My work-flow for dealing with backups from FrameMaker--getting rid of backups

Tue Sep 16 10:45:43 PDT 2014

What you wrote is conceptually similar to what I do, except that I don't put the backup files into a single location on my disk drive.

As I described earlier, each document's main directory has a subdir just below where I am working, so it always puts the backup files only there. Hence the backed up files from different documents are always separated and easy to retrieve.

Plus, with my "copy all" approach (see below), using a single location would cause common file names to cause content to be trashed.

I do keep the BAT command file itself in a single location though - it is easily accessed from my DOS path as needed.

Here is my BAT command file. I use "copy" with the /Y option to overwrite. In it, I copy all the files - not just the FrameMaker ones - since there are other files there too (for example, .ini files from tools that are used within FrameMaker):

copy/y  *.*  .\Archive\
del  *.backup.*  *.log  *.tps  *.tpdf  *.bak

This gives me a clean working environment for each editing session.

Then, when I am done releasing a particular document, I run another BAT file finally that does the following:

rmdir/s  .\Archive\

The /S option is to delete subdirectories.

Z

From: framers-bounces at lists.frameusers.com [mailto:framers-bounces at lists.frameusers.com] On Behalf Of Sharp, Amy
Sent: Tuesday, September 16, 2014 8:20 AM
To: framers at lists.frameusers.com
Subject: RE: My work-flow for dealing with backups from FrameMaker--getting rid of backups

I like having backups available in case of crashes or other emergencies, so I don't want to turn them off. As it's also my habit to save different "versions" of an active FrameMaker project in different folders, backups are only required for those emergencies.

That makes a lot of clutter in the folder for my FM files, and there are times I need to see my files without the clutter. Deleting or moving backups is not easy if you have lots of files; you can reorder the files any way you like but the backups stay glued to their parent FM files.

To get rid of the backups temporarily, I wrote an old-fashioned batch (BAT) file that moves backup files to a folder on my C: drive (FM_Backup) and then deletes the log file. It takes only a few seconds to run, and leaves a pristine view of the FM files.

IMPORTANT: This only works when FrameMaker is closed because FM automatically regenerates backup files as soon as you touch an open file.

The code I use is below. You can modify it to delete the files instead of moving them, change the backup folder name, get rid of the log deletion, whatever you'd like.

1.      In Notepad or another text editor, copy the following lines:

Move *.backup.fm C:\\FM_Backup
Move *.backup.book C:\\FM_Backup
pause
Del *.log
pause
Exit

2.      Save the file as "FM_backup.bat" or any other name as long as it has a BAT extension.
3.      Create a backup folder on your C drive called "FM_Backup."
You can name this folder anything as long as it matches the folder name in the BAT file.
4.      Copy or move the BAT file into the same folder as your working FrameMaker files.
IMPORTANT: You must insert a separate copy of the BAT file into every folder that contains your FrameMaker files.
5.      To run, double-click "FM_backup.bat."
The pauses stop the program to provide feedback as it moves the files.
6.      Don't forget to delete the backup files when they are no longer needed, as the backup folder gets bloated quickly.

I especially like using this when I save different "versions" of an ongoing project. When I open a folder containing an earlier version, I only see the project files.

The code uses the simple DOS commands move, delete, pause, and exit. It doesn't save multiple versions of backups or work from any location except where the FM files are stored, but you could get fancy if you're inspired to take this to another level.

Amy Sharp
Geophysical Technical Writer
ConocoPhillips Co.
Work: 281-293-1819
amy.sharp at cop.com<mailto:amy.sharp at cop.com>
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