Recent Posts

476

General Software Discussion / Re: Notes with dual ( X and Y axis ) user category tabs & other interface niceties

« Last post by Steven Avery on March 25, 2012, 12:30 PM »

Hi,

RightNote new release 2.4. My two warning messages seem to be gone.
Haven't checked other new stuff.

Anybody have any idea whether I really saw an XY grid, with tabs on both sides ?

It hit me as really kewl, but I fergot to note it down.  I'll try to look at all the note
programs I know when I have a chance.

Steven

477

Developer's Corner / Re: The tricky issue of structuring a database log table for your web service

« Last post by Steven Avery on March 24, 2012, 12:56 PM »

Hi Folks,

My understanding is that the particular database makes a difference, as well as the type of access fitting the database.  A million records may be super-quick on a Sequel server while bog down on a PostgreSQL (simply based on the type of access, how memory is handled, etc.)   It is possible that the person who told me this (they did a switch for this reason) had other factors involved.

Generally, if the data structure is quite similar, as a general concept it would seem proper to keep the number of tables small. (e.g. User and System.) In all those cases where you want "all the activity of user A". ... you really would prefer to extract from one table with keyed access, rather than jump here and there and do special programming and joins and this and that.

Your concern about the notes would not seem to matter much, except in a fixed format data file where you might end up with gigabytes of blanks.  Which is a different legacy architecture. If the notes are actually typed in by the user, they are an integral part of the data.

Sensible decisions on archiving of course will help you out.

And I agree about bouncing this off the real database experts.

Steven

478

Developer's Corner / Re: Invoicing & inventory problem for my business.

« Last post by Steven Avery on March 24, 2012, 11:53 AM »

Hi,

When you say the server should send the response email, I think you are assuming a web site linked to its email server in its same domain ?  Surely that would save a step and be reliable, once set up, for an automated response.   However that is assuming that you are keeping the auto-increment logic there as well, along with the customer database and all related biz data.  If you want the app local, on your own PC-Mac, then there might be some decisions.  Same thing if you want more personalizing in the response email.  If you are trying to do a small, simple app, it seems like forcing everything unto your host server adds some complication. (And may help explain the $1500 price tags above.)

And if you auto-check your mail every minute, or have some sort of push-passthru-download (including the simplicity of Gmail forwarding which does work great)  I really do not see any real functional distinction.  My email I estimate at better than 99.99% fine for those activities.  (I pass a lot of forum mail down to boxes on my PC.)  What is the advantage of a 3-second or 1-minute save ?

The point is simple. The email response itself might be excellent in the cloud.  However if you decide the full app should reside on your disk, then you may not want to divide responsibilities.

Another point is that you would have fairly elegant customization if your "Filemaker" had nice hooks.

Note that these database programs will also have "server" options, but again, why spend the extra money and hassle for a KISS application ?  Later, you could always port your app to the server.  Even Filemaker, known for its proprietary files (e.g. .FP7) I believe now will run on some sort of SQL database as an alternative. (Check this, though, if it is important.)

The idea that you will simply hand-code in PHP the overall functionality of a Filemaker app is simply a non-starter, imho. Where I program on an iSeries, one exec actually set up duplicate functions on Filemaker just to get the really nice email, PDF, word-processing, excel-export, PC style data-base integration, running local server multi-user (including a lot of communication and documents with vendors overseas).  I'm actually in the process of deciding how to best re-unify the system, while letting the few users maintain that nice simple functionality.  (I'm even considering simply forcing all data entry to be on the mini and then refreshing the data periodically.  At least at first, so that no functionality is sacrificed while playing with alternatives to Filemaker.)

I can see the plus for a mission-critical response.  My internet connection has an outage, usually a couple of hours, every few months.  If you absolutely had to have quick response all the time, that might be unacceptable, since you do add another traffic point.  The other day I had to reboot my router, and was down for a bit, a quirky situation.  Clearly, you would avoid the occasional local point of delay.

Steven

479

Developer's Corner / Re: Invoicing & inventory problem for my business.

« Last post by Steven Avery on March 23, 2012, 11:20 PM »

Hi,

You are talking about a mini-app.  If someone has it available, modifiable for your needs, look it over.  However, why not put it together in a database program where fields have an auto-increment function and where you could build around your first portion-app, to do more later.  Filemaker and AlphaFive come to mind, 4D and Dataease and others, Filemaker still being the ease-of-use leader for simple apps with a good environment for writing letters and excel export and such. Some of these can run on a database like MySQL, and/or their own proprietary formats.  This is an area where it is hard to find similar full functionality and ease-of-use in products from an SQL lineage (Servoy is an example, maybe there are others, things like Navicat come to mind, but there functionality is limited.)

Your only real "external" issue is triggering the activity from a received email. With a product like Filemaker and AlphaFive you ask (and search) on their forums and you probably get a few good answers.  Should be fairly easy, a lot depends on the email product used (Note: Filemaker may have some email integration/hooks.)  Let's say you use Eudora but prefer Thunderbird or TheBat! for this app. You should be able POP-ify a Gmail account so that you could work that account with Thunderbird/Bat so you do not have to change your own personal email preference. "Pushing" the email response should be fairly simple, built in to the product (one of the reasons you purchase an environment instead of simply doing more basic raw code, as in a scripting language).

Cost .. $300 or so for a program that may give you wide use for your business.  And some hours of your time getting up to speed and putting together the mini-app.  Again, for simplicity, Filemaker should be considered if you want an "out-of-the-box" learning curve.

Even if you want to contract out the app, you can discuss it on their forums.  One big advantage  ... when it is done you have a base of thousands of programmers who could modify it tomorrow.

(I looked around a bit for a freeware or $100 product that might fit the bill.  It would be a good niche but have not found one yet. Maybe Access at $140, and there is WinDev Express ... free .. as a possibility. Real Studio has a personal edition for $100, but the environment is probably comparatively sparse, leading to coding time.  Similar with Servoy, open source with a community edition. Open Office has Base .. or ooBase .. to consider.  Not to mention the attempt to make spreadsheet programs like Excel into database programs. On any personal or express edition you have to check the license stuff about a biz use.)

Steven

480

General Software Discussion / Re: System tray to be on the top:

« Last post by Steven Avery on March 17, 2012, 02:59 PM »

Hi,

Here are two system tray questions.

1) Right Click--> Show the Desktop...
Is there a 'put back the windows' key ?  Or another way to do this.

2) View system tray details, maybe in its own window. 
e.g. Show larger icons with text (and separate active from inactie).

Any such utility ?  I know Windows 7 changed this some, but anyway, why do
we have to puzzle over icons continually ?

Steven

481

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Xara Xtreme 5 Giveaway

« Last post by Steven Avery on March 16, 2012, 10:23 PM »

Hi Folks,

They used to be on the Brit PC magazines a lot.
This net stuff might be fairly new, although there is a mention of at least one giveaway earlier.  

Anyway, looks good to me.  Sound company, solid software, permanent license,(if you get by the reggie issues),  no good competitors on my system, perfect price.

Steven

482

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Raxco PerfectAntivrus and AntivirusPlus 2012 90%Discount

« Last post by Steven Avery on March 15, 2012, 03:18 AM »

FYI
This is the BitDefender engine, (or rebranded BitDefender) as discussed at Wilders. 

Steven

483

General Software Discussion / Re: Cloud Backup Simplicity

« Last post by Steven Avery on March 13, 2012, 10:43 PM »

Hi Aravindt,

Good info about the service and user issue.

One thing I noticed about Vendu was that I could not even find a pic of its backup utility or file manager.  And I gather that  it is working only with S3, so it is of limited usage.  DriveHQ already has a very fine file manager (FTP-based) so you don't really need the mapping there ... but you still want a nice way to use your standard backup programs to the web. I should test the FTP method.

Maybe I will try the pricey WebDrive on one puter. Or Expandrive. Then maybe the two puters on the home network can backup from one system, which is logical anyway.  

Those seem to be the basic two alternatives:

1) live with FTP, do not worry about drive letter

2) force the drive letter, maybe using a 3rd party tool to help

Steven

484

General Software Discussion / Re: FinePrint vs. priPrinter

« Last post by Steven Avery on March 11, 2012, 03:02 PM »

Hi,

Priprinter has a forum, too.
http://forum.priprinter.com/index.php

Not superactive, but a nice plus.
It is true that one advantage of Fineprint is that it does less, and is simply so efficient on the basics.
It is "comfy".

Neither company has done much on discounts and such.  Whichever one does Bits first will probably
get a good number of new customers.  Bits du Jour has only done Greenprint, afaik, in 2008, with little chatter.

Clickbook looks like it wants to be a Print-Everything type program, which we would usually do with a dedicated program, or programs.

Steven 

485

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: AnVir Task Manager 6.5 for free plus 30% discount on PRO version

« Last post by Steven Avery on March 10, 2012, 04:25 PM »

Hi,

While I have mixed feelings about the Anvir tools, I must say that it warns me of certain registry changes (I think that is what it is,  or maybe stuff like system files or .exe files monitoring) that nothing else in my security mix is warning me about right now, on one my of my puters. 

So the program really does have some pizazz.  A little cluttered in look, but with a lot of features.

I sort of missed this latest upgrade/freebie (I really do not like bundled hassleware that I can avoid but is designed to trap the daily runner) but Anvir is pretty good on occasionally putting out a freebie beyond their standard here and there.  Next time I will probably jump quicker.  I'm not sure what is the level that gives the HIPS types warnings.

Steven

486

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: WordPress bundle: $59 instead of $609!

« Last post by Steven Avery on March 09, 2012, 11:44 AM »

HI,

Any WordPress experts ? Let's say we planned right now to start a great new blog.

How many of these are placing you in a place that you have to continue later at $ or suffer some inconvenience (in other words, a freebie that has to be evaluated very carefully), or related to stuff that might not really apply.

How many of these are real absolute value ?
And how many are sort of throw-ins ?

Clearly we would be unlikely to pay $600 if it wasn't the bundle, but is there real $200 value ?

Your comments ?

Steven

487

General Software Discussion / Re: Cloud Backup Simplicity

« Last post by Steven Avery on March 09, 2012, 11:28 AM »

Greetings !

I just read up on the mapping situation.

The goal is sensible, have various places in the cloud available to be accessed by standard Windows utilities by mapping to a drive.  This is not just storage places, but your internet development or your whatever.  Often, there are alternative access modes (e.g. FTP programs) so none of this is mandatory , but the idea is sensible, if it can be implemented right.

Seems there are a number of ways to approach this.

1) Hand-mapping ... by batch file.
Or maybe you can just get it to stay (persistent, auto-reconnect, auto-connect  working fine)

2) The programs designed to help with mapping. Including the variations of FTP, SFTP, WebDav, etc.

3) The Cloud multi-point programs that have mapping, or some equivalent, pointing to other cloud services. An equivalent though would be proprietary, maybe helpful for cloud storage.

4) Other considerations

======================

Here is what I found on (2) although any info should be checked.

WebDrive - South River Tech .. the genre leader, $ - claim-> "WebDrive is the only FTP Client that supports additional protocols such as WebDAV, SFTP and Amazon S3 and maps a drive letter to each of these servers" - license seems to be per seat, an uggie

ExpanDrive - was SFTPDrive

netdrive - old Novell program, abandonware, Novell de facto sanctions (however their competitors claim license concerns)

netdrive - from netdrive.net, apparently Korean, Solution Box, Marcodata, bdrive.inc  - reputation only fair

FTPDrive - Killprog - maybe limited to FTP, but has one big advantage, gives multiple sites the same Drive #. Security is handled by OpenSSL open source utility.

DirectNetDrive - some complaints, little visibility

AnyClient -  JScape (used to be reddrive) .. probably does not actually map, but still interesting

===================

A comment from Olsex, one of the storage unit companies, that sheds some light on the problem:

Olsex
http://www.onlinesto...om/networkdrive.html
Most people don't like to change the way the access data just because they have changed how the data is stored. Online Storage Services, knowing, this have tried to create the feel of a hard drive for remote storage using software that maps a Webdav or FTP server to a drive letter. This approach has proved slow and problematic. Windows already has a robust network drive mapping system built in but due to many long since fixed security problems most Internet Services Providers block the ports needed to map a drive using windows across the Internet. We have developed a solution to the problem and now offer our users a real network drive mapped via an encrypted vpn tunnel directly to your storage share .... We have been testing several different methods of mapping network drives for many years. Direct mapping via an SSH Tunnel is the best way of mapping online data storage. This however is just one way to access your storage here at OLSEX. You can still map a network drive using Netdrive, Directnetdrive, Webdrive or FTPDrive. We never limit our users ability to access the service in a way that works best for them.

======================

On the products above, I am thinking of playing with that FTPDrive product first, as I like the idea of various cloud places being accessed with one drive letter. It is free but the homesite is one of those hard-to-read black pages.   Dunno if anybody else does that 10 sites to one drive letter thing.

ExpanDrive was on Bits.
http://www.bitsdujou...software/expandrive/

Which points back to an earlier monologue .
   
Bits - ExpanDrive - mapping a drive to USB
https://www.donation....msg274445#msg274445

At this point I would say that I might also try the ExpanDrive product too, and try to Bits the price.

Later I will try to give a quick review of the (3) group, some names I found interesting are are Cloudberry, Gladinet, Joukuu, Olsex, Otixo, SmeStorage, TeamDrive, ZeroPC.  Maybe some of these will map to their drive, and they act as traffic cop to other places .

=======================

The flip side of this is simply to work the other way.  See if the utility programs that are most important (e.g. Backup) are happy working in a secure FTP mode.

One other "gotya" to consider.  When do the utilities change the drive letter globally ? Let us say that FTPDrive is communicating the 10 places as the "F:" drive.  Is its current one of the ten global to all your Windows programs ? And as FTPDrive points to another one, then your Backup program will work with that one ?  And then, can you command line into the program to make the current pointer known. Or is it a bit of a fake-out.  Inquiring minds.

Steven

488

General Software Discussion / Re: Notes with dual ( X and Y axis ) user category tabs & other interface niceties

« Last post by Steven Avery on March 09, 2012, 08:45 AM »

Hi,

Yes, I ran into the same lack of quick response on a request about:

System Icon Database not found
Custom Icon Database not found

on loadup.  And I mentioned to Rael some of the customization questions (enhancement requests). However, none of this is critical, to be fair, all very minor.  Also sometimes responses get lost in the aether.  

Maybe we should set up a RightNote discussion thread here ? Is that "normative" ?  The program is very quite nice to use, I hope to do a bit of comparison in the weeks ahead (MyBase, Treepad, etc.) Maybe Rael will join us if he sees the tone is supportive and helpful, and then maybe move to a wider venue too.  

The reason the RightNote system is not exactly the most full X-Y possibility is that you could have Tabs on the left as well.  Then you would have three major groups, like this:

Tabs on left --
Major totally independent categories - e.g Puter, Spirit, Special_Project, PIM
(this in many systems would be separate disk files)

Lets take PIM as an example, although Puter might be better.  Remember, we are using RightNote as a general note holder, we might xfer notes later to more structured programs like a Rainlendar for Calendar or Swift for To-Do or Listpro or Essential PIM for this and that. Or our programming expertise in Alpha 5, etc.  However notes always have a nice free-form color-code master "think about this" aspect that is special, that is why we like "notes".  You can easily set up a note for thinking about the notes !

Then on the top you might have "sub-categories"
PIM -- Calendar, Addy, ToDo, PIM-Software, My Finance Info, Groupons, etc.  

Then you use the Tree as a structure.
Say within Calendar, you might have pages (optionally using subfolders) with Webinar, Daily, Special Dates, City events, etc.

This might not be the best example, because you might feel that you should one-step calendar directly to your calendar program.  Yet remember, even that program choice could change, the good thing about a master "Note" program is that it always flexible, you can always color code and high-light, and you can search-find quickly.  Also you are in and out quickly, adding or modifying. And with 2 structure levels (Rightnote) or even better .. 3, you can be comfy in design.  Granted an explorer tree has multi-level capabilities, but getting too fancy there (3-4 levels) is not something that you would likely do in notes.

======================

btw, that feature of different types of notes in the Tree in RightNote does have the potential for a being a major help.  Swift To-Do does something similar and I found it very nice.  Keep us informed of what you find.  What is a memo note ?

Steven

489

General Software Discussion / Re: SnagIt 11

« Last post by Steven Avery on March 09, 2012, 08:40 AM »

Hi Folks,

I think I will mention that ScreenPresso looks like another nice program in the genre.  I've been using it the last couple of weeks for that quick region shot.  Designed for some upload capabilities. Granted, I need to go back and compare to SSC, Winsnap, etc.  Anyway, for my limited use it has been nice, the only "problem" being an occasional short delay if my CPU stuff is high on the system.  Maybe I should tweak it to a high priority with Process This-and-That.

Steven

490

General Software Discussion / Windows Desktop ---> web-page

« Last post by Steven Avery on March 08, 2012, 07:41 AM »

Hi,

Here is a quirky idea.

Your basic Windows Desktop to a web-page.
(Does the desktop have a key to close and then reset all your windows open ? )

The web-page should get around the limitation of calling programs on your disk. (A limitation designed for internet security that can get in the way of internal browser usage.)  This limitation was discussed briefly, I think, a while back. 

Implemented anywhere ?  Make any sense ?

Steven

491

General Software Discussion / Re: Cloud Backup Simplicity

« Last post by Steven Avery on March 08, 2012, 07:33 AM »

Hi,

Right now I am stuck a bit on the mapping issue.  Remapping each bootup has some quirks, even though Explorer sort of remembers. I use XpSyspad to navigate to the network mapper, but am curious what is the .exe for my Linkman. And there are issues like persistency (maintained after the reboot) that are supposed to be handled well with .bat files, but it is not as trivial as desired.  On the other hand, the whole NetDrive, WebDrive area of utility software that is supposed to assist in this is a bit of quagmire.  WebDrive costing significant $, there being multiple NetDrive programs.  It is all clear as mud.

An alternative is simply to let the File Backup program work in FTP mode, if it handles it well. (It would be nice if the same backup set could be soft-coded in output place.)  Needs testing.

With DriveHQ, the inborn File Manager is very strong, so mapping is less of an issue there.  It remains my principle test environment for destination. Thus mapping is less important there than in other locations, since the File Manager is quite capable. (Goals of the project, super-simple automated backup sets, multiple, combined with super-easy File Manager movement and viewing.)

On the software, I still have Cobian high up, Easeus in experimentation, Backup4All and Uranium and Syncback having specific concerns mentioned above.  The VSS copying issue is major, since you do not want to close programs or copying files to get the save.  (This was the Uranium free problem.)

So experiments continue.  Share your method of using a good normal Windows backup program, with sets, with some flexibility, directly to cloud.

Steven

492

General Software Discussion / Notes with dual ( X and Y axis ) user category tabs & other interface niceties

« Last post by Steven Avery on March 08, 2012, 07:03 AM »

Hi,

A very helpful part of the note programs is strong tab implementation.  This can avoid your having data in multiple files to open and close, a big plus.  
Right Note, for instance has a strong horizontal (x axis) implementation combined with an explorer tree on the y axis with multiple levels, I think.  This could be given an arbitrary tab-interface score of maybe 8.5 on a scale of 10, real solid and strong, not spectacular.

Keynote-NF seems to have the same features. (Heavy users of the programs .. please tweak.)

TreeDbNotes as well, so this combo looks to be the standard, more or less.

Any significant functional difference in the 3 ? Right Note seems to win in "presentation" of the meal, where the tabs are easy to color and the sizes vary to text.

I remember seeing (and commenting on) one program having strong X and Y axis implementation of user-defined categories, which is a nice plus for the program.  **** Anyone remember or know which program has this ?  ****  The reason this is helpful is that often your major categories, such as finances, web, spirit, software, etc could be the Y axis distinction, while the specific topics could be X axis,   Within the specific topics, then, the Explorer tree would only get moderately cluttered.  The whole purpose here is to keep a bit of top-down thinking so that the Explorer tree does not have to be frequently opened and closed and navigated to find the present topic.

Note: some programs use tabs internally in neat ways. MyBase uses them in the context of the explorer menu, Overview, Bookmarks, Calendar, Labels, Outline.  Helpful, but a bit rigid, dunno if it is modifiable.  Of course, calendar implementation is another place where these programs have major differences.

Compare your favorite programs in Tab implementation (or any substitute ideas that are functionally helpful).

We could also discuss other aspects of tabs, and interface niceties.  Do they size and place easily, etc.  Are the button bars customizable ?  Is the user interface crisp ?

A major example -
 ** I would like my major colors right on the button bar, rather than a pull-down pallet and choice. **
Is this implemented here or there ?  A note is much more usable if you can color-code on the fly, very simply.

This thread, perhaps, can focus on these interface things, which we sometimes consider as secondary, but really help determine if we like the program.  Simple example. Keynote-NF is a nice program, but a little bland in style.  (Maybe it has skins ?)

Major first interest, tab application.

Your thoughts welcome.  Drift into other discussions if you please.  Place your pics in the thread (ok, I should remember how to do that, too). The emphasis here is generally on the free-form notes programs, the more techie database ideas are a different issue.

==============

Another big issue is an active user forum, a rarity in the Note field.  Worthy of discussion, too, as it has a lot to do with where we settle.  Right Note is considered excellent despite this lack, but it should be noted.  The developers should be encouraged on this, even if it is done by a Yahoogroups or Googlegroups type of forum, or even attempted by letting Donationcoder or another forum host.  (Wilder's does this a lot with security software, quite successfully.)

==============

Possibly in printing there are big distinctions as well.  Formatting, margins, viewing, combining pages, saving a set of printing. If you find that one program really shines here, share away.  We tend to forget about that aspect until we are done and want to take the notes with us.  It is nice if our notes can be our pseudo-.doc files.

==============

Granted, we have a danger here of running through the whole feature set of the notes, revisiting the "big threads". Not exactly the goal. More techie things like synching to the cloud, spreadsheet implementations, export-import, PIM, database, etc. are less the sense of this thread.

Steven

493

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: PDFZilla free for 20 days - Ends 14 March 2012

« Last post by Steven Avery on March 06, 2012, 05:45 PM »

Hi,

Shareware? PDFZilla uses pdftk.exe, pdf2swf.exe, and pdf2htm.exe. I say avoid.

-PhilB66 (February 23, 2012, 05:35 PM)

Legal issues ?  Ethics ? Please share more.

Let us say an open source project fulfills some function, and a commercial wrapper around the programs is sold.  In some cases this could violate a GPL license. Or there could be a simple ethical issue of not acknowledging the source programs.   There could be some cases where the value-added, to a commercial product, is sensible.  Which level is your concern here.

Thanks.

If it is clear enough then those like Lifehacker should be informed. (They had a page a year ago on an earlier similar giveaway, a number of folks struggled with the registration.)

PDFZilla Batch Converts PDFs to Editable Formats, Is Free Until February
http://lifehacker.co...-free-until-february

Lifehacker today, on new threads, seems to be making it more difficult to comment, trying to get you to use Facebook or Twitter accounts. That could be another discussions.

The zilla name come s from the excellent FTP Filezilla program.
Use by a totally unrelated company is tacky.

Steven

494

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Daemon Tools - Spring Sale

« Last post by Steven Avery on March 03, 2012, 09:12 AM »

Hi,

Daemon Tools has signed up for BitsduJour, but no promotion yet. http://www.bitsdujou...suggest/suggest=903/ I wonder should I take this Spring Sale, or wait for BitsDuJour deal.

-y2kusuma (March 03, 2012, 03:49 AM)

Since they price in Euros, you also have to wonder whether the $ or the € will win the race to the bottom by the spring.

Steven

495

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Genie Timeline Professional 2 for 10USD

« Last post by Steven Avery on February 27, 2012, 10:26 PM »

Hi,

From appearances Genie Backup Professional looks more like their regular backup software (similar to Backup4All) while this Timeline looks like it is more designed to "help" you by working with where it thinks your important files may be.  If that is so, then Timeline is not of interest here, since I like to put stuff in its own place and then decide how to backup.  Do I have the distinction right ?

Steven

496

General Software Discussion / Cloud Backup Simplicity

« Last post by Steven Avery on February 24, 2012, 03:42 PM »

Hi,

It seems to me that cloud backup simplicity will occur when :

a) your cloud drive is mapped as a local drive - so that normal backup set software can be used
    (also you have all the ease utility of Total Commander, xyplorer, etc in working with the data)

b) your backup software is reasonably robust

c) your files can be saved directly in native format, rather than proprietary or even .zip

That way you can easily make and tweak precise backups ... daily saves of volatile data, even automatic from multiple locations (a type of u-sync, I remain skeptical of auto-sync), occasional of work on websites or whatever, special research stuff handled differently, and email handled in its own way, etc.

======================

DriveHQ is my general cloud like, they have their own fine file manager and they try to make mapping almost trivial (WebDav). Cost for data backups is reasonable.  Most of my stuff is small to medium. Right now I went to $3/month.

If you have found other clouds that work as well for mapping and file visibility and control, share away

======================

SOFTWARE

Syncback looks like it is too sync oriented, and does not have the type of flexibility of saving this file here and that file there very easily.  How it works with profiles and tasks seems strange, although maybe there is some way to group that I have not found yet.

Backup4All has that excellent backup flexibility .. but for some reason they want to save as a zip.  And then if the file is real big, they have a special situation about how to dezipperize.  Ugh.   Incidentally, Syncback did have a simulation mode that B4All doesn't seem to have, however overall B4All does look like a better program for backing up without sync.

So am I missing something ?  Am I asking too much ?  Doesn't it make sense to have the option to save files WITHOUT .zip .. for quick visibility, selective restore to another spot, etc.

Also I would like my backup, if possible, to backup the same sets to an external drive, without duplication, a soft-coding of the drive:directory prefix.  Anybody do this ?

Your recommendations welcome.  I might even move to one of the lesser known off-brand backup programs if it is going to make me more confident about a solid backup every day.

Incidentally, I have no real interest in mirrors or smoke (except after an OS install with drivers and such).  If the system crashes, a clean install is called for, is my backup philosophy.  Purge the junque.

======================================

ADDED

Note: there was an earlier discussion:
   
backup software - file-by-file sets
https://www.donation...opic=27785.msg259864

Now I am trying each one to see which one is comfortable.  Syncback and Backup4All both had some problems from my perspective. Cobian is possible but a smidgen quirky.  Right now I can't find it in the system tray and  I can not kill it in Task Manager . (I was trying to cancel a job in process.)   I'll get back to it later since it is worth a look-see.  Easeus says it is missing a service, maybe I will get back to them.  So I think Uranium is next.  The free version has a 4gb zip limitation that really does not effect my basic concerns here, and it got some good comments on the earlier thread.  Gizmo likes Backup Maker, but it has a couple of weaknesses (backup up opened files, msgs in German, and maybe  a bit too much on the toolbar cautions on upgrades, etc.)

===================

I'll report back on Uranium, their solid forum is a big plus.

So far, pleasant.
"The use of mapped network drives is not recommended. Convert into the full network path ?"
Hmmmm .. I said no (defeats the purpose, I think).
Uranium created a unique folder name, I'll have to check those destination options.
However, it seems to have locked up, on the first file.

Ok, 2nd time I switched to the full network path, and giving my destination.
I would like it to say more than "Backup in progress". Oh, I may have had two instances running, which it should prevent.

Uranium .. another time around ..after reboot .good info about save (a bit slow but acceptable), very good log (an option to tell you everything), one file super-locked, no save (Swift To-Do, this may need VSS) and still strange with folder names, this has to be played with, the files themselves were in the proper native formats.

Another question: I had to regen the drive mapping after the reboot. It was quick, but still a puzzle.

===================================

ADDED - SUNDAY

Well, I think I need either on boot-up or pre-event to the save - regen the mapped dirve / is that normal /  presumably I have to learn the windows.exe and the paramaters and make it a batch file.

My problem so far with Uranium is that it locks up in an unfriendly manner (e.g. if the drive is not there) and, at least in the free version, it is weak on copying a locked file (VSS). A workaround in general for that weakness would be to copy (using a utility that beats the lock) the file and then save the copied file.

Cobian is strong on these and it has pre-events and it has the choice of saving files with a date stamp or overriding the existing regular file.   so so far it is the leader for my purposes.  I'm not sure about grouping say four backups into one group yet, but the design of a single backup is pretty good

In review so far :

DriveHQ - happy location because of easy of file manager, both Total commander style and their file manager

Mapping drives - need to automate the check that the mapped drive is there

Cobian -- very good overall, nothing fantastic, everything good
Backup4all (own pay vesion) -- good but forces .zip
Uranium -- free version - seems weak on VSS locked files, and unfriendly when locking up
Syncback -- not so friendly for backup sets, designed more for sync it seems

Steven

497

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: RightNote 50% off on BitsDuJour tomorrow - 22 Feb 2012

« Last post by Steven Avery on February 21, 2012, 11:48 AM »

Thanks, Rael.  My notes were getting stale awaiting this special !

My mind was ossifying. My synapses were misfiring. My GTD was undone !

498

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: O&O Defrag 14.5 Professional discount 81% on february 18, 2012

« Last post by Steven Avery on February 18, 2012, 04:52 PM »

Hi,

"STOCK UPDATE FEB 18: sadly, we've now run out of serial codes for this promotion and won't have any back in stock until Monday February 20, so this offer has had to end early. Check the Downloadcrew Software Store on Monday if you are looking to purchase O&O Defrag 14.5 Professional, at a special discounted price."

Hopefully the price will not change.  Since I like simply using Piriform's Defraggler once in a while, I am not sure I want to get involved with a techie defrag program.  Any glowing testimonials ?

Monday is a holiday, so they may find themselves bumping another day.

Steven

499

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: AVG Anti-Virus 2012 - till 7PM EST Friday 2-17-2012 (today) -- $3.95

« Last post by Steven Avery on February 17, 2012, 08:48 AM »

Hi Folks,

I read up on Wilders, where every program gets its share of complaints, and I see this as a nice offer. You say no to the $6 download insurance and have a nice $17 AV product (single PC) for $4. Note that the order includes items that may have little interest to most semi-techies :  

AVG PC Tuneup 2012includes 1-PC, 1-Year license       
AVG LiveKive 2012 [25GB]includes 25GB storage & a one year license   
AVG Family Safety 2012includes a 3-PC, 1-year license

There is a question as to whether you should omit anything in the install process, or whether everything has good toggle turn-off after install. That was unclear from Wilders.

For the $4 cost, with my AV in uncertainty, and with a total of 4 puters bopping around, this is a nice offer.  The famous Triple-A (AVG, Avira,Avast) of German (?) anti-virus is virtually impossible to unravel today, you simply have to use and test.  Of course there are other major players, Eset, Kaspersky, Panda, etc.

Shalom,
Steven

500

Found Deals and Discounts / AVG Anti-Virus 2012 - till 7PM EST Friday 2-17-2012 (today) -- $3.95

« Last post by Steven Avery on February 16, 2012, 11:29 PM »

Hi Folks,

AVG Anti-Virus 2012 - includes 1-PC, 1-Year license - $3.95
http://giveaway.downloadcrew.com/

I am still using Avira free, but I did get upset with how they handled some stuff last year (toolbar, Uniblue). AVG is supposed to be pretty good, so this is tempting.  I generally avoid suites, preferring to piece together my own security system, so this might be good.

Shalom,
Steven