Fab's AutoBackup 7 Pro - a must have tool for techs

[fabs]

When I did the update, I got an Index out of bounds error. When I clicked cancel to close the UI, I got an address violation error. I then closed the UI without issue and tried the update again and it (AutoBackup 7 Home & Office 7.12.2.6047) said there were no more updates, so I think it's okay. Maybe it's just my system.

Well, this updater tool deserves to be rewritten. Most of the time it works but sometimes, it just errors out like this. Not easy to reproduce...

 

[fabs]

When I did the update, I got an Index out of bounds error. When I clicked cancel to close the UI, I got an address violation error.

I've found out what was wrong with the updater. It does not throw this error anymore now. I have put the fixed version online and updated the full packages so they all have it.

Since the one you have is still faulty, here's a direct download link for it so you can overwrite the one you currently have:

https://download.fpnet.fr/update/Updater.exe

Everyone can grab it and put it into their Fab's folder so next update should be smoother.

 

[fabs]

I've uploaded a new updater version as there was still issues downloading users manuals.
By the way, this ones uses HTTPS instead of HTTP (main program will too in a future release).
Download link is the same: https://download.fpnet.fr/update/Updater.exe

 

[DRPCNZ]

@fabs I just want to say that after I long time and having NEVER EVER use Fabs, two weeks ago I purchased the PRO version. A quick read of the manual as I haven't used this software and I have used it 3 times, each time I had no issues and the program did exactly what I expected it to do. It doesn't have all the Glitz and Glamour but then I'm a Tech not and end user so Glitz and Glamour doesn't spin my wheels and adds no functionality to the software.

 

[fabs]

It doesn't have all the Glitz and Glamour

Yes I know I'm not really a high level skilled designer. At least it's functional. I'll do my best to make this better looking for V8

 

[britechguy]

I'm a Tech not and end user so Glitz and Glamour doesn't spin my wheels and adds no functionality to the software.

For those old enough to remember, "The Cadillac Scene," from, To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar: Style, substance, style, substance - style! And look what trouble that decision created.

I, like you, care more, a lot more, about substance over style!

 

[britechguy]

@fabs,

By the way, the style you are currently using, if not the most beautiful, is definitely crystal clear. And when it comes to technical practices, crystal clear is definitely Job One.

No matter what you might do to "make it prettier" definitely don't regress (and I know it wouldn't be intentional) in the clarity department as far as Fabs AutoBackup is concerned! Homely but immediately grasped is far more important than pretty but somewhat opaque.

 

[fabs]

@fabs,

By the way, the style you are currently using, if not the most beautiful, is definitely crystal clear. And when it comes to technical practices, crystal clear is definitely Job One.

No matter what you might do to "make it prettier" definitely don't regress (and I know it wouldn't be intentional) in the clarity department as far as Fabs AutoBackup is concerned! Homely but immediately grasped is far more important than pretty but somewhat opaque.

Sure. I keep that in mind. No worry

 

[Fred Claus]

I know this may be a dumb question but when it comes time to renew my license; actually I think it's way past time to renew my license, how do I do it? Do I need to buy a completely new license or is there a cheaper renewal rate that I click on somewhere?

 

[britechguy]

Do I need to buy a completely new license

That's how I read the site and the terms. You purchase for one year or three years, and after that's expired if you want additional time getting updates you buy the time-limited license time you want. @fabs can answer definitively, though.

The order should still be associated with the account you established at the outset.

 

[Fred Claus]

That's how I read the site and the terms. You purchase for one year or three years, and after that's expired if you want additional time getting updates you buy the time-limited license time you want. @fabs can answer definitively, though.

The order should still be associated with the account you established at the outset.

That's how I read it too but wasn't sure.

 

[fabs]

That's how I read it too but wasn't sure.

Your interpretation is correct.

 

[britechguy]

@fabs,

Something occurred to me today that I hadn't really thought to ask before: Does Fabs AutoBackup gracefully handle interruptions, whether things like power going out or a user doing a premature cancel? And by that I mean if you start it again, can it pick up from where it left off?

It would be fine if it has to start from scratch, but it's possible that it could be progress logging and could pick up again mid-stream and I'm wondering which it does.

 

[DRPCNZ]

Yes I know I'm not really a high level skilled designer. At least it's functional. I'll do my best to make this better looking for V8

No need form my point of view I lik just as it is

 

[fabs]

@fabs,

Something occurred to me today that I hadn't really thought to ask before: Does Fabs AutoBackup gracefully handle interruptions, whether things like power going out or a user doing a premature cancel? And by that I mean if you start it again, can it pick up from where it left off?

It would be fine if it has to start from scratch, but it's possible that it could be progress logging and could pick up again mid-stream and I'm wondering which it does.

In fact, it is a mix between both : if copy gets interrupted for some reason, next time you will start the same job with the same destination, while listing files to copy, it will compare them with the ones that are already in destination and will skip them if they are the same. Then it will resume copy as soon as this comparison is over.

 

[britechguy]

@fabs

Thanks for the clarification. I had to interrupt Fabs yesterday and decided I'd start it again later just to see what it did. It became apparent after the initial processing was done that it was, effectively, picking up where it left off.

It's good to have this sort of information "on the record" from the developer.

 

[britechguy]

@fabs,

This would likely best be discussed in detail outside this venue, but I wanted to let you know that Fabs Autobackup Pro, as currently constituted, is absolutely not screen reader accessible. I was about to recommend Home & Office on one of the blind tech groups, but when I did my quick and dirty testing with Fabs and NVDA, you not only cannot access any of the three main controls on the first page, but the screen reader seems to be interacting with what one typically sees after having activated the choice for backup (though I can't be sure of it because it's still hidden behind those three choices). It's the same when using Narrator as well.

I do not know how trivial, or complex, it might be to make Fabs Autobackup screen reader accessible, but its worth thinking about and, perhaps, pursuing over the long term.

 

[fabs]

@fabs,

This would likely best be discussed in detail outside this venue, but I wanted to let you know that Fabs Autobackup Pro, as currently constituted, is absolutely not screen reader accessible. I was about to recommend Home & Office on one of the blind tech groups, but when I did my quick and dirty testing with Fabs and NVDA, you not only cannot access any of the three main controls on the first page, but the screen reader seems to be interacting with what one typically sees after having activated the choice for backup (though I can't be sure of it because it's still hidden behind those three choices). It's the same when using Narrator as well.

I do not know how trivial, or complex, it might be to make Fabs Autobackup screen reader accessible, but its worth thinking about and, perhaps, pursuing over the long term.

I've no idea on how to do that either. The first thing I think about is the color scheme that may not be very screen reader friendly. Perhaps I could look at this in a first place

 

[britechguy]

@fabs,

This really has nothing to do with color scheme as far as screen reader access goes, and, in fact, that would be entirely irrelevant to a blind user, as they can't see anything, literally.

It's a matter of coding the UI such that it follows the published standards (e.g., WCAG [for web accessibility]) for writing accessible UIs. I can't remember the name of the one for desktop applications at the moment, but I'll ask where someone would and actually mention those standards/conventions here after I have them.

 

[fabs]

@fabs,

This really has nothing to do with color scheme as far as screen reader access goes, and, in fact, that would be entirely irrelevant to a blind user, as they can't see anything, literally.

I know that blind persons cannot see colors, that's obvious.
I was thinking that screen readers probably needed some high contrast scheme so it could make the difference between text and other parts of the graphical interface. Anyway, this is definitely something I need to care about