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FileSafe.com Online Backup Software
Introduction
FileSafe.com Online Backup provides an affordable and reliable unlimited automatic background backup system for Windows XP, Vista, and Windows 7 users. Once installed, it operates in the background, periodically checking to see if files need to be backed up, and doing so when needed, with little or no effort on your part.
For most people, it's as simple as install and go.
We've kept the interface simple so that on the occasion you have to use it, that will also be simple. We offer this help section to assist you in using the program when those times do occur. These instructions generally follow the main menu in the program.
You might want to review the Config section to determine if you wish to make any adjustments after the initial installation and setup. Review that section if none other. You can wait to review the other sections until you need to use those functions.
We have included wherever possible, pop up instruction and information balloons in the program which activate when your mouse moves over a program button. These will help to guide you through the common actions.
This document is online only and will remain that way so that it can be maintained and added to as needed. It will necessarily grow as the program continues to develop. Program updates are automatic and so will be this document.
Backup Set
The program uses backup sets to determine which files to backup. It automatically creates the 'default.bus' backup set during installation. It defines this initial set as containing your user folder and all it's sub-folders. This is typically where most of a users unique data files reside. You can of course add other files and folders to this set if you wish. You can also create other backup sets. It is the default backup set which will be monitored for changes and backed up automatically. The other sets you create will be for manual or scheduled backups.
When you first click on 'Config' and then 'Backup Set', a dialog screen will pop up. From there you can choose an existing backup set to edit, or create a new backup set. After the backup set is choosen or created, the backup set item edit screen is displayed. This screen allows you to add or delete items in the backup set, including single files, complete directories, including subdirectories. It also provides for the screening of file types to include or exclude from the backup, as well as scheduling and set specific options setting.
Add File and Add Folder
When you click on 'Add File' or 'Add Folder', a file dialog box will appear. Simply follow the onscreen instructions to add files or folders to the backup set. One difference between adding a folder and adding a file should be noted. When adding a folder, after clicking on the folder itself, the dialog box will change to show the contents of that folder, if any. Before clicking on any of the contents of the folder, click on the 'Open' button on the bottom of the screen to add the folder to the backup set.
When a folder is added to a backup set, it is automatically set to backup all the files in that folder. The program will ask the user if they want all subdirectories backed up as well.
Delete Item
To delete an item from the list, simply highlight the item by clicking on it and then clicking on the 'Delete Item' button. The program will ask you to confirm your intentions to delete the item.
That will be the end of it for most users. More advanced users may wish to further refine which files or subdirectories in a given item or folder will be included in, or excluded from, the backup. Those users will want to continue with the following 'Edit Item' section.
Close - Return
When you want to leave the Config section, simply click on 'Close – Return'.
Edit Item
When you select an item and click on 'Edit Item' you can then further define what is included or excluded in the backup of that item. The 'Include' definition and the 'Exclude' definition follow the same rules, which are best demonstrated with the following example.
When you first examine the 'default.bus' set and edit the single item containing your user directory, you should see 'ALL' in the 'Include' box and a blank 'Exclude' box. The path itself for this item will be displayed followed by three dots '…' to indicate that this item also includes all the folders under this path. This configuration will backup all files in the shown directory, including all folders.
You may not want to backup all the files in the listed folder. If for example, you only wanted to backup the PDF files from this directory, you would edit the 'Include' box as follows; The 'ALL' in the 'Include' box would be removed and replaced with:
If for another example, you wanted to only backup the PDF files, the Microsoft document files (DOC) and any text files(TXT) that may be there, your 'Include' box would look like this:
Note the comma that must be placed after each file type definition, including the last one.
You can also simply highlight the file type you want in the list box below and click on the 'Include' button to add it to the 'Include' box. The 'Exclude' box works in just the same way.
You can also include or exclude entire folders. If you wanted to exclude the 'downloads' folder, your 'Exclude' box would want to look like this:
Again, you'll want to follow each file or folder definition with a comma or the program will disregard the definition.
When you want to leave the item edit screen section, simply click on 'Close – Return'.
Set Options
In addition to Global Options, (see next section), individual backup set options can also be configured. Any options configured for an individual backup set will overide global options, which are set for the system as a whole.
The same set of options, which are available globally for the system as a whole, are also available for each individual backup set. These settings will overide any global settings for the particular backup set and will not affect any other backup set. If no setting is made regarding a particular option for a given backup set, the global option setting for that option will apply whenever that backup set is run.
The same array of options is available for an individual set as are available globally; namely, compressions, encryption, system and hidden file backup, local and online backup. The exception is the CPU utilization threshold, which is only configurable under global options.
Global Options
The other section under Config is the Global Options screen. This section presents a few options available to the user to further adjust the performance of the program.
'Local Backup' is configurable both globally and locally for each backup set. You can backup different sets to different local locations, or, they can all be sent to the same location. This setting has no affect regarding online backups. When you check this box and save the options, the program will prompt you for a destination for the backup. This will already be completed if you made that choice during installtion.
'File Encryption and File Compression' are both configurable options. Encryption should be enabled by default, but can be disabled if desired. As with most other settings, this option can be turned ON or OFF for an individual backup set, which would overide the global setting.
The 'System and Hidden Files' check boxes are under the advanced options tab. These are by default unchecked. Again, most users should leave these boxes unchecked. If however, you know you have a need to backup system and hidden files, you can check this box.
The 'CPU Utilization Threshold' setting is only available under 'Global Options'. This adjustment can be set from 1 to 99 and effects the sensitivity of the background operation of the automatic backup. It is by default set to 50 and for most users, that will be sufficient. You may want to adjust the setting if you encounter any of the following.
If, by checking the server or the program logs, you find that files are not being backed up as frequently as you would prefer, raise this number. An initial adjustment in this case might be from 50 to 75.
If, on the other hand, you find that the backup program, although running in the background and having a lower priority than other programs, nonetheless, has a noticeable impact on the running of other programs, you might want to lower this number. Here, you may wish to start by dropping the number from 50 to 25.
In short, if you raise this number your backups will be more frequent but the possible impact on your computers overall load may increase. If you lower this number, the impact on your system will decrease along with the frequency of your background backups. Again, adjust only if the need arises.
When you want to leave the Options section, simply click on 'Close – Return'. If you have changed any settings, the program will ask you if you wish to save these changes or proceed without doing so.
Background
Under the Config menu, you'll also find the Background button. You can turn the automatic background operation of the program ON or OFF from here. When you click on the button, the program detects the state of background configuration and displays whether the program is ON or OFF, and then asks you if you wish to change that state.
Full Backup
Full Backup performs a complete backup of all files and folders in the given backup set, regardless of whether they have been backed up before, the size of the file, or the date on the file. This is usually used to do a backup of a backup set other than the 'default.bus' set. When you click on 'Full Backup' the program will present you with a windows file dialog from which you choose the set you wish to backup. Those listed will be the sets you have defined in 'Config' – 'Backup Set'.
The normal background backup will not occur while this backup is proceeding.
Incremental Backup
Unlike 'Full Backup', 'Incremental Backup' only backs up files which have been changed since they were last backed up. Just like 'Full Backup', you are asked to choose which backup set to process. This is the same process which occurs in the background using the 'default.bus' set under normal operation.
The normal background backup will not occur while this backup is proceeding.
Backup Size
This function can be helpful in determining the size of a backup if you want to estimate the time necessary for completion of the process or to make sure you have room on your local device to contain the backup. Choose the desired backup set and the program will determine how much room is required for that set.
All the basic functions in this section work towards the same goal; to add files, and or, folders to the 'restore list'. Once you have what you want in the 'restore list', you click on 'Start' to begin the restoration process.
Browse Database -- Browse Server
'Browse Database' and 'Browse Server' work basically the same way. They both present the user with files and folders to navigate much as you would on your computer. Double click on a file to add it to the 'restore list' and on a DRIVE or folder(DIR) to navigate through the directory tree as you would on your computer. To move a folder or a file to the 'restore list', highlight it and click on the button 'Copy selected item to RESTORE LIST'. Highlight an item and click on 'Delete selected item(s) from RESTORE LIST' to remove the item from the list.
Search Server
'Search Server' allows the user to search for a file name or mask (filename*) . After entering what you want to look for, the program will proceed to search the server for possible matches to your request. These will be listed, if any, and can be added to the 'restore list' like the others.
Start
Once you have completed building your 'restore list', you click on 'Start' to begin the process. The program will ask you where you wish to put these files and folders and you can either enter the path directly or click on the 'Browse' button to choose a location. We believe it is generally safer to restore files and folders to a temporary location which is not the original. You can then check the file to make sure it is what you want before loading to it's final destination by copying or moving it.
Delete From Server
The 'delete from server' function works very much like the restore function. You navigate through your files and folders on the server to find the files or folders you wish to delete. You add these to a list, and when you are finished, the program will delete those you have chosen.
View Logs
This function is a quick way to access the log files produced by the program when it's running. These are uploaded when you upload the 'support.bus' and can useful to the support staff.
Register
Register the software in order to take advantage of it's simultaneous online backup capability. Click on this button to step through the registration process.
Uninstall
If you wish to uninstall the program for any reason, it's as simple as choosing this button from the Utilities menu. The program will confirm your desire to uninstall it, and then will proceed to remove all files and folders it created for it's use. This is a clean uninstall. Once it's gone, it's gone.
First Backup
The initial backup performed by the program may take a significant amount of time. Depending on how much data you have on your system to backup, how busy your system is, and how fast your internet connection is, it may take from overnight to days or even a week or more to complete. It may be advisable to leave your computer on overnight, or on during the day while you're at work, or any other time that you might normally turn it off, so that it might more quickly complete this first backup.
After that, it will only backup those file which have changed. This will happen almost imperceptibly whenever your computer is on and connected to the internet.
System Requirements
This program has been designed and tested on Windows XP, Vista, and Windows 7 computers. It requires approximately 16 MegaBytes disk space to install and should run on just about any configuration you have which can run these operating systems. It consumes less than 13K bytes of memory when waiting in the background and takes less than 100K bytes of memory when in actual operation.
This program was not designed for, nor was it tested on, a dial-up connection. You must have a high speed internet connection. A DSL or better is recommended.
Tax Efile
If you have purchased the online backup option, you'll also be able to access our online tax preparation and electronic filing system, and receive a discount on any Deluxe or Premium U.S. federal return you create in the system. You'll need to access the tax system from within the FileSafe.com backup program in order to receive the discount. You must first create your return from this link in order to receive the discount. Returns started anywhere else will not be discounted.
Copyright © 2011 FileSafe.com
This program is protected by copyright law and international treaties. Unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this program, or any part of it, may result in severe criminal and civil penalties, and will be prosecuted to the maximum extent possible under the law.
Licenses
Certain other programs are used by FileSafe.com Online Backup. These programs and their documentation and license information is available in the 'program.zip' file contained in the install directory for the main program.
Support
For further support, see our FAQ or contact us at support@filesafe.net.
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