The simplest way of file versioning

Historization, also known as versioning, offers another method in Langmeier Backup to keep older versions of the files on the backup. Normally, the files that are already on the backup are overwritten by the backup program with the updated files. If you want to access older versions of a file later, you must back up the files to several backup media - or you can activate Langmeier Backup's historization feature.

You can activate the option Save files historically on each element by right-clicking on "Edit element":

With each backup, the file is then not replaced, but stored in addition to the files that are already on the backup. The file that is already on the backup and would otherwise be overwritten is now given a new file name in the form:

Original file name + version date + file extension

The version date corresponds to the date on which the file version was last changed. The latest file version always has the original file name. The following screenshot shows a file folder with two earlier file versions of the "CV3.docx" file:

Such a versioned backup is particularly useful for documents that you work on for a long time. For example, if you are designing a website or writing a large document or paper. Other examples are graphics created by a graphic designer, pieces of music by a composer, manuscripts by an author, or the source code of a programmer - and whatever else is important and changes a lot.

Historically back up a subfolder of a complete path to be backed up.

If you want to back up a subfolder historically, but this subfolder is located in a path that is already contained in the task and is to be backed up, you can insert the subfolder to be backed up historically separately into the task and check the box "Back up files historically". The program will then back up this directory historically when it runs through the parent path.

Note: If the size of the file does not change, Langmeier Backup compares the modification date of the file. Because the date is saved with varying accuracy depending on the hardware (hard disk, CD, USB drive, etc...), files are only versioned if the modification date is at least one minute apart.

Files that must always be backed up historically

If you want to save some file types historically in every case, enter the corresponding file types in the options:

Use semicolon (semicolon ;) to separate several file types from each other.

Important: This setting is ignored when backing up to FTP server, tape, or CD/DVD, and Blu-Ray media.

Subsequently removing historicized files from the backup

If you want to remove historicized files from your backup, you can remove older file versions. To do this, use the cleanup wizard.
There you can select which files you want to delete under the "Remove historicized files" option.

Restore directories to an older version

In the Restore Wizard, you can specify an option to reset the restored directories to a previous date. This is particularly useful if you have backed up an entire directory historically and now want to reset the data to an earlier date.