* Wish- Direct Backup to Google Drive, etc.

[deckie49]

Did not see this request in the list.
It would be very convenient to add the option of backing up Family Historian files directly to Google Drive, or other online repositories.

[wulliam]

I use a free online cloud service called BoxSync and all my files including backups are automatically kept there. Would that do the job for you??

[ColeValleyGirl]

Is this not satisfied by configuring the FH backup location to be whichever cloud storage service you wish? (Mine's in Dropbox...)

[davidm_uk]

Or alternatively leave the FH backups where they are (on a local or usb hard drive) and then use something like SyncBack ( http://www.2brightsparks.com/syncback/sbse.html ) to copy the FH backup files and any FH config settings to the Google Drive folder on your PC or laptop so that they will then be sync'd to the cloud. With SyncBack you can control what files are copied, password protect them, and create an automatic schedule for the copying to run. I use this approach with OneDrive for all my backups and it works well.

I'd be reluctant to rely only on the cloud for my backups.

(in my case where I have various groups of folders, eg documents, photos, mail database, FH backups, FH settings etc. I create separate syncback jobs for each group and then schedule the jobs at slightly different times just to spread the cpu loading)

[deckie49]

Thank you all.
ColeValleyGirl, Looking again at the backup options, I do see the network option. I suspect that is what you're referring to. I will have to study that. Have never used it before. Thanks.

[tatewise]

There is no need for any Network options, simply Backup to the Google Drive or OneDrive or Dropbox folder created in your Windows account when you set-up the cloud storage service.

In addition to that, you can keep your entire FH Project database in any of the online cloud storage services.
See fhugdownloads:contents:utility_google_drive|> Utility ~ Google Drive and fhugdownloads:contents:microsoft_skydrive|> Utility ~ Microsoft OneDrive (SkyDrive) and fhugdownloads:contents:dropbox|> Utility ~ Dropbox.

Maybe you are unfamiliar with how such cloud storage services work. If so, please ask for more details.

See also glossary:backup_and_recovery|> Backup and Recovery for further advice about backups.

You won't find this topic in the Wish Lists, because there are so many existing Backup options, therefore I have moved this thread to the General Usage Forum.

[deckie49]

Mike,
Thank you for the post along with the Knowledge Base links. I had looked at the Google Drive link earlier.
The problem I'm running up against is that I prefer not to use "file sync" as a backup method. When I tried Google Drive software, I found that if a file in my computer's sync folder gets deleted, the file also gets deleted on Google Drive. To me, that is not really "backing up". I was hoping for an easy, direct way to permanently store FH Backup files to Google Drive. Rootsmagic has this feature so I know it is possible to do, at least programically. Perhaps it is not possible to set up as an end user. Everything I am reading on the web is suggesting that. So I am submitting this as a wish for future FH enhancement.
So, having said that, I certainly would appreciate some ideas & suggestions. Thanks.

[mjashby]

Just use Family Historian's built-in Backup procedure with the appropriate options to save your Backups to Google Drive etc., etc. and the Backup files will be retained until you delete them.

Mervyn

[tatewise]

To reinforce what several of us have said, simply set the Tools > Preferences > Backup > Default Backup Folder to a folder within the Google Drive or OneDrive or Dropbox or other cloud storage folder, and each Backup on closing FH or via File > Backup/Restore will be saved there permanently (unless you manually delete them).

Most of the advice has been focussed on Google Drive (and similar sync services), because you specifically mentioned that service. Although such services are aimed more at synchronisation than backup, they do usually offer a backup/recycle folder from which files can be retrieved for up to 30 days. As such there is NO way files can be permanently stored in Google Drive or similar sync services. However, there are other cloud services that are aimed at offering long-term backup even for files deleted from your PC, just like backups to CD/DVD/Pen drive.

It is also worth recognising that NO backup media of any sort is permanent. They all have deficiencies due to various forms of physical failure or degradation. That is why it is important to keep more than one form of backup, and ensure that all necessary data is included, as discussed in glossary:backup_and_recovery|> Backup and Recovery.

[deckie49]

Mike, your points are well taken. I do think I should be looking at cloud based backup sites, not syncing sites.

[mjashby]

I'm not sure I understand what kind of cloud service you are looking for. Although all of the sites mentioned so far do allow you to maintain working data files on your pc/tablet/phone etc. in sync, and enable you to 'share' them across multiple devices or with other people, they do also allow the storage of most file types including 'static' documents, images, video and backup files such as FH backups, which they would keep in sync with the copies you save/archive in your locally linked folder(s), i.e. they maintain a mirror image of those files. What they don't tend to do, at least as a 'free' service, is allow you to upload files into an archive which isn't mirrored on your own system.

Google does, of course, allow and encourage you to save documents, image files etc. directly to Google Drive, rather than to your local device(s), which can then only be accessed in the 'Cloud', as does Microsoft with the OneDrive service, but that increasing type of direct online facility can only be accessed online and when using applications that are specifically approved/authorised by the individual service.

You seem to be confusing data synchronisation via the internet, such as maintaining the integrity of online database content, with file synchronisation, i.e. ensuring a mirror image of two sets of files is maintained, but I may well be wrong. Perhaps, if you could describe what it is that you are looking for from a Cloud based backup service that doesn't seem to be provided by the main players it might help.

EDIT: If what you are looking for is the ability to archive files you no longer wish to permanently store on your PC/Laptop then both DropBox and OneDrive can do that:

DropBox: http://freedompodcasting.com/archive-dr ... ard-drive/
OneDrive: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/wind ... le-offline

Not sure that Google can, as I haven't found any guides for similar features. Probably worth saying that, to use data archiving to any significant extent, a paid account would almost certainly be necessary for most services, because the space required would be likely to exceed most of the 'free' offerings. That's certainly the case with DropBox which offers one of the lowest levels of 'free' space.