ROBOCOPY - Create Backup Script

Whenever there is a space in the file path you need to put quotes around it.

e.g.
"C:\Users\Alans PC\Documents\PC\TEST"

Just to keep it simple for a second, does it work if you try:

robocopy "C:\Users\Alans\" "C:\Users\Alans PC\Documents\PC\TEST"

Regards,
JDobbsy1987

Hi JDobbsy1987.

Thanks for that suggestion, I have added the quotation marks to my script which is now looking like:

robocopy "C:\Users\Alans PC\TEST FOLDER" "F:\Outlook Data Files" /e /np /tee /mt:4 /log:my_backup_log.txt
pause

I put a File in my TEST FOLDER called 'calender 2012' on running the above script I now have a copy of the 'calender 2012' file in my F:\Outlook Data Files Folder.

I would have thought that I would be copying the whole folder, in my case TEST FOLDER to my F: Drive, as in the instruction: "C:\Users\Alans PC\TEST FOLDER".

The following is copied from the CMD prompt window.

C:\Users\Alans PC\Documents>robocopy "C:\Users\Alans PC\TEST FOLDER" "F:\Outlook
Data Files" /e /np /tee /mt:4 /log:my_backup_log.txt

Log File : C:\Users\Alans PC\Documents\my_backup_log.txt

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ROBOCOPY :: Robust File Copy for Windows

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Started : Wed Mar 21 16:40:11 2012

Source : C:\Users\Alans PC\TEST FOLDER\
Dest : F:\Outlook Data Files\

Files : *.*

Options : *.* /TEE /S /E /COPY AT /NP /MT:4 /R:1000000 /W:30

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

*EXTRA Dir -1 F:\Outlook Data Files\Outlook - OLD Pre 2012\
*EXTRA Dir -1 F:\Outlook Data Files\Outlook Files - NEW 21 03
2012\
1 C:\Users\Alans PC\TEST FOLDER\
100% New File 120320 calendar 2012.xls

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Total Copied Skipped Mismatch FAILED Extras
Dirs : 1 0 1 0 0 2
Files : 1 1 0 0 0 0
Bytes : 117.5 k 1 17.5 k 0 0 0 0
Times : 0:00:00 0:00:00 0:00:00 0:00:00

Ended : Wed Mar 21 16:40:12 2012

C:\Users\Alans PC\Documents>pause
Press any key to continue . . .

If I wish to copy 'Folder XX' to my F: drive should I have put 'Folder XX' in my TEST FOLDER? I.e not the individual file.

Perhaps the headers showing;
...........Total Copied Skipped Mismatch FAILED Extras
Dirs : ......1 ......0 ........1 .........0 ..........0 .......2
Files : .....1 ......1 ........0 .........0 ..........0 .......0

May have something to do with it?

Anyway at last I have been able to copy a file with 2 key strokes instead of many strokes and less chance of errors.

Will this script automatically overwrite the preceding copy when the script is run again, replacing copy 1 with copy 2 etc?

Trapper said:

I would have thought that I would be copying the whole folder, in my case TEST FOLDER to my F: Drive, as in the instruction: "C:\Users\Alans PC\TEST FOLDER".

Robocopy copies the 'contents' of the folder you specify in the script as opposed to the actual folder itself.

Trapper said:

If I wish to copy 'Folder XX' to my F: drive should I have put 'Folder XX' in my TEST FOLDER? I.e not the individual file.

The answer is yes :)

Trapper said:

Will this script automatically overwrite the preceding copy when the script is run again, replacing copy 1 with copy 2 etc?

I'm pretty certain it will overwrite the preceding copy, it did when i tested before writing this reply.



Robocopy has a lot of features/switches to allow you to do quite a lot, you can take a look at these by running the following command in a command prompt:

Code:

robocopy /?

If you do want to make your script go that step further then please feel free to open a support thread in the forum and send me a pm and i will do my best to mentor you through as much as i can

Regards,
JDobbsy1987

Hi,

Yes, Dobsy is correct : when source and/or destinations have spaced in them, enclose the folders with " ". I might add that to the tutorial.

Each time you run ROBOCOPY without the /MIR switch, it will always overwite the preceeding copy - in effect it operates like XCOPY. If you add the /MIR switch to your ROBOCOPY command, then only the newest information in that folder is copied to your backup. This is a great time-saving feature.

Regards,
Golden

Your very welcome Trapper.

If you need to post further, just post under the "Backup & Restore" section. I'm confident you will be using the /MIR switch in no time at all.

There is only one trick to remember with /MIR:

If you have a folder that is already backed-up and you no longer require it - always delete it at the source (NOT at the destination) and then run ROBOCOPY. This way, ROBOCOPY will take care of it (delete it) at the destination for you automatically (this is the mirroring effect). Follow that rule, and you will never go wrong with the /MIR switch :)

In summary:

1, Delete folder at source
2. Run ROBOCOPY with /MIR switch
3. Folder is automatically deleted for you at destination.

Regards,
Golden

rschaef07 said:

Golden;
In my folder structure, every project has subfolders named Archive, Inbox, Temp, etc. They are always 4 levels below the drive root, but the parent project name is unique. Is there a way to exclude these subfolders?

Thanks much,
Ron

Hi Ron

As long as you don't add one of these switches it should not copy subdirectories:

/e or /s

Example, change Golden's example from

Code:

robocopy E:\Data1 G:\Backups\Data1 /e /mir /np /log:backup_log.txt

to

Code:

robocopy E:\Data1 G:\Backups\Data1 /mir /np /log:backup_log.txt

Regards,
JDobbsy1987