Although this and other macros/apps I write are not exclusively for use by RedGuides,
I am authorizing its use for the community.
(This and other macros I write may be available at "other" MQ2 sites).
This macro has been tested using the most recent RedGuides MQ2 compile.
This macro/utility and all others I submit for the community will be fully supported by myself
(as long as you have not altered the code for it).
Changing user specific (non global) declares is permissible.
Been tinkering with a batch program I toyed with years ago.
I blew off the dust on it from the old Zip100 drive (parallel port mind you) it was stored on.
I copied it over fast to my thumb drive before the old zip drive blew up in my face from years of neglect.
Tried to update it and make it pretty... then convert it to a 32bit exe.
I have the capability and the framework setup to make it a 64bit exe as well, but lets not overkill this.
For your testing pleasures.... I present EQ_Backup.exe
Q: What does it do?
A: It backs up all your important configuration files within the EverQuest install directory.
I often make global changes on all my toons, its a handy utility to have to back everything up before you go messing with stuff.
Also easier now to archive everything into one directory so you can copy that to a thumb drive and quickly deploy on another computer with all your settings in tact.
Only thing of importance that I am NOT backing up is your "EverQuest\uifiles" structure.
Q: You doing anything malicious in it? I wanna see the source batch file!
A: I wouldn't dare show my face around anywhere if it wasn't perfectly simple and benign. Source batch file is included in the zip file.
Q: Why the hell did you convert an old batch file into an exe.... why not just create the app in java or C++ ?
A: Because I'm getting old.... senile perhaps... and I barely remember my name and address these days let alone programming languages I haven't used in 10+ years.
Q: Anything else in the zip file besides the EQ_Backup.exe and the EQ_Backup.bat source?
A: Yes ... an OLD SCHOOL program developed by a defunct programmer back in 2002, that basically copies one character's UI file setup to another character.
Garryck's_InI_Copier.exe (GIC)
It comes in handy when you want to copy the exact positioning and placement of every window you have on 1 toon to 1 or multiple others.
(I remember going nuts trying to get 15+ toons to all have their window positions the same.... it drove me mad.. until i used this tool. 15 seconds later, all 16 toons used the exact same UI theme and had the exact same layout for every window.)
Good Point: Copies UI window positions from 1 toon to another, and allows you to restore backups as well.
Bad Point: Also copies the autojoin channels you have set on that toon and copies / overwrites the values to the other toons you copy to.
Could be nasty if someone asks you in a private/secured officer channel who you are and why are you in this channel ... when your playing a toon from another guild and forgot you copied autojoins from other toon.
Resolution: Select one toon in whatever is your main guild, and perfect the positioning of every conceivable window for that account. Use the GIC program to copy his UI to all other toons in the same guild, this way they will all get his autojoin channels and window settings.
If needed, edit the UI_ToonName_Server.ini file (If I am PeterPiper on the Cazic Thule server... it would be UI_Peterpiper_cazic.ini ) and search for the "ChannelAutoJoin=" line. Manually edit this value for toons in a different guild.
Q: How do I install it?
A: Extract the 3 files from the zip file into your EverQuest directory.
Go into properties of EQ_Backup.exe and set to run as admin.
Run the program.
If it comes in handy for you.... I will go back and convert EQ_Restore.bat ... it does as it's name says.
NOTE: Since people have asked me a million times.. i will provide the answer to:
"How do i restore the files out of the archived backup on my existing PC or the new PC i transfered it to via USB drive.. etc etc etc."
Answer: EQ_Restore.exe
Please provide feedback.
- - - Updated - - -
Version updated to 1.0.0.1, I left out the Xegony server ! -- Fixed.
- - - Updated - - -
Was playing around and enabled procedural logging of internal action in the file for debugging tests, and decided people might actually want to have a log file of what happened and when.
New version 1.0.1.0 being pushed in a few minutes.
Did a redundant check for the existence and creation of the backup location, before enabling and writing to a log file in a location that does not yet exist.. ( lol ).
As you can see from sample run (run 1 was prompted mode... run 2 was express mode) the time stamps say it all. Express mode took 2.35 seconds to do everything automatically. Not too shabby.
UPDATE: 05-28-2014 v1.0.2.2
Utility has now been updated and will automatically compress and backup your Config_Backups directory into a 7-zip file called Config_Backups.7z
Thanks to dannuic for the info on 7-zip.
UPDATE: 07-07-2014 v1.0.2.3
Config_Backups archive file is now fixed to reflect date and time of archive in the naming convention of the file.
Example: Config_Backups_2014-07-07_121632.7a
UPDATE: 09-05-2014 v1.0.2.4
Audio triggers are now backed up and archived.
1) If it doesn't already exist, a new directory is created under the Config_Backups directory called "userdata_AudioTriggers".
2) %EverQuestInstallDirectory%\userdata\AT_*.ini (Your specific user's AT config files) is copied to this new directory.
3) The entire %EverQuestInstallDirectory%\AudioTriggers directory (contains the sound files and audio trigger groups) is archived into a 7-zip file then moved to "userdata_AudioTriggers" directory.
UPDATE: 10-30-2014 v1.0.2.5
Corrected issue where archived audio triggers .7z file was not being moved back into your EverQuest directory after final Config_Backup archive .7z file is made. This was causing each subsequent Backup to contain the previous audio trigger .7z files. The final backup file would grow and become bloated with older audio trigger backups.
Now the audio trigger .7z file is moved to the EverQuest directory along side the final config backup .7z file for archival purposes. A copy of the audio triggers .7z file is correctly backed up in final config backup.
UPDATE: 07-27-2015 v1.0.2.7
Updated to include backup procedures for Ragefire and Lockjaw progression servers.
UPDATE: 04-09-2016 v1.0.2.8
Updated to include backup procedures for Phinigel server.
UPDATE: 11-30-2016 v1.0.3.0
Updated to include backup procedures for Quarm event server.
UPDATE: 05-28-2017 v1.0.3.1
Updated to include backup procedures for Brekt and Agnarr servers.
UPDATE: 06-16-2017 v2.0.0.0
Full GUI 32 bit version released.
UPDATE: 07-24-2017 v2.0.1.0
As per RedBot's request:
A question/notification panel has been added to ensure the user knows to run the utility in ADMIN mode from within their EverQuest directory.
Also, compiler license was not activated properly under last compile, issue was corrected on dev workstation used to assemble the utility.
No more nagging popup stating a license error.
Be sure to get the newest version!
View attachment 12320 View attachment 12321
I am authorizing its use for the community.
(This and other macros I write may be available at "other" MQ2 sites).
This macro has been tested using the most recent RedGuides MQ2 compile.
This macro/utility and all others I submit for the community will be fully supported by myself
(as long as you have not altered the code for it).
Changing user specific (non global) declares is permissible.
Been tinkering with a batch program I toyed with years ago.
I blew off the dust on it from the old Zip100 drive (parallel port mind you) it was stored on.
I copied it over fast to my thumb drive before the old zip drive blew up in my face from years of neglect.
Tried to update it and make it pretty... then convert it to a 32bit exe.
I have the capability and the framework setup to make it a 64bit exe as well, but lets not overkill this.
For your testing pleasures.... I present EQ_Backup.exe
Q: What does it do?
A: It backs up all your important configuration files within the EverQuest install directory.
I often make global changes on all my toons, its a handy utility to have to back everything up before you go messing with stuff.
Also easier now to archive everything into one directory so you can copy that to a thumb drive and quickly deploy on another computer with all your settings in tact.
Only thing of importance that I am NOT backing up is your "EverQuest\uifiles" structure.
Q: You doing anything malicious in it? I wanna see the source batch file!
A: I wouldn't dare show my face around anywhere if it wasn't perfectly simple and benign. Source batch file is included in the zip file.
Q: Why the hell did you convert an old batch file into an exe.... why not just create the app in java or C++ ?
A: Because I'm getting old.... senile perhaps... and I barely remember my name and address these days let alone programming languages I haven't used in 10+ years.
Q: Anything else in the zip file besides the EQ_Backup.exe and the EQ_Backup.bat source?
A: Yes ... an OLD SCHOOL program developed by a defunct programmer back in 2002, that basically copies one character's UI file setup to another character.
Garryck's_InI_Copier.exe (GIC)
It comes in handy when you want to copy the exact positioning and placement of every window you have on 1 toon to 1 or multiple others.
(I remember going nuts trying to get 15+ toons to all have their window positions the same.... it drove me mad.. until i used this tool. 15 seconds later, all 16 toons used the exact same UI theme and had the exact same layout for every window.)
Good Point: Copies UI window positions from 1 toon to another, and allows you to restore backups as well.
Bad Point: Also copies the autojoin channels you have set on that toon and copies / overwrites the values to the other toons you copy to.
Could be nasty if someone asks you in a private/secured officer channel who you are and why are you in this channel ... when your playing a toon from another guild and forgot you copied autojoins from other toon.
Resolution: Select one toon in whatever is your main guild, and perfect the positioning of every conceivable window for that account. Use the GIC program to copy his UI to all other toons in the same guild, this way they will all get his autojoin channels and window settings.
If needed, edit the UI_ToonName_Server.ini file (If I am PeterPiper on the Cazic Thule server... it would be UI_Peterpiper_cazic.ini ) and search for the "ChannelAutoJoin=" line. Manually edit this value for toons in a different guild.
Q: How do I install it?
A: Extract the 3 files from the zip file into your EverQuest directory.
Go into properties of EQ_Backup.exe and set to run as admin.
Run the program.
If it comes in handy for you.... I will go back and convert EQ_Restore.bat ... it does as it's name says.
NOTE: Since people have asked me a million times.. i will provide the answer to:
"How do i restore the files out of the archived backup on my existing PC or the new PC i transfered it to via USB drive.. etc etc etc."
Answer: EQ_Restore.exe
Please provide feedback.
- - - Updated - - -
Version updated to 1.0.0.1, I left out the Xegony server ! -- Fixed.
- - - Updated - - -
Was playing around and enabled procedural logging of internal action in the file for debugging tests, and decided people might actually want to have a log file of what happened and when.
New version 1.0.1.0 being pushed in a few minutes.
Did a redundant check for the existence and creation of the backup location, before enabling and writing to a log file in a location that does not yet exist.. ( lol ).
As you can see from sample run (run 1 was prompted mode... run 2 was express mode) the time stamps say it all. Express mode took 2.35 seconds to do everything automatically. Not too shabby.
Rich (BB code):
Thu 08/14/2014, 1:12:44.28 -
Thu 08/14/2014, 1:12:44.30 - EQ_Backup.exe started.
Thu 08/14/2014, 1:12:46.94 - Checking for existence of Config_Backups.
Thu 08/14/2014, 1:12:46.95 - Config_Backups directory exists, check passed.
Thu 08/14/2014, 1:12:48.41 - Flushing negative errorlevel codes from memory.
Thu 08/14/2014, 1:12:48.42 - Providing user with choice of [E]xpress or [P]rompted mode.
Thu 08/14/2014, 1:12:51.37 - Starting [P]rompted mode.
Thu 08/14/2014, 1:12:51.38 - Attempting to remove any old UI files backed up by GIC.
Thu 08/14/2014, 1:12:54.04 - Attempting to backup EQ~Backup and EQ~Restore files.
Thu 08/14/2014, 1:12:56.56 - Attempting to backup eqclient file.
Thu 08/14/2014, 1:12:58.92 - Attempting to backup defaults file.
Thu 08/14/2014, 1:13:00.95 - Attempting to backup EverQuest and (WinEQ) eqlsPlayerData files.
Thu 08/14/2014, 1:13:02.83 - Attempting to backup bazaar min/max pricing data for mules.
Thu 08/14/2014, 1:13:04.75 - Attempting to backup account characters config files.
Thu 08/14/2014, 1:13:06.55 - Attempting to backup all character hotkey/social files, on all servers.
Thu 08/14/2014, 1:13:10.46 - Attempting to backup all character UI files, on all servers.
Thu 08/14/2014, 1:13:13.09 - Attempting to backup Garryck's_INI_Copier.exe.
Thu 08/14/2014, 1:13:15.27 - Archiving Config_Backups into 7-zip file.
Thu 08/14/2014, 1:13:17.99 - Stopping application and closing logs.
Thu 08/14/2014, 1:13:18.00 -
Thu 08/14/2014, 1:15:13.44 -
Thu 08/14/2014, 1:15:13.44 - EQ_Backup.exe started.
Thu 08/14/2014, 1:15:14.42 - Checking for existence of Config_Backups.
Thu 08/14/2014, 1:15:14.43 - Config_Backups directory exists, check passed.
Thu 08/14/2014, 1:15:14.58 - Flushing negative errorlevel codes from memory.
Thu 08/14/2014, 1:15:14.59 - Providing user with choice of [E]xpress or [P]rompted mode.
Thu 08/14/2014, 1:15:14.74 - Starting [E]xpress mode.
Thu 08/14/2014, 1:15:14.90 - Attempting to remove any old UI files backed up by GIC.
Thu 08/14/2014, 1:15:14.91 - Attempting to backup EQ~Backup and EQ~Restore files.
Thu 08/14/2014, 1:15:14.95 - Attempting to backup eqclient.ini file.
Thu 08/14/2014, 1:15:14.97 - Attempting to backup defaults.ini file.
Thu 08/14/2014, 1:15:14.98 - Attempting to backup EverQuest and (WinEQ) eqlsPlayerData files.
Thu 08/14/2014, 1:15:14.99 - Attempting to backup bazaar min/max pricing data for mules.
Thu 08/14/2014, 1:15:15.01 - Attempting to backup account characters config files.
Thu 08/14/2014, 1:15:15.02 - Attempting to backup all character hotkey/social files, on all servers.
Thu 08/14/2014, 1:15:15.22 - Attempting to backup all character UI files, on all servers.
Thu 08/14/2014, 1:15:15.31 - Attempting to backup Garryck's_INI_Copier.exe.
Thu 08/14/2014, 1:15:15.38 - Archiving Config_Backups into 7-zip file.
Thu 08/14/2014, 1:15:16.04 - Stopping application and closing logs.
Thu 08/14/2014, 1:15:16.07 -UPDATE: 05-28-2014 v1.0.2.2
Utility has now been updated and will automatically compress and backup your Config_Backups directory into a 7-zip file called Config_Backups.7z
Thanks to dannuic for the info on 7-zip.
UPDATE: 07-07-2014 v1.0.2.3
Config_Backups archive file is now fixed to reflect date and time of archive in the naming convention of the file.
Example: Config_Backups_2014-07-07_121632.7a
UPDATE: 09-05-2014 v1.0.2.4
Audio triggers are now backed up and archived.
1) If it doesn't already exist, a new directory is created under the Config_Backups directory called "userdata_AudioTriggers".
2) %EverQuestInstallDirectory%\userdata\AT_*.ini (Your specific user's AT config files) is copied to this new directory.
3) The entire %EverQuestInstallDirectory%\AudioTriggers directory (contains the sound files and audio trigger groups) is archived into a 7-zip file then moved to "userdata_AudioTriggers" directory.
UPDATE: 10-30-2014 v1.0.2.5
Corrected issue where archived audio triggers .7z file was not being moved back into your EverQuest directory after final Config_Backup archive .7z file is made. This was causing each subsequent Backup to contain the previous audio trigger .7z files. The final backup file would grow and become bloated with older audio trigger backups.
Now the audio trigger .7z file is moved to the EverQuest directory along side the final config backup .7z file for archival purposes. A copy of the audio triggers .7z file is correctly backed up in final config backup.
UPDATE: 07-27-2015 v1.0.2.7
Updated to include backup procedures for Ragefire and Lockjaw progression servers.
UPDATE: 04-09-2016 v1.0.2.8
Updated to include backup procedures for Phinigel server.
UPDATE: 11-30-2016 v1.0.3.0
Updated to include backup procedures for Quarm event server.
UPDATE: 05-28-2017 v1.0.3.1
Updated to include backup procedures for Brekt and Agnarr servers.
UPDATE: 06-16-2017 v2.0.0.0
Full GUI 32 bit version released.
UPDATE: 07-24-2017 v2.0.1.0
As per RedBot's request:
A question/notification panel has been added to ensure the user knows to run the utility in ADMIN mode from within their EverQuest directory.
Also, compiler license was not activated properly under last compile, issue was corrected on dev workstation used to assemble the utility.
No more nagging popup stating a license error.
Be sure to get the newest version!
View attachment 12320 View attachment 12321
