BA2KCmd Installation and User Manual

BA2KCMD Installation and User Manual

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This document uses several words and acronyms such as: "Back Again/2000", "BA2K", "CDS", "CLBACK.EXE", "CLBACK", "BA2KCMD", "backup" and "options". To avoid confusion please note the following definitions:

Back Again/2000: The OS/2 backup and restore software, marketed and distributed by Computer Data Strategies, Incorporated
BA2K: An acronym for Back Again/2000
CDS: An acronym for Computer Data Strategies, Incorporated
CLBACK.EXE: The utility, included in the BA2K package, that provides a commandline interface to the BA2K backup process. BA2K has a fully functional graphical user interface and many people use it. However, some prefer a commandline
CLBACK: The same as CLBACK.EXE
BA2KCMD: The (freeware) REXX program, given here and described in this document. BA2KCMD provides a text-based user interface to the CLBACK commandline utility
backup: Most often the term, "backup", is used here to refer to a set of options, created and stored under the BA2KCMD program (sometimes the term, "commandline backup", is used). When this backup is selected, result is that BA2KCMD calls CLBACK.EXE, which in turn performs that backup according to the specified options.
options: Options is equivalent to the term, "parameters", in the Back Again/2000 User Guide description of the CLBACK commandline utility. By selecting one or more options (parameters) the user specifies a commandline backup for CLBACK to perform

To use BA2KCMD you must have the complete BA2K software package, including CLBACK, Object REXX and a color monitor installed on your system:
- Object REXX is necessary because BA2KCMD contains several functions that are in Object REXX and not Classical REXX. You can switch over to Object REXX by running the REXX program, SWITCHRX.CMD, located in the "OS2" directory on the boot drive of your system. Your existing REXX programs will probably run just fine and without modification in Object REXX. And Object REXX gives you much more capability. You can always switch back, using SWITCHRX.CMD, if you do not like it!
- The color monitor is required, because the user responds to a set of instructions and prompts by pressing and entering a key corresponding to a number or a letter. The choice of selectable numbers or letters is always shown in the specific instructions. The ones that can be selected are indicated as Red characters. For this very reason please run this REXX program from a commandline, and not from PMREXX.
CLBACK provides a set of 24 commandline options (parameters) for making a backup. The user can select any or all of them, but he or she has to remember, or look up, the syntax for each one. Therefore, mistakes are easy to make, especially if one is entering the path to a file, or a file specification. The commandline entry can quickly become very long, requiring several lines to complete. One can easily tire of the process, especially if he or she uses several and/or different options on different occasions

BA2KCMD significantly lessens these difficulties, because it provides the user with a set of one or more commandline backups, each with a set of specified options, created and saved from previous use. BA2KCMD will create (and the user can save) as many backups as the number of non-removable partitions on his or her system (both local and network partitions). BA2KCMD then provides the user with a text-based set of instructions and prompts to perform the following tasks:

Select a backup for execution (alternatively, the user can select a specific set of two (2) or more backups for execution in one operation)
Review the selected options within any backup
Change the selected options within any backup
Delete one (1) or more backups
Create one (1) or more new backups (under certain conditions)
Exit from the program

BA2KCMD is fairly "bulletproof" to use. For example, if the user inputs a file path, BA2KCMD performs a check to verify that the file, or in some cases the directory path to that file, actually exists. If a recognized input error occurs, BA2KCMD informs the user and rejects the input. Similarly, BA2KCMD attempts to insulate the user from the idiosyncrasies and syntax of CLBACK. Less syntax and CLBACK parameter knowledge is needed. Consequently, fewer input mistakes are likely. Nevertheless, BA2KCMD cannot guard against all possible errors

BA2KCMD uses two (2) REXX scripts to implement the user interface. The first one, BA2KCMD.CMD, contains most of the REXX code for program operation. The second one, BA2KCMD_CONFIG.CMD, stores and saves the selected options for all of the commandline backups. It provides that information to BA2KCMD.CMD upon its opening

Please note the following references for BA2K technical support and customer service:

Computer Data Strategies, Incorporated, Post Office Box 25123, Woodbury, Minnesota 55125
(651) 730-4156, telephone and technical support, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, CST
(651) 730-4161, facsimile
www.cds-inc.com

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BA2KCMD.CMD, the first and primary REXX file (REXX script)
ReadMe.htm (the file that you are presently reading)
ProgObj.gif and REXXWin1.gif through REXXWin18.gif (twenty (20) graphical images for this htm file, ReadMe.htm)
HELP.CMD, a small REXX program, that you can use to help me improve BA2KCMD

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There is no installation program, per se. However, the installation, or setup, is simple. It involves three (3) steps, delineated below:

First, unzip the BA2KCMD.zip archive. It was created using WarpZip, which uses compression code from the Info-ZIP group. Info-ZIP compression and decompression executable files and dll's are freely available from the following Internet sources:

http://www.cdrom.com/pub/infozip/
ftp://ftp.cdrom.com/pub/infozip/

Next, place the BA2KCMD.CMD script file in the SAME directory as CLBACK.EXE. IMPORTANT: BA2KCMD.CMD and CLBACK.EXE MUST reside in the same directory, otherwise BA2KCMD will not work!!
Finally, create a program object for BA2KCMD and place it on the desktop, or some other favorite place. Complete the "Program" tab in the properties notebook of the program object (see the example, in Figure 1, below). The "Path and file name" entry is the full path to the BA2KCMD.CMD REXX file on your system. Complete the "Icon" tab of the program object (in the example the "Icon" tab has the entry, "BA2KCMD"

That's all there is to it!

BA2KCMD program object example

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Figure 2, below, shows the first possible opening text window for BA2KCMD. It occurs only if you attempt to run BA2KCMD from a directory different than the one that contains CLBACK.EXE

BA2KCMD Cannot Find CLBACK.EXE Window

Figures 3, 4 and 5 show the windows that successively occur after correctly installing BA2KCMD and opening it for the first time. The first window introduces the REXX program (BA2KCMD) and describes what it does. It also provides references for Back Again/2000 technical support. No action is required from the user. The program pauses for 10 seconds and then proceeds

BA2KCMD Correct Installation Opening Text Window 1 of 3

The next window tells the user that the program will create the user configuration file, BA2KCMD_CONFIG.CMD, that contains the option selections for the commandline backups. It creates a set of commandline backups with "default" options selected. The user can later change any or all defaults to the values he or she desires for any backup

BA2KCMD Correct Installation Opening Text Window 2 of 3

The last window tells the user that the program successfully created the BA2KCMD_CONFIG.CMD file. It gives the complete and full path to that file and tells the user how many commandline backups it contains (the maximum number). Finally, the window gives instructions on how to use BA2KCMD

In the example shown below, the full and complete path to BA2KCMD_CONFIG.CMD is: C:\MAINTENANCE\BACKAGAIN200SERVER\BA2KCMD_CONFIG.CMD. The program created four (4) commandline backups with default settings (the same as the number of non-removable partitions on my system)

BA2KCMD Correct Installation Opening Text Window 3 of 3

After pressing the ENTER key the "MAIN MENU" window appears (see the example in Figure 6, below). Alternatively, the MAIN MENU is always the first window, whenever the program opens and finds a viable and non-corrupt BA2KCMD_CONFIG.CMD file (the usual situation). From the MAIN MENU the user can perform the following tasks:

Select a specific backup for execution
Select a set of two (2) or more backups for execution (Multiple Sequential Backups)
Review the selected options within any backup
Change the options within any backup
Delete one (1) or more backups
Create one (1) or more new backups (under certain conditions)
Exit from the program

BA2KCMD MAIN MENU Window Example 1

The "Multiple Sequential Backups" and "Create one (1) or more new backups" selections are not available in the MAIN MENU example shown in Figure 6. They are not there, because the corresponding BA2KCMD_CONFIG.CMD file has default values. The user can select multiple sequential backups only after he or she selects two (2) or more backups for the multiple sequential backup option (option 27). Similarly, the user can create 1 or more new backups, when he or she has fewer than the maximum allowable number. To get to that situation he or she must first delete one or more backups under that selection choice in the MAIN MENU (because the default BA2KCMD_CONFIG.CMD file has the maximum allowable number of commandline backups)

Figure 7, below, shows the MAIN MENU after the "multiple sequence backups" option has been enabled for the first two (2) commandline backups, "Full_Backup_ of_C:\*.*" and "Full_Backup_of_D:\*.*"

BA2KCMD MAIN MENU Window Example 2

Figure 8 shows the MAIN MENU after deleting the last two (2) commandline backups, "Full_Backup_of_E:\*.*" and "Full_Backup_of_F:\*.*" (twice using the "Delete one of the commandline backups" selection in the MAIN MENU). Therefore, the selection for creating up to two (2) new commandline backups now appears in the MAIN MENU

BA2KCMD MAIN MENU Window Example 3

If you make any changes to the backup options, BA2KCMD folds those changes into the BA2KCMD_CONFIG.CMD file. Upon exiting the program erases the old BA2KCMD_CONFIG.CMD file and replaces it with an updated one (in the same directory where BA2KCMD resides). BA2KCMD informs you that it is doing so. The erasure and rewrite occurs only if option changes have been made

IMPORTANT! IMPORTANT! Please

(using the facilities of BA2KCMD)

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From the MAIN MENU you can choose to review the options selected in a given backup. Press and ENTER the letter R (you do not have to capitalize it!). Alternatively, press and ENTER the number corresponding to the "Review the selected options ...," choice (the number 4 in the last MAIN MENU example shown above)

Then, using the "LIST OF USER COMMANDLINE BACKUPS" window, which appears next, select a commandline backup for review

BA2KCMD LIST OF USER COMMANDLINE BACKUPS Window

Figures 10 and 11, below, show the default options for the "Full Backup of C:\*.*" commandline backup. There are 27 options for each backup and it takes two windows to show all 27. The first window shows options 1 through 16. The second shows options 17 through 27. Press the ENTER key to go from the first window to the second

The first 24 options are identical, in order, to the 24 commandline parameters (options) listed for CLBACK on pages 38 through 40 of the Back Again/2000 User Guide (ba2000.pdf). Options 25, 26 and 27 are new (added by BA2KCMD). They provide enhanced backup capabilities for the user

BA2KCMD Options 1 through 16 Window

BA2KCMD Options 17 through 27 Window

The following table describes the backup options. In the table the single asterisk (*) after the option # indicates a CLBACK option. A double asterisk (**) indicates one of the three (3) BA2KCMD options. Please consult the Back Again/2000 User Guide, and/or CDS technical support, for additional information, as needed, on the use of their 24 commandline options (parameters):

CLBACK and BA2KCMD Commandline Options
Option #	Option Description
1*	Specifies the path to a text file, that lists the files to back up
2*	Specifies the path to a text file, that lists the file patterns for recursive backup
3*	Appends this backup to an existing backup file
4*	Backs up changed files, only
5*	Specifies the software compression method for the backup (none, fast, small or balanced)
6*	Specifies a comparison pass after the backup has been completed
7*	Specifies the device to be used for the backup (SCSI tape, EIDE tape or logical device)
8*	Specifies a description string for the backup
9*	Ejects the media after completing the backup
10*	Erases the media before starting the backup
11*	Prevents files matching a file specification from being backed up (does not include subdirectories)
12*	Prevents files matching a file specification from being backed up (includes subdirectories)
13*	Backs up files matching a file specification (does not include subdirectories)
14*	Backs up files matching a file specification (includes subdirectories)
15*	Moves the files to the back up (erases them from their location on your system)
16*	Provides a name for the backup
17*	Prevents hidden files from being backed up
18*	Prevents system files from being backed up
19*	Prevents empty files from being backed up
20*	Retensions the media before starting the backup
21*	Saves the backup set as a specified filename
22*	Specifies the path to a BA2K backup set, which provides the parameters defining the backup
23*	Specifies the type of backup to be made (full, copy, differential or incremental)
24*	Specifies the backup to be made in unattended mode (DO NOT USE; DOES NOT WORK!)
25**	Monitors the size of the backup file to warn of a possible file size overflow on subsequent backups
26**	Includes an updated date (today's date) at the end of the backup filename
27**	Provides for the execution of two or more sequential backups, using one BA2KCMD selection

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From the MAIN MENU you can choose to change the options selected in a given backup. Press and ENTER the letter O (you do not have to capitalize it!). Alternatively, press and ENTER the number corresponding to the "Change the backup options ...," selection (the number 5 in the MAIN MENU example shown in Figure 8)

Then, using the "LIST OF USER COMMANDLINE BACKUPS" window, which appears next, select a commandline backup to change its options

BA2KCMD LIST OF USER COMMANDLINE BACKUPS Window

After selecting the backup you are presented with the first "CHANGE OPTIONS FOR BACKUP # ...," window (see the example, below).

BA2KCMD CHANGE OPTIONS FOR BACKUP # 1 Window Example 1

There are 27 such windows, one for each of the commandline options. All of them are organized the same way as follows:

The first one or more selections are to enable or disable the option. If the option is presently disabled, that selection choice will not be available. Instead, only, the one or more enabling selections will be there. In a similar fashion, if an option is presently enabled, that particular enable choice will not be available
Figure 13 shows an example of option 1, which is presently disabled. Therefore, only the (single) enable choice shows up in the window
Note that an option may have more than one choice for being enabled. For example, the compression option can be enabled with the none, fast, small or balanced choices. It can also be disabled (that is, not present on the commandline). Figure 14 shows an example of the compression option, enabled with the "none" choice. Therefore, the choices of "Disable", "Use 'Fast'", "Use 'Small'" and "Use 'Balanced'" are available in the window

BA2KCMD CHANGE OPTIONS FOR BACKUP # 1 Window Example 2

The selection for skipping ahead or skipping back to a specific option always comes next, after the available enable and disable choices. If you want to skip ahead or back, you must know the number of the option that you want
The selection for reviewing the selected options for the commandline backup comes next. If you select this choice, you are temporarily taken to the two (2) windows that list the option values that you have selected (please see Reviewing the selected command options). After completing the review you automatically return to the same "Change Options" window that you left
Next, you can select to end (terminate) changing the options (selection choice 7 in Figure 14, for example). If so, you return to the MAIN MENU
Finally, you can select to leave the option unchanged and proceed to the next option (selection choice 8 in Figure 14)

After you change an option (by disabling or fully enabling it), the program automatically takes you to the next option window. If you are at the last option window, you return to the MAIN MENU

For some options you have to supply additional information, such as the path to a file, after you select an "enable" choice (options 1, 2, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 21 and 22). For any one of these, if it is already enabled and you only wish to change or update the additional information, a three (3) step process is necessary:

First, disable the option. Doing so automatically takes you to the next option window
In that next window select the choice to "skip ahead or skip back to another option". Go back to the previous option
Finally, re-enable the option and supply the changed or updated additional information

For those options that require additional information (options 1, 2, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 21 and 22), the data string that you provide must not contain any spaces in it. CLBACK will not work if the data contains spaces. That is true whether you are supplying a backup description string under option 8, or a file path under option 1 (for example). In OS/2 it is true that you can have a file path that contains spaces (excluding files stored on a FAT file system). You just cannot supply that path to CLBACK on the commandline. If you forget and inadvertently include spaces, BA2KCMD rejects your input, disables the option and moves you to the next option window. BA2KCMD does not inform you of the rejected input. You have to go back and correctly enable the option

The following information may be helpful in understanding how BA2KCMD works, when making choices for changing the selected options:

Options 1 through 4, 6, 8 through 10, 15 through 22, 24 and 25 through 27 each have only a single enable choice. Therefore, if one of these options is presently disabled, you will see only one "enable" selection. Similarly, if one of these options is enabled, the "disable" selection is available, but no "enable" selection:

To enable option 3, 4, 6, 9, 10, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 24 or 25 you have to select the "enable" choice. Nothing else is required (NOTE: for option 3 you should also later verify that option 7 is enabled; option 3 will not function unless option 7 has been enabled)
To enable option 1 or 2 you have to: 1.) select the "enable" choice; and 2.) provide the complete path, including the filename, to the desired text file list. The file has to exist before you specify it for use. BA2KCMD checks for the file and gives you an error message, if it cannot find it
To enable option 8 or 16 you have to: 1.) select the "enable" choice; and then 2.) write a text string for the "description" of the backup, or the "name" of the backup. Note that BA2KCMD uses your backup description string (under option 8) to describe the selected backup in various windows. For example, in Figure 14 the description for Backup # 1 appears at the top of the window. If you disable option 8, or if you have your description provided in a backup set file (under option 22), then BA2KCMD states that as the case in place of a description
To enable option 21 or 22 you have to: 1.) select the "enable" choice; and then 2.) provide the complete path, including the filename, to the desired backup set file. For option 21 the backup set does not have to exist, when you specify it (CLBACK will create and save it as part of its commandline process). However, the directory path to the file must exist and BA2KCMD checks for it (see BA2KCMD verification of directory paths for additional information)
For option 22 the backup set obviously has to exist before you specify it for use. BA2KCMD checks for the file and gives you an error message, if it cannot find it
If you enable a backup set file for use (option 22), BA2KCMD then disables all 26 of the other options. That has to be done, because the details of the selected backup options are now contained in the specified backup set and are therefore hidden to BA2KCMD

Option 7 has three (3) enable choices:

If you want a "SCSI tape device", or an "EIDE tape device", select that choice and provide the tape device number. For additional flexibility, if you desire, you can also select the same tape device for all the other backups (all in one (1) operation)
If you want a "drive, or logical, backup device", select that choice and provide the complete path, including the filename, to the backup file. The backup file does not have to exist before you specify it. If it does not exist, CLBACK will create it, as a result of the back up process. The directory path to the backup file must exist, however. BA2KCMD checks and provides an error message, if it cannot find the directory path (see BA2KCMD verification of directory paths for additional information)

Options 11 through 14 require additional elaboration (the file specification discusion):

In the discussion, below, we give some examples of the syntax for, and the usage of, the four (4) options. We want to be thorough, but we cannot anticipate every issue. We encourage you to consult the Back Again/2000 User Guide and/or CDS for specific and detailed information not provided here (for example, using wildcard symbols to specify groups of files)
Options 11 through 14 allow you to specify groups of files for inclusion in a backup and/or groups of files for exclusion from a backup. A group of files share in common one or more portions of their individuals paths
You specify such files by fully writing out the common portions of their paths and using wildcards for the portions that are not common. Wildcards include the usual and well-known asterisks (*) and question marks (?) and perhaps other symbols. For example, if you want to exclude all files in the directory, "C:\ARES\", that contain the date string, "_09072002", in their paths, use option 11. Write "-e C:\ARES\*_09072002*" on the commandline as part of the option string for CLBACK (an example for manual execution of CLBACK, only)
The CLBACK and BA2KCMD terminology here is that the user provides a "file specification". It is equivalent to saying that the user specifies a group of files
Use options 11 and 12 to exclude groups of files from the backup. Option 11 excludes the specified file groups that are in the specified directory. Option 12 excludes the specified file groups that are in the specified directory and all subdirectories under it
Similarly, use options 13 and 14 to include groups of files in the backup. Option 13 includes the specified file groups that are in the specified directory. Option 14 includes the specified file groups that are in the specified directory and all subdirectories under it
If option 11, 12, 13 or 14 is disabled in BA2KCMD, you only see one (1) "enable" selection in the window for that option (see Figure 15 for an example involving option 14)

Option 14 disabled example

After you enable the option you still see an enable selection (Figure 16). Enabling must remain available, because CLBACK allows you to use more than one (1) file group with each option

Option 14 enabled example, part 1 of 3

Therefore, you can continue to select the option and include other file groups. For example, as shown in Figure 16, the user has chosen to back up all files in "C:\ACROBAT3\" and its various subdirectories. Suppose he or she also wants to back up all files in "C:\ARES" and its subdirectories. If so select item 2 in the option 14 window (Figure 16) and then write "C:\ARES\*" in the window that follows (Figure 17)

Option 14 enabled example, part 2 of 3

The end result is that option 14 is enabled with all files in "C:\ACROBAT3" and in "C:\ARES" recursively backed up (Figure 18). That is, the CLBACK backup will include the files in those two (2) directories as well as their subdirectories

Option 14 enabled example, part 3 of 3

Note that you only supply file specification for the group of files that you want (Figure 17). You do not write the CLBACK option parameters, such as "-ir". Also, you do not have to be concerned about the spacing between multiple file specifications, or anything else. BA2KCMD takes care of all that for you
However, you do have to know the correct and full file specification for every file group. BA2KCMD checks the directory path in every file specification you supply. If a valid directory path does not exist, BA2KCMD rejects your input and gives you an error message (see BA2KCMD verification of directory paths for additional information)

Option 25 is from BA2KCMD. It allows the program to automatically monitor the size of your backup file and provide a warning, if CLBACK is likely to violate the file size limit during the backup process. That could happen on any given backup, especially if you save multiple backups to one backup file. Option 25 is available only for backups stored on a drive, or logical device, under option 7. It is not available (cannot be enabled) for backups stored on tape devices. When enabled, the file size overflow warning works as follows:

If needed, BA2KCMD provides a warning for a potential file size overflow before CLBACK begins the backup. If a warning is given, BA2KCMD gives you the choice of continuing with the backup, or not doing so
After you first enable it BA2KCMD will not provide a warning for the very next backup. Instead, it provides a warning, when needed, for all backups after that. Obviously, therefore, you must be careful for your first backup to a particular file. You must ensure that the first backup will not exceed the file size limit. The file size limit is 2GB (= 2,147,483,648 bytes) for HPFS, JFS, FAT and FAT32 drives
At the completion of a each backup BA2KCMD stores the data on the increase in size of the backup file, caused by that backup operation
BA2KCMD uses that information before the start of the next backup to provide a warning, if it is likely that a file size overflow will occur during the backup process. BA2KCMD uses the file size increase information from the previous backup and adds 10% to it for a safety factor. It then adds that result to the present size of your backup file to obtain an estimate of the size of the file that will result from this next backup. If that result is larger than the file size limit, BA2KCMD issues a warning
If you significantly change the size of your backup between any two (2) operations, the overflow warning may not be effective. That is, if the size of your next backup significantly increases, relative to the last one, an overflow warning may not be issued, but an overflow may in fact occur. Similarly, if you significantly decrease the size of your next backup, relative to the last one, an overflow warning may be issued, but an actual overflow might not occur during the backup
If you disable option 7, or switch to a tape device, BA2KCMD automatically disables the file size monitoring under option 25
If option 25 is enabled and you change the backup file path under option 7, you then have to go back and re-enable option 25. The program disables option 25, when you change the backup file path. That is true, because you had to first disable option 7 and then re-enable it with a different path
If option 25 is enabled and BA2KCMD updates the date in the backup filename under option 26, the program then resets the stored overflow data. That is, the program acts as if you have just enabled the file size monitoring. Therefore, it will not provide a warning on the very next backup, because the filename has changed. Instead, the program provides a warning, if needed, on all the backups after that (as long as the filename does not change again because of a date update!)

Option 26 is from BA2KCMD. It allows the program to (automatically) include today's date at the end of the backup filename. This option is available only for backups stored on a drive, or logical device under option 7. It is not available (cannot be enabled) for backups stored on tape devices. When enabled, option 26 works as follows:

At the initial enabling BA2KCMD checks for a date at the end of the currently specified filename in option 7
If there is a date at the end of the filename and it is the same as today's date, BA2KCMD does nothing. NOTE: the date has to be in the "MMDDYYYY" format and at the end of the filename, but before the filename ".DAT" extension (the BA2K filename extension for backup files). It has to be separated from the filename portion before it with a "_"
If there is no date, or if it is not today's date, BA2KCMD creates a new backup filename with today's date in it. It uses the existing filename as the base and adds the date to the end, separated by a "_". The date is in the "MMDDYYYY" format and is added before the ".DAT" filename extension
BA2KCMD checks for the updated date just before CLBACK begins the backup process. If an update is needed, it specifies a new backup filename with today's date at end and in the manner explained above
If you disable option 7, or switch to a tape device, BA2KCMD automatically disables option 26 (disables updating the date in the filename)

Option 27 is from BA2KCMD. It allows you to execute two (2) or more commandline backups, using only one selection on the MAIN MENU. To enable this feature do the following:

On the MAIN MENU choose the "Change the backup options ...," selection (number 5 in the MAIN MENU example shown in Figure 8)
Using the "LIST OF USER COMMANDLINE BACKUPS" window, which appears next, select a commandline backup to change its options
Go to the "CHANGE OPTIONS FOR BACKUP # ...," window for option 27. Shown below is an example of that window for backup # 1: "Full_Backup_of_C:\*.*"

Option 27 window example, part 1 of 2

After you select the "enable" choice for this particular backup, another window appears. Here you can select another backup, if you like, to include under the multiple sequential backups (see the Figure 20 example). All of the remaining commandline backups that have not been selected under option 27 appear here. The window explains that you must have at least two (2) backups selected under option 27 to enable the multiple sequential backups (have that selection appear on the MAIN MENU)

Option 27 window example, part 2 of 2

If you select another backup, the window will reappear, showing you any remaining backups that have not been selected for option 27. You can continue selecting other backups, one after the other, until all of them are selected. You automatically return to the MAIN MENU
Alternatively, at some point you can stop and automatically return to the MAIN MENU
The "multiple backups" selection will now appear on the MAIN MENU, if you selected 2 or more backups for option 27

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Unattended CLBACK operation:

The "unattended" parameter does not work. At least it does not work with BA2KCMD!
Therefore, DO NOT use this parameter. In fact, we have temporarily disabled its use in BA2KCMD, so there should not be any mistakes or problems!!
CDS suggested that I use the "-u" parameter, instead of the "-unattended" parameter, but that does not work either
Apparently, there is an unresolved problem at CDS with the unattended parameter (because of their suggestion to try "-u")
I informed CDS that the unattended operation still does not work. They may fix it in an upcoming update to CLBACK (now in beta testing)

BA2KCMD verification of directory paths:

When you specify the path to a file that MUST already exist, BA2KCMD performs a path search to verify existence (options 1, 2 and 22)
When you specify the path to file that may not yet exist, or to a file specification, BA2KCMD verifies the directory path. For a file path that means BA2KCMD verifies the path up to, but not including, the filename (options 7 and 21). For a file specification BA2KCMD verifies up to, but not including, the very last portion of the file specification (options 11, 12, 13 and 14)
The verification of a directory path can lead to an error. Under some circumstances BA2KCMD will accept your input, even though you did not correctly write the file path or file specification
For example, suppose you want to exclude from the backup all files in the directory, "C:\ACROBAT3\READ95". If so, under option 11 you should provide the string, "C:\ACROBAT3\READ95\*", as the file specification
Instead, however, you write "C:\ACROBAT3\READ95", forgetting the "\*" part at the end
BA2KCMD accepts your input, because it (incorrectly) assumes that the file group you want to exclude is the single file, "READ95", and that it resides in the directory, "C:\ACROBAT3"
Continuing with this example, assume that the directory, "C:\ACROBAT3", exists on your system. Therefore, that part of your input is OK. A file named "READ95" could possibly exist in that directory, now or sometime in the future. BA2KCMD has no way of knowing. It does not know what group of files you REALLY wanted to exclude
Therefore, you input "appears" to be OK and BA2KCMD accepts it
Similarly, there may be other types of input errors that BA2KCMD will accept, because it does not have complete knowledge of your intentions

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If you have any of the following on your computer system, you can help me:

Remote disk partititons
The FAT32 file system
The NTFS file system

I do not have any of these. As a result, I cannot fully test and debug out several aspects of the BA2KCMD program

If you have any of the above, please run the REXX program, "HELP.CMD" (included in the BA2KCMD_v3.zip archive)

HELP.CMD will find all of the local and remote partitions on your system and determine what file system is installed on each one. It uses the REXX "SYSDRIVEMAP()" and "SYSFILESYSTEMTYPE()" functions

Then, it creates an ASCII text file, "HELP.TXT", and writes the file system information to it. After you run HELP.CMD you will find HELP.TXT in the same directory where you saved HELP.CMD

Please E-mail the HELP.TXT file back to me. E-mail it to: hmotin@attglobal.net

Alternatively, HELP.CMD tells you what it found. Just write it down and E-mail it to me

Thank you so much

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BA2KCMD is freeware:

You are free to modify it to your heart's content for your own use
You are free to distribute the original, unmodified version to anyone else (and please do so!)
You may not distribute this program, in whole or in part, to others and charge a fee for it

USE THIS PROGRAM AT YOUR OWN RISK! I am not responsible for any damages, problems, etc. resulting from your use of BA2KCMD. You assume all the risks, costs, aggravation, etc. should ANYTHING GO WRONG!

Hopefully, BA2KCMD is bug free, but I cannot (and do not) guarantee it!

In summary, BA2KCMD is provided AS IS and without any warranties

If you have any problems, I will try to help! Please E-mail me at: hmotin@attglobal.net

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Please use the BA2KCMD program contained in the third zip archive (the program contained in BA2KCMD_v3.zip). Remove all previous versions of BA2KCMD from your system. Thank you!

Version 3:

Corrected REXX coding so that BA2KCMD correctly accepts valid tape unit drive numbers (non-negative integer values, starting from zero (0))
Added an additional feature to option 7. Now, after you fully select a SCSI or EIDE tape device (including the device number) you have the choice of also selecting that same device for all your backups
Changed the default values in option 11. Added the exclusion of BA2K backup files (*.DAT files) from the back up. Under default settings each backup is stored in the top directory of the partition that is being backed up. Unless these files are manually deleted, moved from the partition, or excluded under option 11, CLBACK will needlessly back up them up on the next backup for that partition
Added REXX coding to check for adherence to the 8.3 filenaming convention for files, or file specifications, on FAT partitions (options 7, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 21)

Version 2:

Changed the parameters used in the SYSDRIVEMAP() REXX function. BA2KCMD will now correctly recognize remote non-removable (fixed) partitions
Included "NTFS" and "LAN" as allowable return codes for the SYSFILESYSTEMTYPE() REXX function. BA2KCMD will now recognize these as legitimate file systems for fixed partitions

Version 1: The initial release