Number 218 - July 2001

Back Up My Bookmarks
from Topica, PC World magazine e-mail tips. submitted by Dave Rowe
Today's tip will show you how to create a simple batch file to back up your bookmark.htm file. A batch file contains a set of commands that run in order, like a small program--but one any user can easily write. Although you may not need to know how to do this, you might find the process useful, especially if you have a computer prone to crashes and/or data loss.     In Windows Explorer, create a new folder on your hard drive and call it Backup. (In Explorer, single-click drive C:, then click File, New, Folder.) Start Windows Notepad from your Start Menu (or start your favorite text editor) and enter the following commands:     @ECHO OFF     COPY "c:\program files\netscape\users\(your profile name)\bookmark.htm" "c:\backup\"     Include all the punctuation shown and replace (your profile name) with the folder name exactly as it appears in your Netscape\Users folder. Save your work as c:\bookback.bat or something similar.     You have several options for running this batch. You can add a line to autoexec.bat. (Every Windows computer has this file; it is the very first set of commands that run when you power on your	computer, just before Windows loads.) The batch program will back up your bookmarks each time you start your computer. To do so, simply use your text editor to edit c:\autoexec.bat. Add the following to the end of the file (or substitute whatever file name you gave your newly created batch file):     bookback.bat     Restart your computer to make the changes take affect.     You can also create a shortcut to this batch file so you can run it at your discretion by clicking the shortcut. Right-click your desktop anywhere and select New, Shortcut. The command line is bookback.bat (or whatever name you gave the batch file). Click Next, give the shortcut a descriptive name of your choosing, then click Next and select an icon for the shortcut. Click Finish, and the shortcut appears on your desktop. To run it, simply double-click the icon.     By default, Windows leaves the DOS window open after the batch has finished its job. You can change this by editing the shortcut's properties. Right-click the shortcut and select Properties. Under the Program tab in the Properties window, put a check in the box next to Close On Exit. Click OK to apply the changes.
Number 218 - July 2001