Anonymous Monk has asked for the wisdom of the Perl Monks concerning the following question:

Is there a module or tutorial you know of which would help me start a program that makes backup copies of any windows files? Basic outline of the program, I want to run it with something like 'perl backup.pl -target directory - destination directory'.

I don't want anyone to show me how to do this (this will be a fun one to play with), I was just wondering on how/what would I use to get started or to move all files (zips, docs, txts, exes, images..) to a new location without removing them from their target directory.

Thank you

Replies are listed 'Best First'.
Re: file management
by The Mad Hatter (Priest) on Jul 28, 2003 at 01:05 UTC
Re: file management
by waswas-fng (Curate) on Jul 28, 2003 at 01:53 UTC
Re: file management
by BrowserUk (Patriarch) on Jul 28, 2003 at 02:00 UTC

    See also help replace particularly the /A /S and /U options.


    Examine what is said, not who speaks.
    "Efficiency is intelligent laziness." -David Dunham
    "When I'm working on a problem, I never think about beauty. I think only how to solve the problem. But when I have finished, if the solution is not beautiful, I know it is wrong." -Richard Buckminster Fuller

Re: file management
by skyknight (Hermit) on Jul 28, 2003 at 01:24 UTC
    Unless this is purely an academic exercise, you should just use the xcopy program.
Re: file management
by blue_cowdawg (Monsignor) on Jul 28, 2003 at 15:35 UTC

    A couple of comments I'd like to make:

    The first being two words: problem definition Have a clear understanding of what you want to accomplish. Be sure you research your solution and make sure you are not re-inventing the wheel. Under windows (and I'm not exactly a fan of windows, but I'll give credit where credit is due) there are already built into the WinBloze distribution tools to do what you are asking to do. One of these that comes to mind is xcopy. I don't know if I am dating myself but backup comes to mind as well (for all I know Microsoft may not include this in their distros any more.)

    Second: If I approach this from a pure excercise of science then I would start my research by looking at

    just to name a few that come to mind.


    Peter L. BergholdBrewer of Belgian Ales
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