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Create and Edit Backup Sets on Windows

Article Reference ID: 000273263
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The Mozy backup software lets you define custom backup sets for your specific needs. When you create or edit a backup set, you can specify files or folders to include or exclude according to criteria you define, such as file type, date created, or size.

For example, if you have a large number of images on your computer, but only want to back up the final versions of these images, you can create a custom backup set to only look for image files in your Final Images folder.

If you cannot change this setting and you use Windows, you may be able to resolve this issue yourself. For more information, see If Settings Are Grayed Out in the Mozy Backup Software for Windows. You may not be able to change this setting if your account administrator is managing it for you.

Note Image
Before you can create an exclusionary backup set, you must first select Show advanced backup set features on the Advanced tab under Options on the Settings window.

Procedure

  1. Open the Settings window.
  2. Click the Backup Sets tab.
  3. Choose one of the following actions:
    • To create a new backup set, right-click anywhere in the left pane under Backup Set, then select Add Backup Set.
    • To change an existing backup set, right-click the name of the backup set in the left pane under Backup Set, then select Edit Backup Set.
    The Backup Set Editor appears. The left pane shows your computer's drive and folder structure. When you click the name of a folder in the left pane, the files inside it are listed in the right pane. This is similar to what you can see on the File System tab on the Settings window.
    Backup set editor

    Backup Set Editor

  4. In the Backup Set Name field, specify a name for the backup set.
  5. (Optional) In the left pane, select the folder in which this backup set should select files. Avoid selecting a root-level folder.
  6. (Optional) Under Rules, create a rule this backup set should use to select files.
    1. Choose whether to Include or Exclude files according to the first rule.
      Note Image
      Files excluded from backups by excluding a folder might still be selectable in the File System tab, but they are not backed up. In the Backup Sets tab, these same files are omitted from the list of files when you select the backup set unless the excluded folder includes some files that are selected for backup.
      Note Image
      The order of the rules in a backup set affects the processing time. For best results, place folder rules near the top of the list, place file type rules near the top but after folder rules, and place rules that use wildcards at the bottom.
    2. Choose the nature of this rule and specify details for the rule.
      Rule options
      File typeUse only valid file extensions. For example, .exe, .doc, .txt. Use spaces to separate file extensions. Dots are not necessary. To learn what file extensions are appropriate for any program you use, search online or in the help or documentation for that program.
      SizeSpecify whether to select files smaller than or larger than the size you provide in KB (kilobytes). If you think of size in terms of MB (megabytes), you need to convert that size to KB. You can find calculators online to help you make this conversion.
      Last modifiedSpecify whether to select files last modified before, after, or between dates you select.
      CreatedSpecify whether to select files created before, after, or between dates you select.
      File nameSpecify the rule by which files are selected according to name. You can set whether the name:
      • is
      • is not
      • starts with
      • doesn't start with
      • ends with
      • doesn't end with
      • contains
      • doesn't contain
      any word or characters you specify.

      If you specify a name which contains a space, enclose the entire name within quotation marks. For example, "expense reports". Avoid rules for file names that do not specify an exact search. For example, a rule that searches for a file name that contains "IMG".

      Folder nameSpecify the rule by which folders or both folders and files are selected according to name. You can set whether the name:
      • is
      • is not
      • starts with
      • doesn't start with
      • ends with
      • doesn't end with
      • contains
      • doesn't contain
      any word or characters you specify.

      If you specify a name which contains a space, enclose the entire name within quotation marks. For example, "personal docs".

  7. (Optional) To create an additional rule for this backup set to use when selecting files, click + and repeat Step 6.
  8. Click OK to save this backup set.
  9. To use this backup set, select it in the left pane of the Backup Sets tab on the Settings window.
  10. Click OK.
    Your changes are saved and the Settings window closes.

After you finish

Backups cannot happen unless your computer is turned on and connected to the Internet and not in hibernation, sleep, or standby mode.

Parent topic: Selecting Files Automatically in Backup Software
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