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Update AIMS Backup:
Click here for the latest update (v139) - (approx. 2.5 Mb.)
You can download the file or run it directly from here by clicking the "Open" option.
A registered version must already be installed on your system to run this update. If you have not moved the files that were originally installed, there is no need to read further - just install the update.
A copy of the original addin file must be located in one of the folders beneath your A5 executable (full or runtime) folder. This would typically include the Addins_installed folder or one of the shadowed application folders. If you have removed the file from the original Addins_installed folder and copied it to specific application folders which are not directly underneath the main A5 executable folders, there are two options: (1) temporarily copy the AIMS_BkUps.aex file to your A5vX\Addins_installed folder or (2) download the latest installation routine for new purchases and use your registration number to install it.
FOR A5v8/9 USERS ONLY:
Earlier installations/updates for version 8 put the addin under the "users" folder. This is not the correct locaton and any existing AIMS_BkUps.aex file in that folder must be removed. If the aex file is in that folder, please move it to the Addins_installed folder under the main A5v8 program folder. If you do not remove the old aex file from under the "users" folder, (a) this update may not run and (b) if it does run, the updated version will not be recognized by A5.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The updated files will only be installed to the Addins_installed folder where they were originally installed. If you have modified the standard installation and are installing it only to specific applications, it is up to you to copy it to those other applications and delete it from the Addins_installed folder if desired. (Although there is little reason to remove it from the Addins_installed folder on your development machine.)
If you have not already purchased a registration number, click here: Purchase AIMS_Backup
What's in the Updates:
NOTE: All versions are backward compatible. If a newer version is installed without changing the script that calls the backup functions (i.e., new arguments are not added to the command), it will run exactly the same as the earlier version with the exception of the Please Wait message that now shows each file as it is being restored.
Version 139 (2013-05-13)
- Changed background colors and some message text.
Version 138 (2013-02-21)
- NOTE: Lost previous change info in a computer crash but recovered all the code. The following is all known changes since version 134. It should include all new features even though some minor fixes are definitely missing.
- The "Delete Old Backups" button has been removed. All deletion must now be done through the Maintenance button.
- Added two new .ini file options. The "bkup_fldr" option allows the developer to specify a folder name rather than using the default of "_BkUp". The
"allow_root_in_removable" option allows a user to store the backups in the root folder of a removable drive rather than requiring it to be in a subfolder. (This last is not recommended but some people wanted it anyway.)
- Improved some messages - wording and/or appearance.
Version 134 (2010-06-24)
Version 133 (2010-06-13)
- Created new .chm Help file and added a second Help file intended for use only on client systems. This new Help file removes most developer info and references to "Alpha Five" and only includes basic information about using the backup/restore operations. The new 'client' Help file should be the only Help file distributed to your user installations.
Version 132 (2010-04-09)
- Versions 127-131 not documented and some never released. The following are the known changes.
- Changes to 'get files' routines to allow it to work better on AS400.
- New .chm help file replaces the previous .hlp file. (same info)
- Optional pbAttrib file can now be in the application folder on networks instead of the A5 executables folder on each workstation.
- Improved "Select Folder" dialog.
- Minor improvements to message boxes.
- Install routine updated to install to A5v10.
Version 126 (2009-05-28)
- The "include_addl" variable was added as an argument so the prompt could be turned off when the new auto_bkup argument was .T. HOWEVER, I realized it could also be used to skip the prompt anytime so left it to work that way.
Version 125 (2008-07-06)
- Modified ui_get_password() commands to work with A5v9. They will also continue to work correctly in earlier versions.
- Modified routines to check for the Help file (.hlp still) in the alternate A5v9 Addins_installed path.
- Recombined the installation and updates for all versions from A5v5 - A5v9. Everything is now under the Exe folder.
- Added an "aims_bkup.ini" file for defining the following variables: use_restore_password, restore_to_app_only, skip_on_data_restore. These allow you to (a) eliminate the need for entering a password before running a Restore operation, (b) eliminate the often confusing prompt for 'where to restore the files to' when virtually every restore should be to the current data folder, and (c) skip any "menu" table during the restore operation that does not contain any valid data, therefore, does not need to be restored. The last option eliminates the warning to the user that the table was not able to be restored because it was currently in use.
Version 124 (2008-05-23)
- Removed some xbasic_wait_for_idle() commands when running in version 8 or higher. This improves the unzip speed a bit.
Version 123 (2007-09-29)
- Additional tweaking of the v8/Vista folder issues.
Version 122 (11/23/04)
- Modified "help" routine to look in new A5v8 "addins_installed" folder.
NOTE: The backup routines still use the old style .hlp help files which Vista does not support by default. Until a new .chm file is available, the WinHelp32.exe can be downloaded from Microsoft.
- Minor change to check for Vista OS before attempting to reset file attributes. (File attributes do not need to be reset in XP or Vista.)
- New, separate install/update routines for A5v8 only.
Versions 120 and 121 were development updates that were never released.
Version 119 (11/23/04)
- Fixed default backup folder. On shadowed systems, the default backup folder was saved to the server but checked locally. This meant the previously saved default was never able to be located on an optimized workstation. The default backup path is now always saved on the local computer - this was done because (a) some systems are not all mapped the same and (b) in some cases the backup is stored in different places for different computers.
Version 118 (11/02/04)
- Fixed bug that would cause an error if restoring a file and the text file that lists backup and restore operations does not existed in the backup folder. This error did not affect the restore operation itself - only the documentation of it. The program now ignores the missing file and just creates a new one.
Version 117 (10/18/04)
- Speed improvement. Improved the routine that sets all file attributes so the Archive bit is on so it runs much faster on XP systems or on other systems when the pbAttrib.dll file is available. (IMPORTANT NOTE: The pbAttrib.dll is installed by this installation routine. If not using this install routine to put this backup on a customer's system, copy the pbAttrib.dll from your A5 executable folder to their A5 executable folder. Without the pbAttrib.dll, the backup will still run but it may take much longer to find all the correct files if you have a large number of files in your application folder.)
Version 116 (10/16/04)
- The DATA backup will now set the Last Backup Date the same as using Alpha's built-in backup routine. This means that the date of the last data backup can now be obtained with:
DIM p as P
p.dummy = ""
a5_load_settings("backup",p)
Then get the date using p.last_date.
Version 115 (05/11/04)
- Added the ability to send the files directly to the CD on Windows XP systems using the built-in CD writing capability.
Version 114 (03/02/04) download this update
- When the backup folder is changed, the program now asks before making it the new default.
- Changed the registry path due to security requirements in Windows XP on some systems. If upgrading from version 113 or earlier, you must use either the version 114 Update or the full installation routine along with your registration number. Future update routines will only update versions 114 or higher.
EX: To update from 112 to 116 (assuming 116 is ever released), you would have to update first to 114 then to 116 or just run a full installation of 116.
Version 113 (01/10/04)
- Fixed Restore option that adds "*" to identify files listed in the .adb/control panel. Previously it only looked for the existance of the file name string in the list of files. In some cases, this caused files to be marked even when they didn't exist in the control panel; now it checks for a complete filename match.
- Changed files that will be skipped when restoring DATA without using the "Close All Forms" option. Previously any file starting with M_, Menu, or Mnu would be skipped. Now it gets the name of the table that the current form is stored in and only skips that table. This means the developer is now free to use any name for the table that stores menu forms.
- The summary of files restored was also changed to list how many files were restored, skipped, or not restored due to an unzip error (errors are normally caused by the table being left open somewhere).
- If any files were not restored, a list of them will now be shown at the end rather than during the restore operation itself. This list can optionally be copied to the clipboard for pasting into a word processor or e-mail.
- This was always true but here's a reminder: It is up to the developer to make sure that the form from which the backup runs is based on a table that contains no valid data and no forms based on other tables will remain open when the backup starts. If this is not true, then the 'Close All Forms' option should be used.
Version 112 (01/08/04)
- Fixed text centering issue in Please Wait message.
Version 111 (12/30/03)
- Modified the PleaseWait message so it can be closed manually (with lots of warning) if the backup routine should crash for any reason. Previously a crash would leave the PleaseWait message open and it could not be closed without shutting down the database.
- Added Restore options: (1) The user can now select an option to restore everything that is NOT selected. This makes it much easier when only a few files are NOT be be restored. (2) The display now displays all tables and sets that are listed in the A5 Control Panel with a preceding asterisk. There is also a button to automatically select all files with (or without) an asterisk. This is useful for restoring only the "control panel" files when other text files, bitmaps, etc. are included in the backup - or vice versa.
heme\Summary.rtt
Version 110 (11/29/03)
- Added an optional Close_Forms argument to the Data backup that closes all open forms before running the restore; then it will re-load the 'current' form when the data restore is complete. This is useful if (a) your backup routine is started from a form based on a table that does not start with Menu, M_, or Mnu, (b) your Menu table contains data, or (c) you have other tables that contain data and start with M_, Mnu, or Menu.
The one disadvantage with this is the additional screen changes that may worry some users.
- Added a ReOpen_2nd_form argument that works in conjunction with the Close_Forms argument. If your backup routine starts from a sub-form, this argument can be used to re-open your main menu. Simply include the name of your main menu form in this argument. (Careful, it's counter-intuitive because the "2nd_form" argument actually contains the name of the first logical form.)
- Added an Xbasic_wait_for_idle() during Restore operations after each file is restored. Although no problems have been reported by users, this may improve reliability.
- The Please Wait message now shows each file as it is being restored. (Since the backup operation zips large groups of files at once, the Please Wait message doesn't change during backups.)
Version 109 (Aug. 03?)
- Added two new arguments that allow the developer to (1) force the user to always run a "Restore ALL" any time a Restore is requested. (individual files are removed from the list) and (2) force the user to make the Backup/Restore choice each time rather than having Backup as the default.
Version 108 (7/6/03)
- Modified the routine for setting file attributes. Thanks to Marcel Kollenaar a DLL is now available to set the file attributes. This is faster, more reliable, and does not open the series of DOS Command windows that can cause the screen to flash. (The A5 methods are still in place to get all files listed in the A5 control panel in case the DLL is missing or fails for any reason.)
Version 107 (6/25/03) (decimal deleted - version no. is now part of file name.)
- Modified the Get_app_files and Get_data_files routines to set the file Archive attribute to ON before running FileFind operations. This fixes a possible problem of not backing up all files if a previous system/network backup had turned off the Archive bit. (Other methods had previously been employed to at least get all files listed in the .adb) This new method causes a few Command windows to flash on the taskbar but they are very brief.
Version 1.06
- A "Confirm Backup" message now appears after clicking the OK button when "Backup" is the default. This was added because people sometimes clicked the OK button before changing to Restore. This was frustrating because it automatically started another backup that could not be cancelled.
- A Restore operation will now add a complete list of all files restored to the _bkup_list_xxx.TXT file.
- In some of the earlier versions, a Restore operation would over-write the TXT file list thus deleting the record of previous backups. This was fixed in either version 1.05 or 1.06.
Version 1.05
- DIMmed all variables to solve some variable mismatch issues with other applications.
- Added a Please Wait popup during long operations
- Added two start-up options:
| (1) |
Require all restores to be full restores. This is useful when there are links that may create orphan records when a partial restore is run. The default allows individual files to be restored. |
| (2) |
Force the user to select either Backup or Restore rather than defaulting to Backup. |
1.04
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