[RESOLVED] True Image Home 2013 Backup Customized File Naming

I needed to be able to determine the file names for my True Image Home 2013 backups so that I can tell the nature of each backup that I copy to network storage FROM THE FILE NAME ITSELF. The default TIH 2013 "my_backups_full_b(x)_s(x)_v(x)" file naming format doesn't give me any information about the contents of the backup file. That's a SIGNIFICANT problem if my TIH 2013 database gets corrupted or my laptop gets stolen or damaged and I have to restore from my network.

I spent a couple of hours trying various methods of overriding the default TIH backup file naming function. I'm using TIH 2013, Build 5551. I finally discovered a way to name each backup file EXACTLY how I want it named. One note here - TIH 2013 will ALWAYS append the "_b(x)_s(x)_v(x).tib" to your TIH 2013 backup file name - you can't get around that. But, you can override the default TIH 2013 file name.

TIH 2013 provides information about backup file naming in Section 3.3, begining on Page 39 of the User's Guide. On Pages 43 and 44 there is mention of adding "useful information to the backup name." There are no screen shots that show where to add this "useful information." Only the text describes how to do this. The problem is, without screen shots, I read right past how to do this on both Page 43 (2nd paragrapgh in Item #6) and Page 44 (the 2nd paragraph in Item #3, which is a repeat of the 2nd paragrapgh in Item #6 on Page 44). ADDING THIS "USEFUL INFORMATION" IS THE KEY TO BEING ABLE TO CREATE ANY CUSTOMIZED TIH 2013 BACKUP FILE NAME THAT YOU DESIRE.

There are two places in the backup windows where you can enter names for your backup. The first location is on the main "Disk Backup" window, at the bottom of the window, labeled "Backup name:" The second location is on the "Browse for Destination" window (which gets launched when you click the down-arrow to the right of the "Destination" entry shown on the main "Disk Backup" window). There is a SIGNIFICANT difference between these two entry boxes.

The "Backup name:" entry box on the main backup window ONLY establishes the name of the backup. It does not influence the backup FILE name IN ANY WAY - UNLESS YOU KNOW HOW TO MAKE THE BACKUP NAME BECOME THE FILE NAME. That's what this post is all about. So, if you enter a value in the "Backup name:" on the main backup window, IT WILL ONLY CHANGE THE NAME OF THE BACKUP THAT DISPLAYS IN TIH 2013. It will not change the backup file name in any way.

The "File name:" entry on the "Browse for Destination" window DOES set the backup file name. When you create a new backup, TIH 2013 decides what this "File Name:" value should be based upon the disks, partitions, or files that you select for backup. When you open the "Browse for Destination" window you will see that the "File name:" entry box at the bottom of the window has already been populated with what TIH 2013 believes should be the BEGINING of the backup file name. It is the BEGINING of the file name because you can add "useful information" to the right of the file name established by TIH 2013. This is where the User's Guide needs a LOT of improvement. It doesn't EXPLAIN any of what you are about to learn.

See the drop-down box to the right of the "File name:" entry box? Click it. It lists all of the "useful information" that TIH 2013 can APPEND to the file name it established when you first created the new backup. You could add the "task name" to the file name text, or any other "useful information." When this happens, the backup file name will "connect" the various pieces of "useful information" using a series of underscores in the file name. After the "useful information" has been apprnded to the file name text with underscores, TIH 2013 appends the "_b(x)_s(x)_v(x).tib" and finalizes the file name. This makes it hard to read the file name. The problem is - What if I don't like that file name syntax? Can I get around it somehow? The answer is "Yes."

The only way to avoid the underscores in the backup file name is to use the value in the "Backup name:" entry box on the main backup window as the input to the "File name:" entry box on the "Browse for Destination" window. But how is this done? Here's how:

** IN THE "Browse for Destination" WINDOW **
1. SELECT A DESTINATION FOLDER (or the following Steps won't work!)
2. Delete all text in the "File name:" entry box
3. Click the "Add" down-arrow to the right of the "File name:" entry box
4. Select the "Add task name (@task)" value
5. You should see "@task@" (without quotes) appear in the "File name:" entry box. MAKE SURE THERE IS NO OTHER TEXT IN THE "File name:" ENTRY BOX!!
7. Click the "OK" button to return to the main backup window

** IN THE "Disk Backup" WINDOW **
7. In the "Backup name:" entry box TYPE ANY FILE NAME YOU LIKE
8. Set any other backup options you desire (e.g., Validation, Comments, etc.)
9. Click the "Back up now" button to start the backup

Your customized file name should appear in the file name section of the backup listing while the backup is being completed. You can confirm that the file name has been created as you wished by viewing the file using WIndows Explorer (even while the backup is running - as long as you see some green on the progress bar).

As far as I know this work-around keep the customized file name asociated with its backup job in the TIH 2013 database. It also provides information about the contents of the backup file that is not otherwise available using the default TIH 2013 backup file naming schema.

Acronis - Does all of this sound correct?

Issue resolved here.