
          This file provides temporary documentation about the MegaBack
          alarm utility.  MBALARM is a companion utility that relies on
          MegaBack option and index files to help manage the backup
          process.  If you have any questions about this utility,
          contact the Patri-Soft Beta test BBS at 714-352-2825.

          MBALARM is still in beta testing as of March 20, 1992.  If you
          would like the latest copy of MegaBack, call the support BBS.


          Alarm/Reminder Utility

               Included  with  MegaBack  is its  MBALARM  utility  that may
               optionally  be  implemented  to remind  you  when  backup is
               needed.   MBALARM has  many options to  let you  specify how
               often, and when, you are to be reminded backup is needed.

               MBALARM is a  stand alone  utility that  may be  run at  any
               time,  but  it  is  usually  implemented  in  your  system's
               AUTOEXEC.BAT file so it is automatically run every time your
               system is started.  Its  normal mode is to check  for backup
               once each day,  and scan your system to  determine if backup
               is needed.  When it determines backup is needed, you will be
               prompted to indicate if backup is to be started, or skipped.
               Placing  the following two  lines in your  AUTOEXEC.BAT file
               will implement MBALARM with its standard options.

                    \MEGABACK\MBALARM
                    IF ERRORLEVEL 1 \MEGABACK\MB

               The  first line  runs the  alarm utility.   The  second line
               starts  MegaBack  if   MBALARM  has  set  ERRORLEVEL   to  1
               indicating backup is to be started.

               The following  command line parameters may be  placed on the
               MBALARM statement.  They  modify its operation to best  suit
               your needs.

                    /A        Include  All files, updated  or not in backup
                              scan.  Use to determine the amount of data to
                              be backed up for full volume backup.


                    /CD:nn    Check for backup  nn days since last  backup.
                              Normally,  MBALARM  checks  once  a  day   to
                              determine  if backup is needed.  Use to delay
                              checking  for backup to every nn days.  /CD:4
                              causes  MBALARM to  remain  inactive until  4
                              days since the last backup.


                    /M        Cause MBALARM to check  backup every time  it
                              is started,  instead  of only  one time  each
                              day.


                    /NC  Prevent  clearing of  the  display during  MBALARM
                         processing.


                    /ND  Don't display  statistics or backup status  on the
                         display   during   MBALARM   processing.      Take
                         appropriate  backup  action  based  on  parameters
                         supplied.  Do not let  user decide if backup is to
                         be  started.    This parameter  also  sets  the /F
                         (force) option.


                    /NL  Do not let the user select the option to display a
                         list of directories to be backed up  when asked if
                         backup should be done.


                    /NS  Don't scan  directories to determine  if backup is
                         needed and display totals of files needing backup.
                         The  decision to backup will be made solely on the
                         number of days  since the last  backup, or on  the
                         users decision.


                    /NX  Ignore eXclusion  criteria and  count all  updated
                         files  found  on  the scanned  drives.    Normally
                         MBALARM uses MegaBack exclusion criteria to ignore
                         files regularly excluded from the backup process.


                    /F        Force backup when  it is needed.   Do not let
                              user select if backup is to be started.


                    /FD:nn    Force backup after nn days since last backup.
                              Like  the  force  (/F), except  force  is not
                              implemented until  nn  days  after  the  last
                              backup.  Use  to give the user the  option to
                              backup for a few days, then force a backup.


                    /D:xx     Disk  volumes to be checked.  You may provide
                              an  optional list of volumes to be scanned to
                              determine when  backup  is needed.   If  this
                              list is  not provided,  the list  provided in
                              MegaBack  options  is  used.    If  both  are
                              absent, the current drive is scanned.


                    /XM  Print  exit  message  on the  display  showing the
                         value MBALARM set ERRORLEVEL to before it ended.



               MBALARM Examples:

               Following are examples of different MBALARM implementations:

                    To check for backup once a day, and ask user  if backup
                    is to be started:

                         \MEGABACK\MBALARM


                    To check for  backup once a day, and  force backup when
                    needed:

                         \MEGABACK\MBALARM /F


                    To  check backup every  time your computer  is started,
                    and ask user to indicate if backup is to be started:

                         \MEGABACK\MBALARM /M


                    To check for backup once a day, and force backup once a
                    week:

                         \MEGABACK\MBALARM /FD:7


                    To check for backup  every other day, and  force backup
                    once a week:

                         \MEGABACK\MBALARM /CD:2/FD:7


                    Don't scan  to find any  updated files.  Ask  user each
                    day if backup is to be started:

                         \MEGABACK\MBALARM /NS


               Adding MBALARM to AUTOEXEC.BAT file

                    Use  the  DOS,  EDIT command,  EDLIN  command,  or your
                    favorite text editor, to modify your  AUTOEXEC.BAT file
                    to include MBALARM  statements.  If you  are unfamiliar
                    with the  AUTOEXEC.BAT file, or  its function,  consult
                    your DOS reference manual. 

                    The  MBALARM statements may be added at any location in
                    the  file, but  are usually  added at  the  end, before
                    control is given to DOS or another application.

                    Following is a sample AUTOEXEC.BAT file before  MBALARM
                    statements are added:


                         SET COMSPEC=COMMAND.COM
                         PATH C:\DOS50;C:\BAT
                         PROMPT $P$G
                         DOSKEY
                         SHARE
                         MODE CON: RATE=25 DELAY=2
                         DOSSHELL

                    Following   is  the  same   example  with  the  MBALARM
                    statements added:

                         SET COMSPEC=COMMAND.COM
                         PATH C:\DOS50;C:\BAT
                         PROMPT $P$G
                         DOSKEY
                         SHARE
                         MODE CON: RATE=25 DELAY=2
                         REM ************************
                         \MEGABACK\MBALARM /CD:2/FD:7
                         IF ERRORLEVEL 1 \MEGABACK\MB
                         REM ************************
                         DOSSHELL
