UltraBac provides two levels of "Before" and "After" batch command line interface opportunities. The following section details "Before/After" commands on the set level. Note that there is also a "Before/After" command line interface when creating or editing groups (Scheduled Backups). The difference is the latter is performed immediately before the backup is started and then immediately after the backup completes.
Note: The set Before/After jobs do not execute with Ad-hoc backups (when selecting "Perform Backup"), instead they execute when the set is backed up as part of a group (Scheduled Backup).
Clicking on the "Create Set" button will display the following dialog box:
Figure 152: Before/After Programs & Password Options
This screen allows entry of "Before / After" user defined program paths, an abort option, and a Windows for Workgroup or Windows 95/98 password when connecting to a network workstation using WFW or Win95/98.
The abort option, when used, only functions on the "Before" command path.
The "Before backup begins, run" field is for a complete qualified path name of any file NT/2000 is capable of executing. When this is run, UltraBac will wait up to five minutes for a successful process completion code to be returned by the program. If a process completion code of Zero is not returned by the five minute limit, the "Abort backup if unsuccessful" check box will be examined. If checked on, the backup will terminate with an Event Log entry generated. If not checked on, and the program fails, the "After backup completes" line will not be executed.
The "After backup completes, run" field is for a complete qualified path name of any file NT/2000 is capable of executing. This run line may be executed without having run a "Before Program". The specified "After Program" will always be executed when a successful "Before Program" was first executed. In the event that the "After Program" fails, an Event Log entry will be generated and backup processing will continue.
An example of how to use a "Before / After User Exit" would be to close an open, 24 hour a day, E-Mail database before attempting to back it up; process the set, and then reopen the database. This would be best accomplished by the administrator creating a "special" backup set for backing up just the E-Mail database directory. Note that a backup group processes backup sets in the order added to the group. This means the E-Mail database could be backed up either first, anywhere in-between, or as the last set in the backup group.
For details on the specific formats of the "Before backup" and "After backup" options:
See UBQ: UBQ000016 Before/After Backup Option Syntax.