I hate the backup files being created in the artwork folder I am working on. I have tried to set a backup folder but even though you add that information in the setup options, the backup files are still created in the folder you are using. Is there anyway to force the backups to be saved in a folder that I have created called CorelDraw Backups ?? Thanks
I have been testing this macro for several months.
It has several functions:
As an example, if you enable backup naming by the minute (as above), and you save at 24 minute past the hour, you will create a backup containing 24 as part of the filename. This will not be overwritten until you next save a file at 24 minutes past any hour. Consequently, you will keep several backup copies which are likely to include some from previous days, weeks and months because you are unlikely to save at the same minutes each day. So if you accidentally delete something important but do not notice for several days, you stand a reasonable chance of still having a backup where you can retrieve the deleted content to copy into the current version.
I haven't yet found the time to write anything for weeding excessive multiple backups, so if you enable this facility you will need either a lot of space on your backup drive, or will need to manually weed the backups occasionally. The "by the minute" naming can theoretically create up to 60 backups and if you enable it together with "date" naming you can get an infinite number.
I have only tested it in X6, but it may work in earlier versions.
Instructions:
Initially, preferences will open every time you open a CDR file. You can turn preferences off with by unticking the "show preferences ..." box. Backups will continue to run using your saved preferences. Afterwards if you want to change preferences you will need to go to Tools > Macros > Run and restart Useful Backups from there.
Harry
I have tested your macro for a couple of days and it works almost perfect.
The only drawback is that the first time a file is backed up, it is sometimes saved with Draw's default backup name and in the default folder.Doesn't happen with every file but I have not yet found out what causes it.
Anything you have seen?
Well, I think I've worked out why this is happening.
My macro has a routine triggered by DocumentAfterSave. But it seems that CorelDraw is executing DocumentAfterSave before the backup process has finished.
At a guess, Corel forgot to move the code that triggers DocumentAfterSave to take into account that X6 performs saves in the background. This makes DocumentAfterSave somewhat less useful than it ought to be, because the document has in fact not yet been saved. DocumentAfterSave needs to be triggered from the code that turns off the "processing" icon at the bottom of the screen, not from the code that adds the document to the save queue.
harryLondon said:Well, I think I've worked out why this is happening.
I'm trying something, but it will be a bit of a bodge.
Long term, it really ought to be fixed by changing DocumentAfterSave so that it actually does what it says on the tin, ie it happens after the save process is complete.
Hi All,
Has anyone figured this puzzle out? I am looking for just this solution so that we can save our backup files to different drives to the ones that are being backed up in the cloud.
I do have a newer version that sidesteps the "aftersave" problem by catching it later, but I don't quite have it ready to go at the moment.
I'll try to sort it out over the weekend.
That would be great! We have been trying to implement an online backup regime and the backup versions are overloading the system, though I am sure we are all too aware that they are extremely important when you have perhaps "done a tweak too many" or suffered a blue screen processing a big file.
This is certainly something that I think corel should be addressing
Thanks again
Mark
I've attached the updated version -- UsefulBackups-0.2.gms
See also the original instructions at http://community.coreldraw.com/forums/p/38040/179696.aspx#179696 and in particular note that some of the options will create a lot of backup versions.
Thanks Harry.
Testing.
Many thanks Harry.
Initial tests looking good. Seems to do the job well.
I also like the way that you can virtually create infinite backups of a file!
sign-lad said:you can virtually create infinite backups of a file!
Yes, until you run out of space ... but with terabyte drives at relatively low prices that's usually not a problem for a while.
If people find it useful, I'll eventually add something to weed out surplus copies, but if you put the backups in a separate folder its probably not too hard to keep them all until the job's finished and approved, then delete the lot of them.