Add Options

The Add Files and Add a Folder dialogues provide the following option:

Add only if newer

Select this option to add the specified file to the archive only if the archive does not contain the specified file, or if the archive contains an older version of the specified file. Archive Manager uses the modification date to determine which file is the most recent. If the version of the file in the archive is the most recent, Archive Manager does not add the specified file to the archive.

If you do not select this option, Archive Manager adds the file to the archive and overwrites the previous archive contents.

Tip

If you use Archive Manager to create backups, the Add only if newer option is very useful. For example, the archive backup.tar.gz contains a week-old backup of your home folder. To update the archive to contain a current backup of your home folder, perform the following steps:

  1. Open the backup.tar.gz archive in Archive Manager.
  2. Choose Edit ▸ Add to display the Add a Folder dialogue.
  3. Select your home folder.
  4. Select the Add only if newer option.
  5. Click Add.

Archive Manager automatically adds to the archive all files that you created during the last week, and updates all files that you modified during the last week. However, Archive Manager does not remove from the archive the files that you deleted during the last week. The archive update operation is much faster than doing a full backup of your home folder.

10.1. Add to Folder Options

The following options are available in the Add a Folder dialogue and allow you to automatically select and add all files that satisfy certain criteria:

Include files

Type a filename pattern in this text box to include files with names that match the specified pattern. See Section 3.1 ― Filename Patterns for more information about filename patterns.

Exclude files

Type a filename pattern in this text box to exclude files with names that match the specified pattern. See Section 3.1 ― Filename Patterns for more information about filename patterns.

Exclude folders

Type a filename pattern in this text box to exclude folders with names that match the specified pattern. See Section 3.1 ― Filename Patterns for more information about filename patterns.

Include subfolders

Select this option to add all files that match the specified pattern, from the current folder and from subfolders.

The filename, not the subfolder name, must match the specified pattern.

If you do not select this option, Archive Manager adds the matching files from the current folder only.

Exclude folders that are symbolic links

Select this option to omit files from folders that are symbolic links. Symbolic links are pointers or shortcuts to other folders.

If you do not select this option, Archive Manager adds the matching files from folders that are symbolic links.

Save Options

Click on this button to save the current selection of advanced add options to a file. The Save Options dialogue is displayed. Enter a descriptive filename in the Options Name text box, then click Save.

Load Options

Click on this button to load or delete a previously saved selection of advanced add options. The Load Options dialogue is displayed.

  • To load a set of options, select the options file in the list box, then click Apply.
  • To delete a set of options, select the options file in the list box, then click Remove. Click Close to close the Load Options dialogue.
Reset Options

Click on this button to reset the current selection of advanced add options to the default values.