Partition Manager 8.5

The program allows the user to automate the backup/copy operations. The utility for this purpose is referred to as the embedded Scheduler, which is used to specify the time for the execution of the backup/copy operation. There are two categories for time settings (these correspond to appropriate items in the Schedule type menu):

   Initiating the backup/copy operation by an event:
- One time only (i.e. the Once item)
- When system starts (i.e. the At System Startup item)
- When the user logs on (i.e. the At Logon item).

   Initiating the backup/copy operation periodically (i.e. Daily, Weekly, Monthly).

The user needs to select one of the variants. Depending on the choice, the scheduler will display a form that allows the user to set the schedule. Let us review available variants of settings and examine situations for which these parameters would be most suitable.

There are situations when the user wants to make a major update of a program project or make serious modifications in the system settings (it should be remembered that the backup image Backup Image is an archive of the disk, which includes all the on-disk files and service information on the disk layout. To restore disks from such an archive means retrieving all informational components of the disk (e.g. a hard disk image consists of its partitions, the Partition Table and even bootstrap code). contains full information about a disk). For every mentioned case it is possible to schedule the backup operation only once by selecting the appropriate Once item in the Scheduler’s menu. The bottom section of the dialog window displays fields that help you define the date and time when the operation should begin.

When making serious system changes, the start of the backup operation can be connected with the user’s logon or with the system start up. It optimally corresponds to the At Logon or the At System Startup items of the menu. The lower section of the dialog window will display fields that help you specify conditions for starting the operation:

   The operation begins automatically with every logon.

   The operation is started on the next logon after which the task will be deleted from the scheduler. In this case the backup operation will be performed only once.

   The operation is started on the next logon and is then repeated at every logon. The length of the interval between operations can be configured here.

As described earlier on where the user needs to backup data every evening, in this case the Daily menu item in the Scheduler’s window needs to be selected. After selecting the option, the lower section of the window will allow the user to define the following parameters of the operation initiation:

   The time when the backup operation starts

   A period during which the backup operation will be performed (in days)

   The date when the backup operation will be started first and the date after which the task will be deleted from the scheduler's waiting list

Moreover, the user can make an additional backup copy onto external media (e.g. burning a disk image onto CD/DVD) on a weekly basis. This provides your data with further protection. In order to schedule the period of the operation performance, it is necessary to select the Weekly item of the Schedule type menu. The lower section of the window will allow the user to define the following parameters of the start of the operation:

   The time when the backup operation starts

   A period during which the backup operation will be performed (in weeks)

   Days of the week, when the operation will be started

   The date when the backup operation will be started for the first time and the date when the operation will cease to run.

Finally, backing up data onto external media can be accomplished on a monthly basis. To set the times, the user needs to select the Monthly item of the Schedule type menu and then define the following additional parameters:

   The time when the backup starts

   A day of a month when the backup will starts

   The date when the backup operation will be started for the first time and the date when the operation will cease to run.

After completing the schedule please check the settings on the last page of the Backup Wizard (the Backup schedule section).

All scheduled tasks are placed in a separate list, which can be retrieved by clicking the Scheduled Backups tab in the Exlorer bar. When the Scheduled Backups list contains too many backups, the user can arrange the scheduled tasks in the correct order with the Task Editor. The Editor allows the user to change the date and time, and delete scheduled jobs.

In order to call the Task Editor, the user can either:

   Double-click on the appropriate task in the Scheduled Backups list

   Select the Properties of the context menu, which can be called by a right-click on the appropriate task.

The dialog window has two tabs - General and Schedule. The General tab contains:

   The full path to the program-interpreter of the macro-commands which describes the scheduled task

   The line of parameters for starting the interpreter (i.e. the task described in macro-language)

   Comments referring to the task

   The option of enabling/disabling the task.

The Schedule tab contains the timetable of the task, which the user can modify. In order to apply the changes, the user needs to click the Apply button at the foot of the dialog.

The user can also delete the scheduled task by calling the context menu of the task and selecting the Delete item.