wrBOO
(Back up On Open)Make a safety back-up file when opening a data file
This data recovery program must be properly installed and consequently be used "before disaster strikes", not after.
As network teamwork becomes more widespread -all workgroup members work on just one file-, the danger, that one member accidentally erases parts of a file, and accidentally saves the damaged file back over the good copy becomes more and more likely. Guess, why 'wrBOO' became to be.
If you are lucky, and the data file resides on a network drive you may restore to the copy from the previous day, that your IT department maintains for you, if at all. What if the IT department fell asleep on the job and only a 3-week-old back-up surfaces (we're talking about life experience), or what if it resides on your local drive and you have not been supplied with any hardware means of making backups of monster files?
Time to talk about 'wrBOO': After initial set-up and using the wrBoo created shortcuts, safety copies will be made every time your data file is opened. Look for them in the same folder as your target data file (where ever it may be located: network- or local drive).
You must install/use 'wrBOO' before disaster strikes; once you overwrote a good copy with garbage contents, 'wrBOO' can't help you.This program creates a safety copy of the desired data file every time "before" it is even opened by the usual associated application. The safety backups normally appear in the same folder as your target file. You must use the shortcut that was created when you set-up a 'BOO-protected' file. 'Boo-protection' cannot be used to substitute regular daily backups onto other media. Make sure you disallow your workgroup members to directly search and open the data files that are unique but use the shortcut that was created when you set the file up using wrBOO.
To set up files for protection, simply start 'wrBOO' (double-click), and then 'Drag & Drop' the desired file(s) onto the main dialog (the gray area); it will make a back-up copy of the data file, in the same folder as your target file. wrBOO then creates a short-cut on your computer desktop. You can now move that shortcut into your sub menus as you wish. So wrBOO can duplicate a safety backup copy from now on, you must open the file by using the shortcut that was generated in above set up. All backup files retain the original file name and have the date and time attached to it (see below).
For example: if you protected the file with the filename TEST.DOC then the resulting safety copy appears in the same folder as the target but as TEST-2002-04-14-1135.doc (if you happened to open it on April 14, 2002 at 11:35 a.m). If the content of the file didn't change next time you open it, then there will be no new back-up. To maintain your data folders you may wish to delete older copies of that file once a month (or wait for the next version of wrBOO).
For a one-time safety copy you may also inspect your SEND TO menu. While browsing folders with EXPLORER right-click a desired file, click SEND TO and select and click wrBOO. Now wrBOO will make just once a safety copy of your file in the same folder before opening it.
Recovery:
Browse to the folder that contains your target file that is botched. There
should be several backup files using the above filename convention. Pick
the file you would like to restore after carefully examining it. Open it
(by double-clicking) and double-check one more time the most recent safety
copy.
Then -still in the data file application- select "SAVE AS" and remove the 'wrBOO' added part in the filename. Click OK, and then it will ask you to overwrite the existing file (which is your bad file, remember), click YES if you are absolutely sure. Using the above example you will SAVE AS the file as TEST.DOC again. And hopefully the world is again okay. Good Luck!