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backup copy of edited file

13 Sep 2012 1:20 #10732

Paul,

Having moved from my old editor to Plato (due to moving to Win7_64) I now find that I don't have a backup copy of the original file I last updated. Does this capability exist in Plato ? If it doesn't, is there a possibility of introducing it.

There are the two issues of backup file name and which version to keep.

My old editor simply changed the suffix, eg program.f95 > program.bak, so multiple .f95, .ins, .for files all shared the same backup. Another editor creates program_bak.f95, but that is harder to sort for cleaning out the old versions. As it is possible with plato to do many updates, doing repeated edit/compile cycles, could I suggest that the backup file be the version of the original file that was opened (or selected to become backed up, if such a menu option exists). I remember an old OS that retained all temporary versions, appending a version number to the file name, ending up with 20 to 30 versions of the file to delete after each edit session. Didn't like that one. The key functionality I am suggesting is that when editing a file, the original file is (optionally?) retained (renamed with original date/time stamp changed suffix), so that all changes can later be audited.

I notice there is an auto-backup facility for editing. Is this similar ? I suspect not. More likely this is so recent edits are not lost in case Plato crashes. (Unfortunately I use this feature a lot in Excel 2010, when editing .xls compatible mode files !!)

Something to consider as another Tools > Options > Text Editor

John

13 Sep 2012 6:55 #10733

OK. I think that this could be done without too much effort. The existing backup is only there for power failures etc.

14 Sep 2012 10:20 #10735

Paul,

At the risk of making work, could I suggest that you also think about a menu item: 'show differences between current file and backup' - this would seem to also address in part John's stated need to audit differences.

Eddie

14 Sep 2012 1:25 #10736

OK

14 Sep 2012 2:42 #10737

OK

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