So how would I make this selector?

[Maser]

So, I'm setting up a new backup system here with the intent to only backup "work-related" data from client systems.

 

As such, on each client, I've set up the "Users" folder as the only subvolume to be backed up. This is fine.

 

However, I'd like to not back up *each user's* "Music", "Movies" and "Pictures" folder -- the one in the main level of each user's home directory. But I would want to *continue* to backup a folders that might be named "Music", etc. that might be in their "Desktop" folder and/or "Documents" folder, etc...

 

But I can't think of a way to do this to *only* grab: /users//Music

 

Would I have to make an explicit link for *every* account on *every* client that was:

 

enclosing folder path name does match \Users\\Music

 

Or is there another way to do this? (ideally have "\Users\*\Music" or something?

 

Suggestions? Thanks!

Edited October 21, 2008 by Guest

[twickland]

Since Retrospect lacks a wild card feature for its searches, I see only two options: either trust users to follow your instructions about how they should name their folders, which would allow you to use an enclosing folder exact-name match in your selector, or else go the multiple explicit paths route.

[rhwalker]

Steve, I don't think that there is an exact way to do what you need, especially if you have network home directories (mounted /Users) as we do, in which case you will end up with a home directory mount path of the form:

 

/private/Network/Servers/server.yourdomain.com/Volumes/ShareName/HomeDirectories/

 

But this might do what you need in both cases (NHD and local home directory), or at least get you started in the right direction:

 

Enclosing folder path name does contain /Users/

and

Enclosing folder path name does contain /Music/

 

Consider also the case of a user named "Music".

 

Russ

Edited October 21, 2008 by Guest

[Maser]

I'm trying to think if there's a better syntax for this request.

 

I can -- for each user -- certainly add three lines:

 

path name exactly matches Users//Pictures/

 

or

 

path name exactly matches Users//Movies/

 

or

 

path name exactly matches Users//Music/

 

 

But I think I really need that Wild card so my selector doesn't become overbearing (it's an area with only 30 "accounts" possible on client machines). Maybe Retrospect X will have "*" as an option...

 

 

 

[CallMeDave]

Maybe you could use Finder Labels? Tag the folders you want to exclude with a specific label (customize the name in each account or not, Retrospect doesn't care), and use that in your selector.

 

The users would have to be trusted not to change/remove the label from the folders; I suppose that's too naive a requirement!

 

Dave

[rhwalker]

I can -- for each user -- certainly add three lines:

 

path name exactly matches Users//Pictures/

 

or

 

path name exactly matches Users//Movies/

 

or

 

path name exactly matches Users//Music/

Well, the selectors you propose won't work because there won't ever be such a path name that "exactly matches" something starting with "Users/".

 

See my comment above about mount points for /Users depending on whether or not you have network home directories, and the possibility of using "path name contains" or "path name starts with" (depending on the mount point). Remember, this is as viewed from the Retrospect client, so it's the mount point on the client.

 

But I think I really need that Wild card so my selector doesn't become overbearing (it's an area with only 30 "accounts" possible on client machines). Maybe Retrospect X will have "*" as an option...

I agree, that would be nice. Put it on the feature request list.

 

[Mayoff]

We are working on Retrospect X selector UI right now and I have sent Steve's example over to engineering to take into consideration.

[Maser]

My example does work (here) as I defined the "Users" folder as the only "subvolume" to be backed up.

 

Otherwise it would have been something like "Macintosh HD/Users//Music/"

 

Just FWIW...

[rhwalker]

My example does work (here) as I defined the "Users" folder as the only "subvolume" to be backed up.

 

Otherwise it would have been something like "Macintosh HD/Users//Music/"

 

Just FWIW...

Clever, sorry I missed that, Steve.

 

russ

 

[rhwalker]

We are working on Retrospect X selector UI right now and I have sent Steve's example over to engineering to take into consideration.

Um, that's an enticing slippery slope. Full shell globbing expansion or grep functionality would be nice.

 

Russ

[Mayoff]

One option could start with everything except the \Users\*\Music folder then

add in the Desktop, Documents, Downloads, and Public folders.

 

The selector would look like:

 

Include files matching

[Enclosing Folder] Name not selected if it exactly matches "Music"

or matching

[Enclosing Folder] Name selected if it exactly matches "Desktop"

or matching

[Enclosing Folder] Name selected if it exactly matches " Documents"

or matching

[Enclosing Folder] Name selected if it exactly matches " Downloads"

or matching

[Enclosing Folder] Name selected if it exactly matches " Public"

 

The one caveat to this is that it will skip the Music in any folders that a

user may create inside their User's folder. That is, if they have a folder

\Users\username\Retrospect\Music, then we won't get that. He would have to know

about that and add it in.