Understanding Backups?

[brrian]

I want to verify that I understand how SolidWorks saves backups.

I have backups set to save to a particular directory, rather than the active directory. I also have it set to save two copies of each file.

Is it correct that a backup is created after each file save? Like this:

1. New file created, then saved; backup 1 created
2. File modified, then saved; backup 2 created
3. File modified, then saved again; backup 2 deleted; backup 1 renamed to backup 2; new backup 1 created

...and so on with each save??

I want to make sure my users understand how these backups work. Your comments (or confirmation) are appreciated. Thanks!

Brian

 

[Theophilus]

I'm not sure. You could test the theory by creating a feature, saving, creating another feature, saving. Exit the part and open each back up part to see if the backup parts differ from one another. If not, they would appear to be redundant copies.


Jeff Mowry

http://www.industrialdesignhaus.com

Reality is no respecter of good intentions.

 

[kellnerp]

A backup copy is saved during file save, not after. The old backup is renamed concurrently. Having backups set to 2 is very smart. Since SW is backing up the identical file it is saving, should the file become corrupted during save the backup will be also. Having the number of copies set to 2 prevents the possibility of completely losing everything.

I have been working on a way to keep the backup directory cleaned out also. My plan is to delete files over several days old automatically. At the same time SW saves information to the user's temp directory which is normally hidden. This should also be cleaned out regularly.

Some people like to keep autorecovery on, other like it off thinking that it interferes with SW speed and reliability. It doesn't always work.

Make sure that the journal file and the backups are kept on a local drive, not a network drive. Otherwise performance will suffer.

 

[SBaugh]

If you are trying to keep it clean why not make a batch file that you can double click to clean it out. I just used the same one that was given in faq559-884 and changed it to fit. See the FAQ on instructions, but this is the code for settings it up. It deletes the folder then remakes it.

Very important you read the FAQ listed above


C:\Documents and Settings\Tech Support\Local Settings

C:
cd C:\Documents and Settings\Tech Support\Local Settings\
rd /s/q TempSWBackupDirectory
md TempSWBackupDirectory

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP
3DVision Technologies

http://www.3dvisiontech.com

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

faq731-376
faq559-716 - SW Fora Users

 

[ctopher]

I have a folder on the server called "$SOL backups". The "$" is so it shows up at the beginning of the directory. Every couple saves gets backed up there and the server gets backed up every night. About once a month I clean out the folder. I only had to go back to the folder twice in the past year because of a corrupted file.

Chris
Sr. Mechanical Designer, CAD
SolidWorks 05 SP1.1 / PDMWorks 05
ctopher's home site