Real world: the switches

4) Command Overview

zpaqfranz includes a variety of commands for different operations, such as:

• Add to an Archive: Use the a command to add files or folders to your backup.
• Show Archive Content: Utilize the l command to list the contents of an existing archive.
• Extract Data from Archive: The x command allows you to extract files from an archive.

In addition to these core commands, zpaqfranz features a large number of switches (options) that modify the behavior of these commands to suit your needs.

Getting Comfortable with Commands

It’s essential to familiarize yourself with how these commands and switches work. Start with the main commands and gradually explore the additional options available:

• Practice: Try out commands in a safe environment to see how they function.
• Documentation: Refer to the zpaqfranz documentation for detailed descriptions of each command and its switches.

By becoming comfortable with these commands, you'll be better equipped to utilize zpaqfranz effectively for your data management and backup tasks.

5) Understanding Switches

So, what is a switch? Essentially, it is a character string that begins with a - (the minus sign). Switches modify the behavior of commands in zpaqfranz and can sometimes require an additional parameter, which is separated by a space.

Examples of Switches:

• Basic Switch Without Parameter:

  • For instance, you might use a command like zpaqfranz a d:\thebackup.zpaq c:\dati -terse. Here, -terse is a switch that could represent "NON verbose" mode, providing less detailed output during execution.

• Switch With Parameter:

  • An example of a switch with a parameter would be zpaqfranz a 100 d:\thebackup.zpaq c:\dati -minsize 1M. In this case, -minsize 1M indicate that I want ONLY files bigger (-minsize) of 1M

Complexity and Clarity:

It may seem complex at first, but seeing examples in action will clarify their usage and help you understand how to use switches effectively in your commands.

• Practice Using Switches:
  • Try incorporating different switches in your commands to observe their effects and gain familiarity with their functionalities.