I recently started using the "dated" backups...where the date is appended to the associated backup files. It seems like a good idea. However, I've realized that there is no way to limit how many backups are kept. With regular backups you can specify a limit. Does anyone know how to limit dated backups?
Thanx in advance.
I'm confused by your question.
"Dated backups" are " regular backups" ... just with the new capability to append the date to the name of the backup file. There is no way to specify a limit because the only time such backups occur is when you initiate them.
The only backups you can place a "limit" on are Quicken's own "automatic" backup, which is done every seven days or so. You can tell Quicken to keep from 1 to 9 of the backup files created by that automatic backup.
Perhaps you are confused in that before you permitted Quicken to append the date to the name of the "regular" backup file, the name of the "regular" backup file was always the same ... the name of the file being backed up. This meant that, if you backed up to the same folder each time, you overwrote the previous backup - sort of indirectly placing a limit on the number of backup files to one.
If you chose to append the date to the name of the backup file, there will never be two backup files with the same name; so I suspect if you want to control how many of those backup files are kept, you will have to manually purge the ones that are "too old".
To avoid the problem, setup "backup folders" for the number of backups you want to save. One approach: one backup folder for each day of the week. Then do not append the date to the name of the backup files, and you will never have more than 7 backups.
Also, every windows file has a "date modified" file characteristic; you can do a Windows search for *.QDF (or QDATA.QDF for more precision ... depending on the name of your data fileset) and sort the resulting search results by "date modified" to easily find the backup of your most recently modified fileset.
Yes...I suppose it is confusing. I do like the dated backups (and yes I know about the "date modified" field) but the limit on Quicken's own backups (I used to have 5) is a nice self-containing feature. I'll just have to decide which way to go. I really want the least manula intervention though.
Thanx.
John - I think what zipp wants (and I thought of this too) is that if you were allowed to specify, say 3, the number of 'dated backups', not only would Q do the dated backup, but also DELETE all of those that are older (easy enough to do by having Q look at the file names in the directory and understanding the format - after all - Q created them!) at that number of sets (3, in this example) are limited to 3 in the directory.. As it stands now, each time you do this, you simply add to the ever growing number of files! I uised this feature for about 4 months and was agast at how many backups I now had!!
I now sort by name, and use SHIFT CLICK twice in the directory listing to block out all of the 'old' ones except for the last 3 that I usually keep and do a massive delete about once a month.
Zipps original idea has a lot of merit. Without some manual effort now, the backup directory grows without bounds.
Well the least manual intervention is to do one of two things:
For me personally I burn my backup drive to a DVD once a month, delete what I had on there, start over and drop the DVD at my parents house.
In my previous append you replied to, I wrote: "...and do a massive delete about once a month."
Right! That's what I said.
Can you share your 'script'? I like #1 better because I don't have to do anything. I can take your script (REXX, PERL, whatever) and tailor it for my Quicken directory if you care to post it.
Thanks!
---------------------------------------------------------------- Regards -
- Andrew
BeanSmart website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.