James Bucanek wrote:Also correct. This was discussed some time back in the "QRecall and CoreData" thread.

Oops. Now I wonder if what you wrote is what I'm remembering. Should have searched the forums a little better than I did.

To specifically address the issue of databases, I'm planning a new filter option that will ignore a folder full of files if any of those files are currently open for modification (write access). The capture would always be "safe" in that the capture would only occur if all of the files are closed.

That would be a welcome solution. But until then it sounds as if I will have to exclude any file that might have an open database in a folder I intend to backup (I work at home, my hours aren't regular, and I don't know if I can be disciplined enough to quit those programs that might fall into this category).

Is there someplace a list of those applications using CoreData? Or am I perhaps being too paranoid about this problem?

Some of the programs I use recommend their databases not be backed up while the program is running. Specifically, I'm thinking of DEVONthink Pro, PowerMail, and SOHO Organizer (which uses OpenBase).

Both DtPro and Organizer allow one to set the number of backups the application itself will keep, but I want to have another backup, preferably through QRecall, on another disk. And, of course, I'd like to capture these files a few times during the day. It's my impression the potential for damage is due to the fact that these databases needed to be closed before copying, otherwise an incomplete file will be written.

For this purpose, does QRecall do anything different in capturing quanta so I wouldn't have to be concerned about quitting the program to ensure a complete, undamaged capture?

Thanks.
By the way, I just found the screencasts on your home page. They are well done and present the information very clearly.
I look forward to seeing more, in particular, one that clarifies the rolling merge options.

Mark

Do the claims of space-saving efficiency apply to graphics files, too?

For instance, if I add a layer or two to a 300 MB Photoshop or Painter file, will QRecall only back up those layers so that I don't end up with two 300 MB files?
Or if I make changes to an existing layer, are only those changes added to the back up file?

Is it practical to have QRecall back up these as files as I'm working?

When I work with Painter and, because I have had reason in the past not to trust their native RIFF format, I typically save iterative versions of a working file. At the end of the day, I might have an additional five or ten or fifteen saved files. I'll usually delete all but the last three or four and keep those until the next day when I start again, repeating this until the project is finished (which can be anywhere from one to six weeks after it's started), at which time the final version is archived to DVD and the iterative versions deleted.

So it might look like this:
----------
Working_001 ...to... Working_010
End of day:
delete all but _007 - _010
Next day:
Working_010 ...to... Working_020
End of day:
delete all but _017 to _020
etc
----------

I'm trying to figure out a back up strategy that will give me the protection I need without filling up a drive too quickly.

I did order a 2TB NAS drive which I intend to mirror as a RAID 1 and will be used to back up all my files as well as those on two other computers used by my wife and kids.

Thank you, James. I purchased a license and now just need to get that drive.

Will QRecall play nice with itself or do I need to make sure the schedules for each of the computers don't overlap? I'd guess that's less a concern when it's writing to three different archives, but what about if I choose to add licenses so they are writing to one?

We are a family of four with two adults, two children, and three computers all of which need to be backed up (not the children, so much).

Each computer has at least two accounts, one for an adult and one or two for the kids.
I plan to get an external drive that will be used for our back up files--I guess this can be something like Apple's Time Capsule (is this an NAS drive?) or one that can be attached to one of the computers and accessed by all through the network.

Would I need QRecall running on each computer and then on each user's account (as many as six copies) to back up everything to this external drive?

If I understand correctly, I can use one license for all our back up needs, but that creates one database for each user (or more in this case?). To make the most efficient use of the space on the hard drive, how many licenses would you recommend?

Thanks.
Mark