entire script:

---------------------------
@Echo off
REM Backup user files to external drive
REM.
REM.
SET prefix=robocopy_backup
SET source_dir="E:\users"
SET dest_dir="H:\BD_Users_Backup"
REM.
REM.
REM Set the log file name based on the current date. This
REM will record the results from the robocopy command.
REM The typical format for the date command is:
REM Mon 11/09/2000
SET log_fname=%prefix%%date:~-4,4%%date:~-10,2%%date:~-7,2%.log
SET what_to_copy=/COPYAT /MIR
REM Exclude some files and directories that include transient data
REM that doesn't need to be copied.
SET exclude_dirs=/XD "Temporary Internet Files" "Cache" "Recent" "Cookies"
"iPod Photo Cache" "MachineKeys"
SET exclude_files=/XF *.bak *.tmp index.dat usrclass.dat* ntuser.dat* *.lock
*.swp
SET options=/R:0 /W:0 /LOG+:%log_fname% /NFL /NDL
ROBOCOPY %source_dir% %dest_dir% %what_to_copy% %options% %exclude_dirs%
%exclude_files%

:END
---------------------------

But what is odd is, it creates the log file when run manually. It does not
when run from scheduler. This is on Sever 2008 standard.





"Pegasus [MVP]" <> wrote in message
news:...
>
>
> "JohnB" <> wrote in message
> news:...
>> I've always used xcopy in the past, but recently decided I need to become
>> familiar with RoboCopy. I found a sample batch file to back up folder(s)
>> to an external drive. Modified it a little. And it does just what I
>> need. When run manually it creates a log file with this command:
>> SET log_fname=%prefix%%date:~-4,4%%date:~-10,2%%date:~-7,2%.log
>>
>> But I'm running it from Task Scheduler. It ran fine last night, the
>> first time it was run. Everything backed up. But, no log file was
>> created.
>> How could running it from the scheduler affect that?
>
> Can't tell without knowing the value of %prefix%. Anyway, you can easily
> find out yourself by logging what's going on, e.g. like so:
> @echo off
> echo %date% %time%
> log_fname=%prefix%%date:~-4,4%%date:~-10,2%%date:~-7,2%.log>>c:\problem.txt
>
> It would also help if you posted your whole robocopy command line.

I modified your last line to

echo ROBOCOPY %source_dir% %dest_dir% %what_to_copy% %options%
%exclude_dirs% %exclude_files%

then ran the batch file and examined its output. It works perfectly well in
every regard but since you did not specify a drive or folder for your log
file it ended up who knows where but certainly not where you expected it. In
batch files it is compulsory to fully qualify all file names. Chances are
you can find the log file in the System32 folder.

"JohnB" <> wrote in message
news:...
> This is the entire script:
>
> ---------------------------
> @Echo off
> REM Backup user files to external drive
> REM.
> REM.
> SET prefix=robocopy_backup
> SET source_dir="E:\users"
> SET dest_dir="H:\BD_Users_Backup"
> REM.
> REM.
> REM Set the log file name based on the current date. This
> REM will record the results from the robocopy command.
> REM The typical format for the date command is:
> REM Mon 11/09/2000
> SET log_fname=%prefix%%date:~-4,4%%date:~-10,2%%date:~-7,2%.log
> SET what_to_copy=/COPYAT /MIR
> REM Exclude some files and directories that include transient data
> REM that doesn't need to be copied.
> SET exclude_dirs=/XD "Temporary Internet Files" "Cache" "Recent" "Cookies"
> "iPod Photo Cache" "MachineKeys"
> SET exclude_files=/XF *.bak *.tmp index.dat usrclass.dat* ntuser.dat*
> *.lock *.swp
> SET options=/R:0 /W:0 /LOG+:%log_fname% /NFL /NDL
> ROBOCOPY %source_dir% %dest_dir% %what_to_copy% %options% %exclude_dirs%
> %exclude_files%
>
> :END
> ---------------------------
>
> But what is odd is, it creates the log file when run manually. It does
> not when run from scheduler. This is on Sever 2008 standard.
>
>
>
>
>
> "Pegasus [MVP]" <> wrote in message
> news:...
>>
>>
>> "JohnB" <> wrote in message
>> news:...
>>> I've always used xcopy in the past, but recently decided I need to
>>> become familiar with RoboCopy. I found a sample batch file to back up
>>> folder(s) to an external drive. Modified it a little. And it does just
>>> what I need. When run manually it creates a log file with this command:
>>> SET log_fname=%prefix%%date:~-4,4%%date:~-10,2%%date:~-7,2%.log
>>>
>>> But I'm running it from Task Scheduler. It ran fine last night, the
>>> first time it was run. Everything backed up. But, no log file was
>>> created.
>>> How could running it from the scheduler affect that?
>>
>> Can't tell without knowing the value of %prefix%. Anyway, you can easily
>> find out yourself by logging what's going on, e.g. like so:
>> @echo off
>> echo %date% %time%
>> log_fname=%prefix%%date:~-4,4%%date:~-10,2%%date:~-7,2%.log>>c:\problem.txt
>>
>> It would also help if you posted your whole robocopy command line.
>
>

> you can find the log file in the System32 folder.
You're exacty right, that's where it was.

I'd like to add this line:
SET Log_Path="C:\Scripts"

And then modify the "set options" line.

How would that work, like this:

SET options=/R:0 /W:0 /LOG+:%Log_Path%+%log_fname% /NFL /NDL
or this:
SET options=/R:0 /W:0 /LOG+:%Log_Path%, %log_fname% /NFL /NDL
or this:
SET options=/R:0 /W:0 /LOG+:%Log_Path% %log_fname% /NFL /NDL

With the separator being a plus sign, comma or space?


"Pegasus [MVP]" <> wrote in message
news:...
>I modified your last line to
>
> echo ROBOCOPY %source_dir% %dest_dir% %what_to_copy% %options%
> %exclude_dirs% %exclude_files%
>
> then ran the batch file and examined its output. It works perfectly well
> in every regard but since you did not specify a drive or folder for your
> log file it ended up who knows where but certainly not where you expected
> it. In batch files it is compulsory to fully qualify all file names.
> Chances are you can find the log file in the System32 folder.
>
> "JohnB" <> wrote in message
> news:...
>> This is the entire script:
>>
>> ---------------------------
>> @Echo off
>> REM Backup user files to external drive
>> REM.
>> REM.
>> SET prefix=robocopy_backup
>> SET source_dir="E:\users"
>> SET dest_dir="H:\BD_Users_Backup"
>> REM.
>> REM.
>> REM Set the log file name based on the current date. This
>> REM will record the results from the robocopy command.
>> REM The typical format for the date command is:
>> REM Mon 11/09/2000
>> SET log_fname=%prefix%%date:~-4,4%%date:~-10,2%%date:~-7,2%.log
>> SET what_to_copy=/COPYAT /MIR
>> REM Exclude some files and directories that include transient data
>> REM that doesn't need to be copied.
>> SET exclude_dirs=/XD "Temporary Internet Files" "Cache" "Recent"
>> "Cookies" "iPod Photo Cache" "MachineKeys"
>> SET exclude_files=/XF *.bak *.tmp index.dat usrclass.dat* ntuser.dat*
>> *.lock *.swp
>> SET options=/R:0 /W:0 /LOG+:%log_fname% /NFL /NDL
>> ROBOCOPY %source_dir% %dest_dir% %what_to_copy% %options% %exclude_dirs%
>> %exclude_files%
>>
>> :END
>> ---------------------------
>>
>> But what is odd is, it creates the log file when run manually. It does
>> not when run from scheduler. This is on Sever 2008 standard.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> "Pegasus [MVP]" <> wrote in message
>> news:...
>>>
>>>
>>> "JohnB" <> wrote in message
>>> news:...
>>>> I've always used xcopy in the past, but recently decided I need to
>>>> become familiar with RoboCopy. I found a sample batch file to back up
>>>> folder(s) to an external drive. Modified it a little. And it does
>>>> just what I need. When run manually it creates a log file with this
>>>> command:
>>>> SET log_fname=%prefix%%date:~-4,4%%date:~-10,2%%date:~-7,2%.log
>>>>
>>>> But I'm running it from Task Scheduler. It ran fine last night, the
>>>> first time it was run. Everything backed up. But, no log file was
>>>> created.
>>>> How could running it from the scheduler affect that?
>>>
>>> Can't tell without knowing the value of %prefix%. Anyway, you can easily
>>> find out yourself by logging what's going on, e.g. like so:
>>> @echo off
>>> echo %date% %time%
>>> log_fname=%prefix%%date:~-4,4%%date:~-10,2%%date:~-7,2%.log>>c:\problem.txt
>>>
>>> It would also help if you posted your whole robocopy command line.
>>
>>

Type these commands at the command Prompt:
SET Log_Path="C:\Scripts"
SET Log_FName=log.txt
echo options=/R:0 /W:0 /LOG+:%Log_Path%+%log_fname%

Does this answer your question? Note also that "C:\Scripts" does not need
any surrounding double quotes. Their existence won't cause a problem but it
is not "nice" to have double quotes in the middle of a fully qualified file
name.

"JohnB" <> wrote in message
news:...
>> you can find the log file in the System32 folder.
> You're exacty right, that's where it was.
>
> I'd like to add this line:
> SET Log_Path="C:\Scripts"
>
> And then modify the "set options" line.
>
> How would that work, like this:
>
> SET options=/R:0 /W:0 /LOG+:%Log_Path%+%log_fname% /NFL /NDL
> or this:
> SET options=/R:0 /W:0 /LOG+:%Log_Path%, %log_fname% /NFL /NDL
> or this:
> SET options=/R:0 /W:0 /LOG+:%Log_Path% %log_fname% /NFL /NDL
>
> With the separator being a plus sign, comma or space?
>
>
> "Pegasus [MVP]" <> wrote in message
> news:...
>>I modified your last line to
>>
>> echo ROBOCOPY %source_dir% %dest_dir% %what_to_copy% %options%
>> %exclude_dirs% %exclude_files%
>>
>> then ran the batch file and examined its output. It works perfectly well
>> in every regard but since you did not specify a drive or folder for your
>> log file it ended up who knows where but certainly not where you expected
>> it. In batch files it is compulsory to fully qualify all file names.
>> Chances are you can find the log file in the System32 folder.
>>
>> "JohnB" <> wrote in message
>> news:...
>>> This is the entire script:
>>>
>>> ---------------------------
>>> @Echo off
>>> REM Backup user files to external drive
>>> REM.
>>> REM.
>>> SET prefix=robocopy_backup
>>> SET source_dir="E:\users"
>>> SET dest_dir="H:\BD_Users_Backup"
>>> REM.
>>> REM.
>>> REM Set the log file name based on the current date. This
>>> REM will record the results from the robocopy command.
>>> REM The typical format for the date command is:
>>> REM Mon 11/09/2000
>>> SET log_fname=%prefix%%date:~-4,4%%date:~-10,2%%date:~-7,2%.log
>>> SET what_to_copy=/COPYAT /MIR
>>> REM Exclude some files and directories that include transient data
>>> REM that doesn't need to be copied.
>>> SET exclude_dirs=/XD "Temporary Internet Files" "Cache" "Recent"
>>> "Cookies" "iPod Photo Cache" "MachineKeys"
>>> SET exclude_files=/XF *.bak *.tmp index.dat usrclass.dat* ntuser.dat*
>>> *.lock *.swp
>>> SET options=/R:0 /W:0 /LOG+:%log_fname% /NFL /NDL
>>> ROBOCOPY %source_dir% %dest_dir% %what_to_copy% %options% %exclude_dirs%
>>> %exclude_files%
>>>
>>> :END
>>> ---------------------------
>>>
>>> But what is odd is, it creates the log file when run manually. It does
>>> not when run from scheduler. This is on Sever 2008 standard.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> "Pegasus [MVP]" <> wrote in message
>>> news:...
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> "JohnB" <> wrote in message
>>>> news:...
>>>>> I've always used xcopy in the past, but recently decided I need to
>>>>> become familiar with RoboCopy. I found a sample batch file to back up
>>>>> folder(s) to an external drive. Modified it a little. And it does
>>>>> just what I need. When run manually it creates a log file with this
>>>>> command:
>>>>> SET log_fname=%prefix%%date:~-4,4%%date:~-10,2%%date:~-7,2%.log
>>>>>
>>>>> But I'm running it from Task Scheduler. It ran fine last night, the
>>>>> first time it was run. Everything backed up. But, no log file was
>>>>> created.
>>>>> How could running it from the scheduler affect that?
>>>>
>>>> Can't tell without knowing the value of %prefix%. Anyway, you can
>>>> easily find out yourself by logging what's going on, e.g. like so:
>>>> @echo off
>>>> echo %date% %time%
>>>> log_fname=%prefix%%date:~-4,4%%date:~-10,2%%date:~-7,2%.log>>c:\problem.txt
>>>>
>>>> It would also help if you posted your whole robocopy command line.
>>>
>>>
>
>

>>Does this answer your question?

Yes indeedy. Didn't think of the echo command. Thanks.



"Pegasus [MVP]" <> wrote in message
news:%...
> Type these commands at the command Prompt:
> SET Log_Path="C:\Scripts"
> SET Log_FName=log.txt
> echo options=/R:0 /W:0 /LOG+:%Log_Path%+%log_fname%
>
> Does this answer your question? Note also that "C:\Scripts" does not need
> any surrounding double quotes. Their existence won't cause a problem but
> it is not "nice" to have double quotes in the middle of a fully qualified
> file name.
>
> "JohnB" <> wrote in message
> news:...
>>> you can find the log file in the System32 folder.
>> You're exacty right, that's where it was.
>>
>> I'd like to add this line:
>> SET Log_Path="C:\Scripts"
>>
>> And then modify the "set options" line.
>>
>> How would that work, like this:
>>
>> SET options=/R:0 /W:0 /LOG+:%Log_Path%+%log_fname% /NFL /NDL
>> or this:
>> SET options=/R:0 /W:0 /LOG+:%Log_Path%, %log_fname% /NFL /NDL
>> or this:
>> SET options=/R:0 /W:0 /LOG+:%Log_Path% %log_fname% /NFL /NDL
>>
>> With the separator being a plus sign, comma or space?
>>
>>
>> "Pegasus [MVP]" <> wrote in message
>> news:...
>>>I modified your last line to
>>>
>>> echo ROBOCOPY %source_dir% %dest_dir% %what_to_copy% %options%
>>> %exclude_dirs% %exclude_files%
>>>
>>> then ran the batch file and examined its output. It works perfectly well
>>> in every regard but since you did not specify a drive or folder for your
>>> log file it ended up who knows where but certainly not where you
>>> expected it. In batch files it is compulsory to fully qualify all file
>>> names. Chances are you can find the log file in the System32 folder.
>>>
>>> "JohnB" <> wrote in message
>>> news:...
>>>> This is the entire script:
>>>>
>>>> ---------------------------
>>>> @Echo off
>>>> REM Backup user files to external drive
>>>> REM.
>>>> REM.
>>>> SET prefix=robocopy_backup
>>>> SET source_dir="E:\users"
>>>> SET dest_dir="H:\BD_Users_Backup"
>>>> REM.
>>>> REM.
>>>> REM Set the log file name based on the current date. This
>>>> REM will record the results from the robocopy command.
>>>> REM The typical format for the date command is:
>>>> REM Mon 11/09/2000
>>>> SET log_fname=%prefix%%date:~-4,4%%date:~-10,2%%date:~-7,2%.log
>>>> SET what_to_copy=/COPYAT /MIR
>>>> REM Exclude some files and directories that include transient data
>>>> REM that doesn't need to be copied.
>>>> SET exclude_dirs=/XD "Temporary Internet Files" "Cache" "Recent"
>>>> "Cookies" "iPod Photo Cache" "MachineKeys"
>>>> SET exclude_files=/XF *.bak *.tmp index.dat usrclass.dat* ntuser.dat*
>>>> *.lock *.swp
>>>> SET options=/R:0 /W:0 /LOG+:%log_fname% /NFL /NDL
>>>> ROBOCOPY %source_dir% %dest_dir% %what_to_copy% %options%
>>>> %exclude_dirs% %exclude_files%
>>>>
>>>> :END
>>>> ---------------------------
>>>>
>>>> But what is odd is, it creates the log file when run manually. It does
>>>> not when run from scheduler. This is on Sever 2008 standard.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> "Pegasus [MVP]" <> wrote in message
>>>> news:...
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> "JohnB" <> wrote in message
>>>>> news:...
>>>>>> I've always used xcopy in the past, but recently decided I need to
>>>>>> become familiar with RoboCopy. I found a sample batch file to back
>>>>>> up folder(s) to an external drive. Modified it a little. And it
>>>>>> does just what I need. When run manually it creates a log file with
>>>>>> this command:
>>>>>> SET log_fname=%prefix%%date:~-4,4%%date:~-10,2%%date:~-7,2%.log
>>>>>>
>>>>>> But I'm running it from Task Scheduler. It ran fine last night, the
>>>>>> first time it was run. Everything backed up. But, no log file was
>>>>>> created.
>>>>>> How could running it from the scheduler affect that?
>>>>>
>>>>> Can't tell without knowing the value of %prefix%. Anyway, you can
>>>>> easily find out yourself by logging what's going on, e.g. like so:
>>>>> @echo off
>>>>> echo %date% %time%
>>>>> log_fname=%prefix%%date:~-4,4%%date:~-10,2%%date:~-7,2%.log>>c:\problem.txt
>>>>>
>>>>> It would also help if you posted your whole robocopy command line.
>>>>
>>>>
>>
>>

Turns out it needs to be this:
options=/R:0 /W:0 /LOG+:%Log_Path%%log_fname%

No plus sign, and no space between the path and filename variables. The
plus sign would give a filename with a plus sign in it.


"Pegasus [MVP]" <> wrote in message
news:%...
> Type these commands at the command Prompt:
> SET Log_Path="C:\Scripts"
> SET Log_FName=log.txt
> echo options=/R:0 /W:0 /LOG+:%Log_Path%+%log_fname%
>
> Does this answer your question? Note also that "C:\Scripts" does not need
> any surrounding double quotes. Their existence won't cause a problem but
> it is not "nice" to have double quotes in the middle of a fully qualified
> file name.
>
> "JohnB" <> wrote in message
> news:...
>>> you can find the log file in the System32 folder.
>> You're exacty right, that's where it was.
>>
>> I'd like to add this line:
>> SET Log_Path="C:\Scripts"
>>
>> And then modify the "set options" line.
>>
>> How would that work, like this:
>>
>> SET options=/R:0 /W:0 /LOG+:%Log_Path%+%log_fname% /NFL /NDL
>> or this:
>> SET options=/R:0 /W:0 /LOG+:%Log_Path%, %log_fname% /NFL /NDL
>> or this:
>> SET options=/R:0 /W:0 /LOG+:%Log_Path% %log_fname% /NFL /NDL
>>
>> With the separator being a plus sign, comma or space?
>>
>>
>> "Pegasus [MVP]" <> wrote in message
>> news:...
>>>I modified your last line to
>>>
>>> echo ROBOCOPY %source_dir% %dest_dir% %what_to_copy% %options%
>>> %exclude_dirs% %exclude_files%
>>>
>>> then ran the batch file and examined its output. It works perfectly well
>>> in every regard but since you did not specify a drive or folder for your
>>> log file it ended up who knows where but certainly not where you
>>> expected it. In batch files it is compulsory to fully qualify all file
>>> names. Chances are you can find the log file in the System32 folder.
>>>
>>> "JohnB" <> wrote in message
>>> news:...
>>>> This is the entire script:
>>>>
>>>> ---------------------------
>>>> @Echo off
>>>> REM Backup user files to external drive
>>>> REM.
>>>> REM.
>>>> SET prefix=robocopy_backup
>>>> SET source_dir="E:\users"
>>>> SET dest_dir="H:\BD_Users_Backup"
>>>> REM.
>>>> REM.
>>>> REM Set the log file name based on the current date. This
>>>> REM will record the results from the robocopy command.
>>>> REM The typical format for the date command is:
>>>> REM Mon 11/09/2000
>>>> SET log_fname=%prefix%%date:~-4,4%%date:~-10,2%%date:~-7,2%.log
>>>> SET what_to_copy=/COPYAT /MIR
>>>> REM Exclude some files and directories that include transient data
>>>> REM that doesn't need to be copied.
>>>> SET exclude_dirs=/XD "Temporary Internet Files" "Cache" "Recent"
>>>> "Cookies" "iPod Photo Cache" "MachineKeys"
>>>> SET exclude_files=/XF *.bak *.tmp index.dat usrclass.dat* ntuser.dat*
>>>> *.lock *.swp
>>>> SET options=/R:0 /W:0 /LOG+:%log_fname% /NFL /NDL
>>>> ROBOCOPY %source_dir% %dest_dir% %what_to_copy% %options%
>>>> %exclude_dirs% %exclude_files%
>>>>
>>>> :END
>>>> ---------------------------
>>>>
>>>> But what is odd is, it creates the log file when run manually. It does
>>>> not when run from scheduler. This is on Sever 2008 standard.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> "Pegasus [MVP]" <> wrote in message
>>>> news:...
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> "JohnB" <> wrote in message
>>>>> news:...
>>>>>> I've always used xcopy in the past, but recently decided I need to
>>>>>> become familiar with RoboCopy. I found a sample batch file to back
>>>>>> up folder(s) to an external drive. Modified it a little. And it
>>>>>> does just what I need. When run manually it creates a log file with
>>>>>> this command:
>>>>>> SET log_fname=%prefix%%date:~-4,4%%date:~-10,2%%date:~-7,2%.log
>>>>>>
>>>>>> But I'm running it from Task Scheduler. It ran fine last night, the
>>>>>> first time it was run. Everything backed up. But, no log file was
>>>>>> created.
>>>>>> How could running it from the scheduler affect that?
>>>>>
>>>>> Can't tell without knowing the value of %prefix%. Anyway, you can
>>>>> easily find out yourself by logging what's going on, e.g. like so:
>>>>> @echo off
>>>>> echo %date% %time%
>>>>> log_fname=%prefix%%date:~-4,4%%date:~-10,2%%date:~-7,2%.log>>c:\problem.txt
>>>>>
>>>>> It would also help if you posted your whole robocopy command line.
>>>>
>>>>
>>
>>

"JohnB" <> wrote in message
news:#...
> Turns out it needs to be this:
> options=/R:0 /W:0 /LOG+:%Log_Path%%log_fname%
>
> No plus sign, and no space between the path and filename variables. The
> plus sign would give a filename with a plus sign in it.

Exactly!