Documentation

Installation

Archive comes as a self-contained installer that includes everything you need.

1. Download ArchiveSetup.exe from the download page
2. Run the installer and follow the setup wizard
3. The installer will install Archive to C:\Program Files\Archive by default
4. A Start Menu shortcut and optional desktop shortcut will be created

First Run

When you first launch Archive:

• The main window will open automatically
• Archive will configure itself to run on Windows startup
• The application will minimize to the system tray when closed

To access Archive after it's minimized, click the Archive icon in your system tray (notification area).

Creating Backup Jobs

A backup job defines what to backup and where to backup to.

To create a new job:

1. Click File → New Job in the menu bar
2. Enter a descriptive name for your backup job
3. Click Browse next to Source Folder to select what to backup
4. Click Browse next to Destination Folder to select where to backup to
5. Configure sync options as needed
6. Click OK to save the job

Scheduling Backups

Archive allows you to schedule backups to run automatically at specific times.

Configuring a Schedule:

1. Double-click a backup job to edit it
2. Check Enable automatic scheduling
3. Select the days of the week to run backups
4. Set the time window:
   • Start Time: When the backup will begin
   • Cutoff Time (Optional): When long-running backups will be stopped
5. Click OK to save

Examples:

• 22:00 to 06:00 - Start backup at 10 PM, stop if still running at 6 AM
• 01:00 (no cutoff) - Start backup at 1 AM, let it run to completion
• 03:00 to 07:00 - Start backup at 3 AM, stop if still running at 7 AM

Viewing Job History

Every time a backup job runs, Archive records detailed information about what happened.

To view job history:

1. Click the View History link in the History column, or
2. Right-click a job and select View History

The history window shows:

• Run time and duration
• Files copied, updated, deleted, and failed
• Detailed logs of every file operation

Click View Details to see the complete log of file operations for any run.

Preview Operations (Dry Run)

Before running a backup, you can preview exactly what will happen without making any changes.

1. Open the job editor
2. Click Preview Operations
3. Archive will analyze your source and destination folders
4. A report will show you all planned operations

The preview shows which files will be:

• Copied (new files)
• Updated (modified files)
• Deleted (if "Delete orphaned files" is enabled)
• Skipped (already up to date)

Sync Options

Include subdirectories (recursive)

When enabled, Archive will backup all files in subdirectories. When disabled, only files in the root folder are backed up.

Delete files in destination that don't exist in source

When enabled, files that exist in the destination but not in the source will be deleted. This keeps the destination as an exact mirror of the source.

Verify files after copying

When enabled, Archive will verify that copied files match the source by comparing file hashes. This is slower but ensures data integrity.

Exclusion Patterns

Archive automatically excludes common system files and folders:

• $RECYCLE.BIN
• System Volume Information
• pagefile.sys, hiberfil.sys, swapfile.sys
• Thumbs.db, .DS_Store

These exclusions help prevent errors and unnecessary file copies.

Application Settings

Run on Windows Startup

Control whether Archive starts automatically when Windows boots. Access this from File → Settings or from the system tray context menu.

Scheduler Status

The scheduler can be paused or resumed from the system tray menu. When paused, no scheduled backups will run automatically (manual runs still work).