All,

I've been loving ComicRack, but have an issue I'd hope the collective mind can help me solve.

I've got my main library on an external hard drive. I'd like to sync various files to a local drive on my laptop, which would then be available when I'm away from desk and not attached to my external drive.

Are there any tools or tip for configuration that would allow me to accomplish this? Smart lists and some sort of send to script? Anyone have any ideas?

I totally appreciate any help.

Thanks!

Currently, I do not know of any script that can do this.. may be our developers can help ?

If such a functionality can be made from within ComicRack, it would be simply great. I do not know if cYo has any plans for this..?

I can help you with third-party software for backup. Here is the list:



Backup4all



Backup4all is a backup program for Windows that protects your data from partial or total loss. It automates the backup process saving you time, compresses the data to save storage space (using standard zip format) and optionally encrypts it to protect from unauthorized usage. Backup-software Backup4all is compatible with the 32/64-bit editions of these operating systems: Windows 7, Vista, XP, 2000 and Windows 2008/2003/2000 Server.

KLS Backup 2009




KLS Backup 2009 is a powerful backup, synchronization and disk cleaner program that allows you to back up or synchronize your data to local and network drives, CD/DVD media or FTP server. The cleanup feature is a complete solution to backup and clean private data and free up disk space. The backup files can be stored uncompressed or compressed in standard Zip, 7-Zip or SQX format. KLS Backup 2009 can back up files and folders (from local drives, network locations, FTP servers), registry keys. Advanced version management, makes possible to find and restore any backup version within seconds. The synchronization feature allows you to easily synchronize the contents of two different folders.

Nero BackItUp



Nero BackItUp & Burn is the ultimate software in protecting and preserving your data. Back up irreplaceable photos, videos, music collections or important documents so your digital life remains intact after system crashes, hard drive failures or viruses.

Designed for convenience and ease, you can protect and secure all of your data in just a few steps, without ever hassling with computer settings. Plus state-of-the-art technology allows you to automate and schedule backups, restore lost, damaged or deleted data, quickly burn discs to save data and sync files for easy access.

* One-click Autobackup without hassling with computer settings
* SecurDisc technology - Extend the lifespan of burned content on CDs, DVDs and Blu-ray Discs, increase the chance of retrieving your files, protect your data from unintended alterations, and verify the originator of the data
* Easily back up data to hard drive, CD, DVD, Blu-ray Disc, FTP, memory card and online storage
* Recover and Restore damaged or deleted files from hard drives, CDs, DVDs, flash storage and floppy discs
* Fully control backup schedules and methods



GFI Backup



GFI Backup is fairly easy to use, backs up archives as zip files with or without encryption, has an easy to use scheduler, supports a variety of backup locations, will do incremental and differential backups, and has a restore function that will help you restore complete archives or individual files. GFI also has support for backing up files even if they are in use. All in all if you have already been using Titan Backup in the past you will find GFI to have a similar user experience with some nice extra features.

FBackup



FBackup is a freeware backup solution from the creators of the popular commercial application Backup4All. FBackup has a unique wizard which supports the free Backup4all plugins that will help you automatically backup data from a wide variety of different programs. For example if you use the Firefox or Opera browser, you could download and install the respective plugin, and once selected it will automatically backup all your user data such as bookmarks, history, and stored passwords.FBackup supports volume shadow copy so that it is able to backup files that are in use.

Cobian Backup



Cobian Backup has been around for quite a while, and although it's basic, it is totally reliable. When I say basic I mean it, because there's not even a restore feature! (Since it creates archives in zip format, data can easily be recovered with about any archive utility) It's used by thousands of organizations and individual users, and has the advantage of a strong user community. There's a Unicode version that only works with Windows NT and later, and a second version that doesn't support Unicode, but works with all Windows versions. It supports shadow copy so it can backup files that are in use at the time of backup. Encryption of the archives is also supported.

FileHamster



You might like to check out this simple real-time backup solution that allows you to make incremental backups of your working files as you save them. As such, it keeps a list of the revisions so you can restore a file to any one its states. It automatically time stamps and stores copies each time you save, and it allows you to annotate each copy so that your revisions are fully documented. I suggest that you watch the video demonstrations to learn more about using it. It supports several plug-ins (not free, but very cheap) such as a diff tool and a zip tool. Note: The freeware version of Filehamster is included in the trial version. After 30 days the full features revert back to the free features.

Toucan



If you are looking for a light weight portable backup solution this little app has your number. It features both backup and sync style operations. It supports incremental and differential backups, zip or 7-zip compression, AES 256 bit encryption using ccrypt, and a simple restore feature.

If you are not exhausted yet, here are the comparison tables courtesy wikipedia:





I would wish to know the opinion of other users as to what do they prefer for backing up their gigs of eComics ?

thanks. I'm not looking to backup my drive, more like take my current reading lists with me when i'm on the go. (I'm already backing up in other manners, although your list is pretty comprehensive and will make me reevaluate my current strategy...)

I really just want to somehow tell the app to copy certain books to a local directory for reading, where I can delete them from later. And I want the metadata to come with them, so I know what I've got and so on. My complete library on my usb drive will then remain intact.

haywire wrote:
thanks. I'm not looking to backup my drive, more like take my current reading lists with me when i'm on the go.
You can also backup selected folders only, if not your entire drive..

haywire wrote:
I really just want to somehow tell the app to copy certain books to a local directory for reading, where I can delete them from later. And I want the metadata to come with them, so I know what I've got and so on. My complete library on my usb drive will then remain intact.
The simplest way is to click on a list, and then select all the eComics that show up in the browser, and drag them to the folder of your choice..

This is how i do it (to solve exactly the same problem you have):

At one point, i copied all my library to my laptop. This is unavoidable, and must be done at least once. Take note of the date you do this.

After a while, and after adding a few hundred more books to the library, i edit the "Recently Added" smart list and i change the number of days shown. If you put in there the number of days since your last backup, you'll have a list showing only your new books and none of the books you already have on your laptop.

I then select all of those and drag them to a shared folder on the laptop, or to a separate folder on my pc that i then move to the laptop. This way i can ensure that no book already on the laptop gets carried over.

It works quite well, for something not automated.

fK

forkicks wrote:
...It works quite well, for something not automated.
It is a nice workaround.
However, in the list of backup software I mentioned above, I think all of them will do this thing in an automated way.. so, why not use them ? at least the free ones..?

p.s. I intend to backup all my collection this sunday, I'll let you know how it went

my main problem here is that your first step is impossible for me, as my external drive's library is larger than the empty space on my laptop (i've got smaller solid-state drives)

The problem with the backup approach is that I don't want entire folders. I may for example want only the latest 3 issues of one book and then an entire story arch that spans several titles (such as civil war). I understand selecting them would be manual...I'd just like to get them moved over to the local library and not have to deal with too many duplicates across libraries when looking at comic rack.

Perhaps there's a way to scope which library all the lists are looking at? So I could create lists for the library on the eternal hd and lists for the local drive. And if I read a book from the local library, then replace it back in the external drive, would the information about when I read it travel with it?