Automatic Design Backups

Engineer has automatic backups.

Engineer provides an extra level of protection for your designs which can also provide a way to revert to a recent earlier design stage if you are not satisfied with the current version.

In addition to having the "Security Copy" as in Explorer and Creator, Engineer has a configurable "Design Backup" option.

What are the configuration options available?

• Backup copies:

  This can be selected from 1 to 10 copies.

• Backup frequency:

  When working on your design, at a set working interval a backup will be saved or if setup appropriately each time you press "Save".

• Saved destination folder:

  This is user-selectable and can be in the current project with the other design files, or a subfolder in the project, or in any location on any mapped drive which can provide extra security.

• Recovery method:

  For this purpose, "Open from backup..." is provided on the File menu.

• Backup naming convention:

  Let's use an example, if you are working on a PCB design "Amplifier.pcb", when a backup file is produced a file "Amplifier_BAK1.pcb" is saved and then the open "Amplifier.pcb" is saved as normal and it is with this file you continue your design.

  On the backup occuring, the file"Amplifier_BAK1.pcb" is renamed"Amplifier_BAK2.pcb" and as above"Amplifier_BAK1.pcb" is saved and then "Amplifier.pcb".

This is repeated up to the limit you set in the Preferences.

How do I set this up?

From the menu bar select Settings - Preferences and on the "General" tab, check "Design Backups", set the number of backups required and the location.

Next you need to set up “work time” and “idle time” to determine when the backups occur, and this will depend on your way of working.

“Help” describes the settings as follows:

Work Time - to allow you to save Design Backups that are separated by a reasonable amount of work (regardless of how often you click Save) you can define settings for how much editing 'work' (actions that record Undo steps) is done before a Design Backup will be created during Save (default is 600 seconds or 10 minutes), and how long it takes after design editing stops before the design is considered 'idle' and thus the work time will not increment until the next editing action occurs (default is 30 seconds).

Setting Work Time to zero will disable the work time counter and Design Backups will always be saved every time you Save.

If you save frequently, then the first option is more suitable as it ensures you do not get too many shortly spaced backup files.

If you tend to save less frequently and at specific design steps, then the latter option of only creating a backup at that point may be preferred.

Conclusion.

This is a great feature and will minimise loss of design work should there be an unfortunate design/file issue.

You may however also wish to create your own design backup at key points by making a copy of the project design folder for longer-term requirements in case you wish to create a variant of your design.