Command-Line backup of TB Profiles w/o MozBackup?

mike elliott

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Nov 10, 2009, 9:50:24 AM11/10/09

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Hi,

As I have found, and Bernd has confirmed, MozBackup has a bug when driven
from the command-line (see thread "mozbackup CLI/profile error").

Is then, my backup option to simply copy everything in the profile folders?

Is there a way to force a shutdown of TB from the command line (saving any
open composition windows to drafts, perhaps) prior to an automated profile
backup?

TB can be launched from the command line afterwards, can't it?

--
Mike "Rocket J Squirrel"
Bend, Oregon

Nir

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Nov 10, 2009, 11:27:53 AM11/10/09

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I guess you want the script to be run in a Windows system, right?

Bernd

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Nov 10, 2009, 4:46:02 PM11/10/09

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-------- Original-Nachricht --------

> Hi,
>
> As I have found, and Bernd has confirmed, MozBackup has a bug when
> driven from the command-line (see thread "mozbackup CLI/profile error").
>
> Is then, my backup option to simply copy everything in the profile folders?
>

Yes, look here:

http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_backup

> Is there a way to force a shutdown of TB from the command line (saving
> any open composition windows to drafts, perhaps) prior to an automated
> profile backup?

I think NO (just killing it is no alternative)

But: a tip for checking, if TB is running: check for the existence of
the file parent.lock in the profile; existence = running

>
> TB can be launched from the command line afterwards, can't it?
>
>

Yes it can ...

A simple idea (if you startup your computer daily):

Make a two line batch job

start /wait <mozbackup path>
start <thunderbird>

and create a Windows task scheduler job for start at Windows startup.

It is half automatic. At first Mozbackup is started, you must not care
for naming rules for the backup files.
After the backup is completed and you have closed it, TB get's started.

Disadvantage:
Only half automatic

Advantage:

No need for error prone self made file name construction.
No dependency on changes of the profile location.
Full control over error situations. You will see instantly if a backup
goes wrong, not at the moment you'd need it ...

Bernd

mike elliott

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Nov 11, 2009, 12:21:41 AM11/11/09

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Yeah, sorry.

mike elliott

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Nov 11, 2009, 10:42:42 AM11/11/09

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Thanks, Bernd. We have a small office -- 5 computers -- and the people are
not in the habit of shutting the machines off in the evening, though it is
a good idea to reduce power usage. I will discuss whether it will work to
shut down the machines every day. If it's possible then I can see how your
idea will work.

I hope the TB coders can find some way to automate profile backups
someday. It's on my wish list.

Nir

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Nov 12, 2009, 11:47:19 AM11/12/09

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On Wednesday 11 November 2009 09:12 PM, mike elliott wrote:
> I hope the TB coders can find some way to automate profile backups
> someday. It's on my wish list.

it's already there, in wish list
"https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=247312"

mike elliott

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Nov 12, 2009, 12:19:03 PM11/12/09

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One can but be patient.

Bernd

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Nov 12, 2009, 3:56:40 PM11/12/09

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-------- Original-Nachricht --------

> On 11/12/2009 8:47 AM Nir wrote:
>
>> On Wednesday 11 November 2009 09:12 PM, mike elliott wrote:
>>> I hope the TB coders can find some way to automate profile backups
>>> someday. It's on my wish list.
>>
>> it's already there, in wish list
>> "https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=247312"
>
> One can but be patient.
>

Only 5 and 1/2 years old !
But you will not get it because it isn't COOL from the developers
viewpoint. A typical disadvantage of Open Source. The cool features are
realized, not the necessary ones. Backup is an example, printing another
one.
Please: no complaints from Open Source evangelists, I'm a convinced user
of TB, FF et cetera ... ;-)

Bernd

Message has been deleted

mike elliott

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Nov 14, 2009, 12:27:55 PM11/14/09

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So I had to roll my own backup scrips using Windows batch files and XXCOPY.