Use Apple Backup 3.2 beyond the Home Folder

Jun 24, '10 07:30:00AM

Contributed by: adamberti

With Apple's release of Backup 3.2 in April, they removed the ability to chose files and folders located outside of your home folder. Prior to this version, you could choose any file on the hard drive, in addition to files on remote servers (such as on an AFP shared volume). A simple editing of a .plist file will allow you enter any path on the system. [crarko adds: The Backup 3.2 program is fully functional only to MobileMe subscribers, and is complementary to Time Machine.]

The backup information is stored in ~/Library/Application Support/Backup/BackupSets/. The folders in there have a unique id, so you will will have to drill down in each one to find the Backup you need. If you drill down in each one's Contents/InfoPlist.strings, you can use QuickLook to see the name in that file that corresponds to your backup set. Of course, if you make a new one, the folder with the unique id will have a creation date of today.

In the correct BackupSet folder, you will find a package User.quickpick. Show the package contents and then you will want to edit Contents/Versions/1.0/Resources/DefinitionPlist.strings. You will find a section of that file called 'Graft Paths'. From here, simply change the existing folder paths to your desired path.

Eg. pattern = ~/Documents;
change it to pattern = /Volumes/Drive/FolderToBackup;

If you have any folders within that folder to exclude, be sure to also edit the 'Prune Paths' section further in the strings file.

Eg. pattern =/Volumes/Drive/FolderToBackup/FolderToExclude;

First indications of testing it show a correct backup and restore.

[crarko adds: I haven't tested this one. It seems you need to be mindful of permissions and open files, though.]

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