DirectoryPulse - Keyliner Backup Software

DirectoryPulse - Keyliner Backup Software

Keyliner has written a free Windows backup program.

Backups can be saved in dated folders, as compressed files, or as generational backups (multiple changes to a file).  Jobs can be saved and re-loaded, and scheduled for automatic runs. 

DirectoryPulse was originally written as a Student and Instructor exercise in Volume 6 of the Computer Programming Book, War and Peace Programming in C#  -- Amzon Kindle, written and published by keyliner.  It grew into this program.

Backup are non-proprietary file copies.
And Fast!

Write to local drives, SAN drives, and cloud drives, organized by project, by date, etc.

Features:

* Backup to a local disk, SAN, One-drive, GDrive, etc.
* Non-proprietary backup - straight-forward file-copies

* Backups to optional dated-folders (YYYY-MMDD)
* Supports Generational backups
   (multiple versions of same file, V1, V2, etc.)

* Optional ZIP backups
   (reduce upload times to OneDrive)

* Skips non-changed files
   Automatically skip cache folders, Temp files, and hibernation files
   Automatically skips Windows System Files
   Skips One-drive virtual file links (saving re-downloading)

* Manages its own backup inventory, erasing old backups
* Configurations can be saved for easy retrieve and re-run
* Automate and schedule with Windows Scheduler
* Occupies zero RAM or resources when not in use; no background tasks

* Includes a nifty Directory Report that displays a sortable report, showing file-sizes and counts in a way that file explorer does not.  Use this to find your biggest disk hogs.

Installation Steps:

Free to download and use for personal and commercial use. 
No registration, no login, no email. No advertisements, no nags, no spying.
Keyliner does not (and cannot) track who downloads or runs this program.

Installation is easy:
Download the .exe and place in any folder on your hard disk.
Double-click the .exe to run - no installation required. 

Follow these steps for a more professional installation:

Using the .exe from a download folder, or copying to a (my Documents) folder is a quick workaround for various Windows security concerns.  Some vendors recommend this, but these folders are inappropriate for executable software.  Instead, the program should be copied to Program Files so it gains the protection of other Windows security features. Total time: about a minute.

A.  Download the .exe to a Download or Temp folder:

From Keyliner's public GDrive, click this link and download to a local temp or download directory.  Do not download directly into ProgramFiles. 

Download Link
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iXVog877_BVnF0qtLw7cz1tCKn6P1Qsc/view?usp=sharing

Since keyliner cannot afford a signing certificate, you will be prompted that the file is not safe (being downloaded from the internet).  Click "more information" and allow the program to run.

When downloading, different browsers behave differently.

You will be prompted the file cannot be scanned. 
Click "Download anyway".  For, example:

Microsoft Edge Downloads:
Prompts "DirectoryPulse.exe" was blocked because it could harm your device. 

"Click See More" and allow the download. 
With Edge, the file appears in your Downloads directory with a random name, "Unconfirmed 780359.crdownloaded" (name varies). 

Use File Explorer to rename the file to "DirectoryPulse.exe".

B.  Mark the program as safe-to-run:

(This step may not be needed if downloaded by Edge and you clicked "More / Download Anyway")

Using File Explorer,
Right-mouse-click the downloaded (and re-named) DirectoryPulse.exe
Select "Properties"
Check [x] Unblock.  (This removes the "mark of the web.")

                 Click for larger view

* Only do this if you trust keyliner *and* only if downloaded from keyliner's public GDrive. 

If "Unblock" is not visible, it has already been unlocked (by Microsoft Edge).
Once [x] Unblocked is clicked, this security menu disappears.

C.  Create a Program folder to hold the program:

Using File Explorer, open folder C:\Program Files,
Create a folder  C:\Program Files\DirectoryPulse

D.  Copy the .exe to ProgramFiles\DirectoryPulse:

Using File Explorer,
Copy/paste the .exe from the temporary/download folder
to C:\Program Files\DirectoryPulse

Do this copy as a two-step, copying from the download folder into Program Files.  Windows security will not let you download directly into Program Files (technically, you will not be able to remove the "mark of the web" if downloaded directly into Program Files).

E.  Create a Start Menu Tile:

Using File Explorer,
in C:\Program Files\DirectoryPulse Right-mouse-click the executable and "Pin to Start"
The program is ready to run.  See icon on Start Menu.

Try it:

1.  Launch program, "DirectoryPulse.exe" from the Start Menu tile or by double-clicking the .exe.

2.  Choose a directory to backup.

Right-mouse-click "Source Process List" (the second box on the form) and Select "Add User Profile Documents"

Alternately,
Click the folder icon and browse for a top-level directory, such as "C:\Data". 
Press Tab to copy into the Process List.
+Add other folders, as desired.  Folders can be stacked.

 3.  Click Button "Refresh DOS Directory List"

A nifty summary report appears, showing all directories and subdirectories, with file counts and sizes.  (right-mouse-click any directory to open in Explorer, view reports, etc..)

4.  Settings:  Set a backup destination:

Click the "Gear" icon (Preferences)
Type a backup destination path, such as D:\backups  (third field)

Click for larger view

a) Optionally, assign a preference "save" file-name, such as "MyFavoriteBackup"

b) Type or browse a "Backup Destination" path, or use the Preset menus, choosing Local, Daily, etc.. 

For this first-run example, Type/choose a USB drive (D: Drive, or other locally-attached disk).  Example, "D:\backup".  SAN drives might need more setup and authentication.

The Destination must be a different than the directories being backed up.
The pre-built destinations are adjustable and can be changed.  See "System Defaults"

At the destination, a dedicated subfolder is recommended (e.g. "\backups").  For each type of backup (Daily, weekly, project, etc.), recommend using a different top-level subfolder, such as  D:\backups\Daily\UserProfile.  This helps keep the different types of backups separate from each other -- and often, each type has different needs.  Destinations are built automatically if they don't exist.  Use SAN drives, external USB, etc.

The green, gray, and blue "presets" are adjustable and can point to your favorite devices. 
See the next article for Detailed Switch documentation.

c)  Recommended: 

Choose [x] "Append backup date"

- giving the destination an automatic date
D:\backups\Daily\UserProfile\YYYY-MMDD

Choose [x] "Discard Cache directories"

- discard obvious temp and cache folders.

d)  Click "Apply" to use settings just for this session, or Save to save the preferences in a retrievable settings file.

 
5.  From the main screen, click bottom-row button "Backup"

The backup runs, creating the same source directories at the backup destination.
When done, a report displays, along with a Log file link.

You are done!

If "[x] Append Backup Date", each time it runs with these same settings, it builds a new dated subdirectory.  If you also set "[x] Limit Dated Backups" it discards the 11th iteration, keeping 10 backups. 

Details and additional program documentation can be found here:
Detailed Switch documentation


Version history:
1.05 - 2023.0430 Moved the Config/INI lookup button to top of panel
          Added cosmetic "Destination:" during the backup
          Added a "Delete" button (in addition to the Context menu) for INI Delete
1.04 - Fixed bug where sometimes root drive not inventorying: "Unexpected error in DOS directory"
1.03 - Minor changes to the report Log file, making it easier to find skipped directories
1.02 - Not released
1.01   2021.0610 Initial Release
Thank you to my Beta-testers: DW.