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

[fabs]

That's OK. I've added some piece of code that will check if source drive (or network path) still exists if a source file is not found when trying to copy it. Then it will show a message saying that source media is missing and may be disconnected. It will give the choice to continue or cancel current job.

Edit : I've went a bit further as there was some things I did not think about. If running in command line mode, the program cannot stay just like this, waiting for someone to click the "Continue" or "Cancel" button. So, I've left it for interactive mode. In command line, it will just continue to try to do what it's doing and log the errors. Also, doing such changes, I noticed that percentage calculation of failed files was not based on the right numbers so I've fixed that too.

All of these will be in next update (hopefully very soon).

 

[fincoder]

This! That's a real concern here and there's clearly an improvement to make. Handling troubles while (just) listing files to copy is probably not the right thing to chase as this sounds like an alarm saying that data may be at risk. Since Fab's can have to adjust permissions on folders (so it writes on the disk somehow) if it can't get what's inside, then it's better to work with a clone instead of letting it cause even more damage.
The fact that there is already a retry feature while copying with a timeout before skipping to next files sounds like a good compromise to me.

Having it trying to to copy files while source drive has dropped is a real problem and definitely needs to be addressed.

When I got this in a notification email I didn't realise it was Fab himself. I thought it was another user piling on Fabs!

I've added some piece of code that will check if source drive (or network path) still exists if a source file is not found when trying to copy it.

That's fantastic.

It will give the choice to continue or cancel current job.

Will it retry the failed file if the user says to continue? That's what I'd like, or even better: change the options to Retry, Skip, Cancel (or Abort).

 

[fabs]

Will it retry the failed file if the user says to continue? That's what I'd like, or even better: change the options to Retry, Skip, Cancel (or Abort).

Then I have to go back to code as there's just a "continue" button that acts like some kind of "skip" and a "cancel" one. A "retry" is a bit trickier to add but it should be there anyway.

 

[fabs]

Well, here's what I could have now :

This is what happens when I plug out USB source drive while coping data. First, I clicked the retry button but since drive was still dropped, it failed to process it and then skipped to next file. This time, I clicked the "skip" button and it tried next file. Since I did not plus the source drive back, it stopped again asking me what to do next.
Then, even if this is not a really good idea in my opinion, if I can get source drive back, I can resume the copy job.

Sounds pretty fair to me.

 

[fincoder]

The dialog box looks good, just as I imagined.

This is what happens when I plug out USB source drive while coping data. First, I clicked the retry button but since drive was still dropped, it failed to process it and then skipped to next file.

I don't understand why a retry skipped to the next file. The user should be able to try Retry a few times without skipping any files

Since I did not plus the source drive back, it stopped again asking me what to do next.

I don't understand why it would do this. Are you checking for the drive's existence after every failed copy?

Then, even if this is not a really good idea in my opinion, if I can get source drive back, I can resume the copy job.

I might be misunderstanding, but couldn't that potentially skip files? Isn't there a way to retry a few times without skipping any files?

 

[fabs]

The dialog box looks good, just as I imagined.

I don't understand why a retry skipped to the next file. The user should be able to try Retry a few times without skipping any files

I don't understand why it would do this. Are you checking for the drive's existence after every failed copy?

I might be misunderstanding, but couldn't that potentially skip files? Isn't there a way to retry a few times without skipping any files?

It skipped after second try failed. I thought that if it still does not work, it has to move on. Obviously that's not what is expected there...
Yes, if it can't find source file, then it checks if the drive is there because it could have dropped again. I think that's relevant in such a case so I'll keep that.

Anyway, I need to rethink this as this is clearly not as fair as I thought

 

[fabs]

So, I'm polishing it.
If the source drive drops, the program will write that in the log, then it will prompt with 4 choices : "Retry", "Skip", "Skip all" (so next files in the same case will be skipped too) and "Cancel".
If we hit the "Retry" button, it will prompt again in case of another failure, and that without limited number of attempts. So, that's possible to click "Retry" again and again and again...

I've still a glitch to sort out : when retrying to copy such a failed file, there is some piece of empty destination file at 0kb that the program does not free. Because of that, even if source disk goes back on, it never gets overwritten with the correct one. Work in progress.

Edit: I've found what caused the glitch. It was because of first source disk drop : the program was supposed to grab information from source file at this moment but since it was not there, this task was in error state and the rest of the process could not be done. I've added some instructions so it will move on and free resources. Now it works fine.

 

[fincoder]

Great work @fabs

 

[fabs]

Hello,
Fab's AutoBackup 7 Pro and Fab's AutoBackup 7 Home & Office 7.12.2.6047 have just been released.

Here is the change log for both versions:

Added :
- PRO ONLY: If source drive got disconnected while processing files copy, the program continued to try to copy every still pending file. Now, in interactive mode, it will ask for retry to copy the file, skip this file to next one, skip all files in the same case or cancel current job. In command line mode, it will just try to continue and will log the errors.

Fixed:
- Failed files percentage calculation was not based on the right numbers.
- While listing files to be copied the program could look for items that are in excluded folders. It would not list for copy them but that could be annoying and quite time consuming, especially when dealing with failing hard drives that would slow down the entire process.

Grab it from your orders history's details on the shop's website at https://archive.fpnet.fr/account.php (ordered before May 1st 2022) or https://store.fpnet.fr/en/order-history for newer orders. You can also use the bundled updater tool (click the "Download Fab's AutoBackup 7.X" link within the program and get the updated files).

 

[Larry Sabo]

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.

 

[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.