Copy Script for Applications folder?

[Pisces]

In addition to my Users folder, I have backed up my Applications folder to an external drive. I'd very much like to use Copy Newer to update the Applications folder periodically, just as I do to update Users. I've read the Copy Scripts section of the manual and experimented a bit with it, but if there is a way to do what I described, I can't figure out what it is -- unless it's "Back up - all files" and then "Ignore" everything but the Applications folder. Is there any other way to do it?

TIA -- and thanks also for a great app with terrific user support.

Pisces

[dnanian]

Are you sure you want to isolate these two updates like this? It won't be significantly faster than a full "Backup - all files", especially if you use Smart Update (or Copy Newer), since we always "walk" the entire drive (since the scripts themselves can be arbitrarily complex).

But, if you really want to do this, the best way is to create a brand new copy script. Include the "Exclude all files" script in the 2nd tab, and then add the Applications folder in the 3rd. Make sure the command in front is "copy", save with an appropriate name, and you should be all set.

Make sense?

[Pisces]

Are you sure you want to isolate these two updates like this? It won't be significantly faster than a full "Backup - all files", especially if you use Smart Update (or Copy Newer), since we always "walk" the entire drive (since the scripts themselves can be arbitrarily complex).

The external drive is USB and not bootable; my bootable clone is on a Firewire drive on another machine. We're talking Applications archives here, not emergency clone; the more-frequent temporary Users-only backup just happens to be on the same USB drive as my archives because there's lots of room on it. But I didn't make that clear. Sorry.

But, if you really want to do this, the best way is to create a brand new copy script. Include the "Exclude all files" script in the 2nd tab, and then add the Applications folder in the 3rd. Make sure the command in front is "copy", save with an appropriate name, and you should be all set.

Make sense?

It does. Somehow I missed seeing the "Exclude all files" script. I'll have another look. Thanks for your help!

[dnanian]

My pleasure. Let me know how it works out for you!

(Remember, too, that backing up /Applications isn't truly sufficient for an application backup... it'll only get "part" of non-drag-and-drop applications...)

[Pisces]

My pleasure. Let me know how it works out for you!

(Remember, too, that backing up /Applications isn't truly sufficient for an application backup... it'll only get "part" of non-drag-and-drop applications...)

Wooooo. Thanks! I didn't know that. If you have a moment: which "part"?

[dnanian]

That depends on the application, of course! Many applications have fonts, frameworks and other elements that are stored in other locations of the file system.

This is why I always recommend that people do a full backup. It doesn't take more time, and guarantees that things are *truly* backed up... when you try to be 'selective', you can sometimes leave important things out, and running them all down is quite difficult.

[Pisces]

That depends on the application, of course! Many applications have fonts, frameworks and other elements that are stored in other locations of the file system.

This is why I always recommend that people do a full backup. It doesn't take more time, and guarantees that things are *truly* backed up... when you try to be 'selective', you can sometimes leave important things out, and running them all down is quite difficult.

Thanks, Dave. I'm convinced.

[dnanian]

Glad to hear it, Pisces!