VSBackup - (Visual Studio (VS) Backup) is a Visual Studio extension for backing up and restoring a solution without having to leave Visual Studio. VSBackup is a very useful extension if you are not using any version control or if you are in the prototyping stage. This is not a substitute for source control. Take care of your code files. Only full backups are performed.
In case you are encountering a problem or need to discuss something then you are welcome to contact us by email: support@lonestarsoftworx.com
All new development for VSBackup will continue in the Visual Studio 2022 version.
***** Looking for Beta Testers *****
We are always looking for beta testers. If you would like to be considered, please send an e-mail to lonestar.softworx@lonestarsoftworx.com. You will receive an Amazon gift card and if you have not purchased the software, you will also get a free license.
Licensing
The license for VSBackup is perpetual which means that the license will never expire and will work for subsequent versions. Includes support that never expires.
The license is per developer and one machine. Multiple machines require multiple licenses.
License cost for VSBackup is as follows:
Please contact sales@lonestarsoftworx for additional information regarding licensing.
Prerequisites
VSBackup uses Robocopy for the backup proc ess. Please make sure that Robocopy.exe is located at the following location, ‘C:\Windows\System32’ before the backup operation.
Operation
Backup
To start a backup, either load an existing solution or create one. You will find the commands for VSBackup located in Tools --> VSBackup. Only full backups are performed.
There are two ways to start the backup process. The first way is to right-click on the solution and then click the VS Backup – Start Backup menu item on the context menu.
The other way is to click the Start Backup menu command located in the VSBackup menu on the Tools menu. If this is the first backup for the solution, the settings form will be displayed. Either change the location of the backup or accept the default backup location. See the Settings section for instructions. Click the OK button.
Once the backup process has completed, either success or failure, a message box will be displayed.
Viewing Backups
To view a list of backups for the solution, click View -> Other Windows –VSBackups – Backups
A window with the backups associated with the solution will appear.
Each backup will have an image next to image denoting the type of backup.
Entries that have this image, will show that the backup was zipped. This image show that the folder was backed up without compression.
You can now sort the backup entries by either the name or by the Backup Date/Time. Click the column you want to sort by and it will sort by ascending or descending order.
The Backups tool window has six toolbar items.
- Hard Delete Deletes the backup from the list as well as the backup location.
- Soft Delete Deletes the backup from the backup list only.
- Restore Restores a backup to a specified location.
- Refresh Refreshes the backup list.
- From/To Allows you to filter the backups by date. To revert to the complete list of backups, click the Refresh button.
Backup Note
You can add a note or edit an existing note to a backup.
Right-Click on the backup you want to enter a note for. Click the Edit Note menu item.
Enter the text of the note. To save the note, click the Save button. To cancel the save, click the Cancel button.
To delete the note, click the Delete Note button.
Settings
To change the settings for the backup and restore, click the Settings menu command located in the VSBackup menu.
The following form will be displayed.
Backup Settings
To select a location for the backup, select one of three options:
- Use Default Location The backup will always be stored at this location.
- Prompt for location on each backup Displays a prompt for the location of the backup.
- Use this location
Allows you to either type in a location, select a location by clicking the folder button,
or selecting a previously saved backup location by clicking the drop-down arrow. 
There are three options for naming the backup:
- Use Solution Name The backup will have the same name as the solution.
- Prompt for name on each backup Displays a prompt for the name of the backup on each backup.
- Use Custom Name The backup will have the name of whatever is entered into the text box.
To Zip (compress) the backup, enable the Zip Backup option.
To password protect the Zip file, enable the Password Protect Zip File? option. Password must be at least 8 characters in length. To view what you have typed, click the button. To hide what you typed, click the button.
To only back up the solution directory if the folder size is greater than a certain amount, click the Only Zip backup if the solution is greater than option and enter an amount.
To save the settings, click the OK button. To discard any changes or just to exit the form, click the Cancel button.
A form will appear listing the selected and entered options. You can turn this form off and on by going to Tools Options VSBackup General Settings and checking or un-checking the Show Backup Summary Options.
Restore Settings
To change the restore settings, click the tab labeled Restore.
There are three options for setting up the restore location for the backup:
- Use Default Location The restore will always be stored at this location.
- Prompt for location on each backup Displays a prompt for the location of the restore.
- Use this location
Allows you to either type in a location, select a location by clicking the folder button,
or selecting a previously saved restore location by clicking the drop-down arrow.
Restore
To restore a backup, select the backup from the Backups tool window.
Click the button labeled Restore on the Backups tool window, right-click on the selected backup and click Restore, or click the Restore button in the VSBackup menu.
When the dialog box appears, select the location where you want to restore the solution to. To make a new location, click the Make New Folder button. Click the OK button.
Once the restore process has completed, either success or failure, a message box will be displayed
Options
To access the options for VSBackup, you can click Tools Options and scroll down to VSBackup or you can select the click the Options menu item on the VSBackup menu.
Backup Events
You can now back up your solution when an event fires in Visual Studio. Select either True or False from the drop down for each option and then click the OK button to save your changes.
Data File Backup
To back up the data file, go to Tools Options VSBackup and select the Data File Backup.
To keep to only a of certain of backups, change the Backups to Keep value by clicking the down or up arrow button.
To change when the data file will be backed up, select an option from the Backup Frequency drop-down. The Daily, Weekly, or Monthly options can only be chosen if a manual backup has been performed first. These backups will occur when the solution closes.
- Manual - The backup will not be done automatically and will be performed every time when the button is clicked.
- Daily - The backup will occur every day after the last backup date.
- Weekly - The backup will occur every 7 days after the last backup.
- Monthly - The backup will occur every 30 days after the last backup date.
To restore a data file backup, select the backup you want to restore from the list.
Then click the Restore button. You must close then open a solution to reload the backups for that solution.
General Settings
To turn on or to turn off the backup settings summary form, check or un-check the Show Backup Options Summary checkbox.
To initiate automatic backups at a specified interval which are in minutes, select the value from the drop down labeled Automatic Backup Interval. Selecting 0 will turn off the automatic backups.
Starting with Version 2.x, if you are upgrading from Version 1.x, the data file must be converted. This option will only be enabled if you have to convert the data file.
Leaving Feedback
To leave a suggestion or feedback on how we can improve VSBackup or to rate VSBackup, click the Leave Feedback menu item.
Reporting Issues
To report an issue, click the Report a Problem a Problem menu command. The Report a Problem form will also be displayed if any catastrophic issue arises.
Release Notes
6.5.1003.2022 – 02/08/2022
Problem Report and Feedback submission not working.
6.4.1002.2022 – 02/08/2022
- Purchase link was pointing to the wrong web site.
6.3.999.2022 – 01/24/2022
- The Restore location options were not being set correctly.
- The Restore process was not working correctly.
6.2.996.2022 – 01/20/2022
- The backup location options were not being set correctly.
6.1.995.2022 – 01/18/2022
- An error message was displayed when clicking the Report a Problem menu item.
6.0.994.2021 – 01/17/2022
A note can be added to a backup.- Backups list can be filtered by a date range.
- The Options item on the VSBackup menu can take the user directly to the Options page for VSBackup
- The Help item on the VSBackup menu can take the user to the documentation web page for VSBackup
The backup operation is enclosed in a thread.- Additional Backup options.
- Additional Restore options.
- Redesigned the Settings form.
5.1.980.2021 – 11/23/2021
- The Install Targets were incorrect in the VSIX manifest file.
5.0.979.2021 – 11/20/2021
- Converted to Visual Studio 2022.
- Minor bug fixes.
Data File Conversion.
4.2.979.2021 – 11/07/2021
- Minor bug fixes.
4.1.974.2021 – 11/01/2021
- Minor bug fixes.
4.0.944.2021 – 09/13/2021
- A context-menu with Hard, Soft, and Restore commands is displayed when a backup item is right-clicked.
- When the Backups area is right-clicked, a context-menu will display with the Refresh command.
- Menu items are grouped and re-arranged.
- Backups can be performed when certain events in Visual Studio are fired.
- Buttons for Hard Delete, Soft Delete, Restore, and Refresh operations are on the Backups Toolwindow.
3.1.550.2021 – 06/30/2021
- Going to Tools --> Options --> VSBackup causes Visual Studio to Crash.
- The backup location is not saved.
- The License Key activation fails.
3.0.340.2021 – 05/10/2021
- Feedback, a suggeston, or a rating the extension can be given.
- The VSBackup menu on the Tools menu.
2.2.352.2021 – 04/03/2021
- The name of the backup is the solution directory name instead of the solution name.
2.1.342.2021 – 04/01/2021
- Various UI modifications.
2.0.340.2021 – 03/26/2021
- Various UI enchantments and modifications.
- If a backup is selected to be restored and if it does not exist, there is an option to remove it from the backup list.
- The ability to Zip (compress) a solution. A password for the Zip file can be set. Also, an option to Zip the solution when it is greater than a specified amount has been added.
- Sorting can now be performed on the Backup Date/Time and Name columns in the Backups list.
- An icon will appear next to the backup denoting the type of backup, directory or Zip.
- There is 30-day trial period of the extension. When the trial period ends, backups can no longer be performed.
- Data file format change.
1.5.102.2021 – 01/21/2021
- When the extension failed to load in Visual Studio 2017 due to an assembly reference issue.
1.4.101.2021 – 01/12/2021
- When opening a solution in Visual Studio 2019 using the Open Recents dialog, the Visual Studio events would not fire causing the backup settings and backups not to load. Nor could a backup profile be created.
1.3.100.2021 – 01/06/2021
- Logging
1.2.99.2021 – 01/06/2021
- Upgraded for Visual Studio 2019
1.1.93.2021 – 01/01/2021
- When submitting a Problem Report, leaving a required field empty and then filling it in would result in a loop when re-submitting the Problem Report.
1.0.87.2020 – 12/24/2021
- Initial Release
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