Robocopy Config file?

If you run Robocopy with an RCJ file (Robocopy Job) just once, then the file is just that: a job file. However, if you plan to use the same settings over and over again, then consider this a configuration file that is easily modifiable and copyable to reuse on other directories.

I personally have a directory structure set up like:

Backups
  |--BackUpJobs
  |        |--*.RCJ files
  |--BackUpLogs
  |        |--*.lob files
  |--*.bat files (for single jobs)
  |--RunAllBUs.bat (to execute all jobs)

The log files should be self-explanatory. Here I just want to run through the bat and RCJ files.

For my individual bat files, I will use something like this for all single jobs:

@echo off

cd c:\users\myusername\desktop\BackUp
robocopy /JOB:BackUpJobs\[WhatItIs]BUJOB.RCJ 
pause

Where [WhatItIs] is something indicating what directory I am backing up. For example, if I was backing up the CIS577 directory, the path would be: BackUpJobs\CIS577BUJOB.RCJ
As with any bat script, the path is relative to where the script is executing from.

Now for the fun part, the rcj "config" files. These files, if you know the syntax for robocopy, can be modified in short time to create a full backup system with a variety of operations. For instance, one job can do a /MOV, which will delete everything from the source after it's copied to the destination while another job just makes a copy of the directory and all subs(/E), copying new(er) files to the destination.

CIS577BUJOB.RCJ

::
:: Robocopy Job
::C:\USERS\MYUSERNAME\DESKTOP\BACKUP\BACKUPJOBS\CIS577BUJOB.RCJ
::
:: Created by myusername on Sun Apr 10 2011 at 20:46:13
:: Modified by hand. 15 May at 1210 am.

::
:: Source Directory :
::

/SD:C:\Users\myusername\Desktop\CIS577\ :: Source Directory.

::
:: Destination Directory :
::
/DD:\\werdenshare\GoFlex Home Personal\DaveSchoolMain\UofM_Dearborn\CIS577\
:: Destination Directory.
::

:: Include These Files :
::
/IF :: Include Files matching these names
:: *.* :: Include all names (currently - Command Line may override)
::
:: Exclude These Directories :
::
/XD :: eXclude Directories matching these names
:: :: eXclude no names (currently - Command Line may override)
::
:: Exclude These Files :
::
/XF :: eXclude Files matching these names
:: :: eXclude no names (currently - Command Line may override)
::

:: Copy options :
::
/S ::Copy Subdirs but not empty ones
/E ::Copy Subdirs including empty ones
/COPY:DAT :: what to COPY (default is /COPY:DAT).
::

:: Retry Options :
::
/R:1000000
:: number of Retries on failed copies: default 1 million.
/W:30
:: Wait time between retries: default is 30 seconds.
::

:: Logging Options :
::
/LOG+:C:\Users\myusername\Desktop\BackUp\BackUpLogs\CIS577BULog.log
:: output status to LOG file (overwrite existing log).

The RCJ file does nothing more than pass the parameters on the command line that you would be using if you didn't use the job file. So without this file, your robocopy job using the above would be:
$>robocopy C:\Users\myusername\Desktop\CIS577\ "\\werdenshare\GoFlex Home Personal\DaveSchoolMain\UofM_Dearborn\CIS577\" 
/S /E /LOG+:C:\Users\myusername\Desktop\BackUp\BackUpLogs\CIS577BULog.log
 
A couple things to notice: the source and destination directories ONLY need to be wrapped in quotation marks IF either one has spaces AND is passed on the command line. In the RCJ file, no quotation marks needed. Also, if you notice the command line example parameters, you will see [source] [destination] /S /E /LOG+. and not the other options such as /XD from the file. This is becuase when a job you created is saved to an RCJ file, all defaults are written to the file unless you have passed a paremeter to overwrite their usage completely.
 
The really easy part that I like is that I can copy this file out, adjust the source and destination, at a minimum, and then save the file as another robocopy job file. The extra bit of ease here, if you know where the options go, is that you can easily add any option changes to the files as you create them or modify your needs. For example, in the Copy options section, I can add /MOV to the list of uncommented parameters and this will do what you'd expect as I mentioned before (although the folder/subfolder structure will remain intact.)
 
This is probably enough from me on Robocopy this year. :-)   Now I am working on a perl script to take an exported list of IE and FireFox bookmarks and to create an XML file for these. Other than the easy answer of just wanting a quicker way to access good used references, the format I am going with (as created by my buddy James) will allow me to add usernames, masked passwords (if I am feeling crazy), and/or password hints. Additionally, I am going to take it a step farther for another display field for things such as Frequent Flyer program numer and POC info. Really this is an academic exercise to create something I want...I get a little tired of scrolling through a TON of bookmarks on a LOT of different computers. By doing this, I can keep it updated and portable....basically a poor-man's way to sync some favorites between computers.

Robocopy on Windows 7

I have never claimed to be an expert on, well, anything. However, I do like to try to learn something new every day and I usually stick to the "nerdy" stuff. I recently decided that I wanted to improve the way I backed up important data at home. At work, we script it and tar it and set the archive bits and get the emails...that always seemed like overkill to me. That is until I accidently ruined two, (YES, 2) removable HDD's in one night, including a one week old 1TB Seagate drive that I had bought on sale...bummer!

I am not at an endstate yet in my search for the best backup solution for the home network. One thing I have been playing with is Robocopy...and oh what fun it has been.

My setup:
- A new (non-dropped on the floor and ruined) 1TB GoFlex network storage drive.
- Many computers...but testing from the one with Windows 7 Professional.

Source:
c:\users\myusername\Desktop\CIS577

Destination:
\\GOFLEX_HOME\GoFlex Home Personal\Dave_School\CIS577

Goal:
To back up school, family, and other documents on an automatic and easy basis...not to mention reliable. I should mention here that the Seagate software for the GoFlex comes with a backup solution that is fairly easy to use and customize. (Secretly, I just wanted an excuse to again play with Robocopy...remind myself of its functions and limitations).

Command (From ELEVATED Command Prompt):
$>robocopy c:\users\myusername\Desktop\CIS577 \\GOFLEX_HOME\GoFlex Home Personal\Dave_School\CIS577 /LOG:BackUpLogs\PicsBUlog /SAVE:BackUpJobs\PicsJob /B /V /E

- The /E is probably redundant with the /B, but I wanted to add it to ensure the directory recursion.

- The /LOG option points to a folder in the current working directory and the name of a command file for this particular backup job

- The /SAVE option points to a folder in the current working directory and the name of the logfile for this particular backup job

- The /V, like almost any other command line program....Verbosity...YEAH! :-)

If I want to run this job as a service or just in the background, I can add the /MON option (/MON:#) with a number representing the number of changes made to the source that will automatically trigger the backup job again. Careful though...if you add this from a normal command prompt...you may be waiting AWHILE for anything to happen if you are not actively changing the source location.

So Robocopy has been fun to play with today. I created jobs to backup all of our pictures from our recent trip to Gatlinburg and it is running better than copying through the GUI....yeah!