PowerArchiver has an easy-to-use, yet powerful backup feature called PowerArchiver Backup (PABE).
The PowerArchiver Backup tool creates .pbs scripts through an easy to use wizard that lets you add files and configure options for .pbs scripts. You can then execute scripts when you want to backup your work or simply schedule a task in Windows Scheduler to execute scripts at defined time. Read on for step by step instructions on using PowerArchiver Backup.
To create a new backup script, you can click on “New” in the toolbar, select “PowerArchiver Backup” from the “Save as Type” drop-down box, and enter the desired file name for your PABE script. Additionally, you can click “Backup> Create/Edit”.
Please note for future reference, that PowerArchiver Backup script files are saved with the “.pbs” extension.
After you create an PABE script, a new screen will open up.
Type in a backup archive - you will need to click on the browse button, select a destination folder and enter the name of your new backup archive. This should be a new file, as if you enter an existing file name, it will be overwritten. If you are entering the filename directly, please include the extension corresponding to the archive format you wish to use (e.g. “backup.zip”)
Add timestamp to archive name - you can add a timestamp to keep track of your backup archives. If you check this box, the default option will show up, which is “_YMDHmS”, together with the “Use as suffix” option. Here is more detailed information on these options:
“_YMDHmS” shows what timestamp data will be added to archive.
“Y” - adds the current year (e.g. “2009”)
“M” - adds the current month (e.g. “07” would be added for July)
“D” - adds the current day in the month (e.g. “17”)
“H” - adds the current hour of the day (e.g. “15” for 3 PM, “20” for 8 PM, etc)
“m” - adds the current minute
“S” - adds the current second
“WW” - adds the day of the week (e.g. “Sunday”)
“Use as suffix” - option denotes whether you want to add timestamp information to the front or back of the backup archive's file name.
Once done, click on “Next”
Burn to CD/DVD/Blu-Ray Media - check if you want to burn backup archive to disc media.
Refresh - use refresh button if your burner does not show in the list. Please wait up to 1 minute for it to show properly.
Destination folder - write specific folder name if you want archive to be written there.
Speed - select burner speed based on maximum speed that your disc media supports.
Erase RW media image before processing - Erases Rewritable disc before burning backup to it.
Upload archive to FTP/SecureFTP Server - uploads backup archive to
FTP/SFTP server.
FTP Profile - here you can select an already saved
FTP profile or create a new one by clicking on “
New Profile”. That profile will be saved so you can use it throughout PowerArchiver.
File Information - you can configure local and remote filenames with this option. We recommend this feature for advanced users only. Click here to find out more about PowerArchiver's
FTP profiles and Options.
After you are done with the Destination Media options, you may proceed by clicking on “Next”.
File List - as you can see, there are separate buttons for “Add File” and “Add Folder”. By using these buttons, you can select files and folders that will be backed up. Once you select files and/or folders, they will be added to the File List and displayed. If you wish to remove an object from the list, simply select it and click on the “Remove” button.
Click her for more info - displays file/folder sizes and count for currently selected files/folders on the file list.
Export file list - export file list to text file.
Import file list - import file list from text file.
Filters - advanced users can select filters to be used on folders added to the list. Filters work for both files and folders. Please understand that backup filters work only on contents of the folders that you selected and not on files you specifically selected. This option is not required and you can proceed without setting it up. Examples: “*.exe” filters all files with “exe” extension; “test*\*” filters folder/s that start with “test”; “Documents\*.pdf” filters all .pdf files in “Documents” folder.
“Include Subfolders” - if unchecked, subfolders of folders on your File List will not be added to the backup archive.
“Include System and Hidden files” - adds files marked 'system' or 'hidden' by Windows. By default, this option is checked.
Once you are done with adding files, you can move on to the next screen by clicking on “Next”.
A new screen will now show up with options that you can select to customize your backup script.
If you wish, you can immediately proceed by clicking on the “Next” button, as none of these options are required.
Format - at the top, you will be able to change type of destination archive (also known as your backup archive). If you have selected “ZIP” as your file type previously, that option will be selected here as well. If you wish to change that format, you may do so now. We recommend using the ZIP format for backups. 7-Zip format is available for Pro users and provides best compression.
Compression - you also select the compression you want, depending on what destination format you have chosen. We recommend using maximum compression, and although it may take more time, the resulting backup will be smaller.
Backup Type - there are several different backup types you can use:
files are added to the backup.
Full - Performs classic backup and resets archive attribute. All selected files are added to the backup.
Incremental - Backups only files that have archive attribute set and after backup resets their archive attribute. This mode is suitable for backing up only changed files.
Differential - Backups only files that have archive attribute set but does not reset their archive attribute after backup.
Write directly into Zip - writes directly into backup archive (without the use of a temporary folder).
Use optimized compression - Optimizes 7-Zip compression so it automatically detects what compression method to use for both stronger and faster compression (only shown if 7-Zip is used).
Store relative folder information - will save the relative path with backed up files (instead of the full path).
Create Solid Archive - This option will let you create a Solid archive. All the files in the Solid archives are treated as one big file, which lets you achieve much better compression. Solid archives can not been updated or changed in normal usage. However, by using transparent 7-Zip updating support in PowerArchiver, you will be able to update solid 7-Zip archives as well. CAB format uses Solid archives by default while with 7-Zip you can turn it on and off (only shown if 7-Zip is used).
Spanning - select from pre-selected span sizes (only for ZIP).
Test archive after backup - tests archive after backup is completed.
Encrypt archive with password - you can encrypt your backup archive (this option is only available with ZIP and 7-Zip archives). If you choose to do so, please make sure you remember the password, since you will need it to eventually extract files from your backup archive.
ZIP format options:
PK 2.04g - creates standard ZIP archives, with weak encryption but readable by all Zip utilities.
AES 256-bits - creates encrypted ZIP archives with AES 256-bit encryption, readable by newer Zip utilities (PowerArchiver 9.xx, PkZip 8.xx, WinZip 9.xx, etc).
7-Zip format options:
After you are done with adjusting backup options to suit your preferences, you can continue by clicking on the “Next” button.
File Time options - these are filters that PowerArchiver can use to add files to a backup based on their date. This feature is designed for advanced users. If you do not understand it, you can just proceed to the next screen by clicking the “Next” button.
Include files option - gives you the ability to select an inclusion filter based on the date of the file. For example, if you wish to only include files that were created in the past 7 days, you can select the “newer than” option and enter “7” in the number of days box.
File Size options - these are filters that PowerArchiver can use to add files to a backup based on their size.
Include files option - gives you the ability to select an inclusion filter based on the size of the file.
You can continue by clicking on the “Next” button.
Show “Backup Done” when finished - displays a confirmation window after the backup is complete. Notification automatically disappears after 10 minutes.
Run … if run from Windows - allows you to set how will be PowerArchiver window be shown during backup when run from Windows.
Volume Shadow Copy Support
Smart - tries to use VSS only for files that can not be accessed usually (detection of what is accessible and what is not is 90% reliable).
Disabled - Never uses VSS support.
Always use with extensions: - Set extensions on which VSS will always be used. This is useful for files such as .pst and .docx where their programs will let PowerArchiver read only portion of the file so Smart mode can not work correctly.
You can continue by clicking on the “Next” button.
Log to file - logs backup to text file.
E-mail compressed backup logs after compression - when checked, user will be presented with additional options.
E-mail information
To (E-mail): - enter destination E-mail address.
From (E-mail): - enter your E-Mail address.
E-mail subject: - enter subject of the email. You can use %backupscriptname% string to show backup name.
E-mail text: - enter E-mail message. You can use %backupscriptname% string to show backup name.
Server Information
Outgoing server (SMTP) address: - enter your outgoing server address.
Outgoing server (SMTP) port: - enter port of your outgoing server. 25 is standard port number.
You can continue by clicking on the “Next” button.
You can now schedule Windows Scheduler tasks directly from PowerArchiver Backup. Scheduling options are changed/updated when you click on close or run backup.
No Schedule - doesn't schedule an Windows Scheduler task for this backup.
Once a day - schedules backup to be run once a day. Set “Run at” time below.
Once a week - schedules backup to be run once a week. Set “Run at” time below.
Once a month - schedules backup to be run once a month. Set “Run at” time below.
On a Windows Startup - schedules backup to be run at Windows startup.
You can continue by clicking on the “Next” button.
You will now see a final preview of all selected options.
Finally, to perform the backup of your data, click the “Do Backup” button.
You can click on the close button at anytime while setting backup options. This will automatically save all changes you made to your PowerArchiver Backup script file (.PBS).
You can find more info on PowerArchiver Backup here.