Question

First I understand I should probably be using GitHub or some other online repository, but I would like to explore some of the concepts necessary for my method to work.

I would like to run a batch script/program every time I close Visual Studio, Eclipse, Notepad. Specifically, I would like to run a copy program to copy all of my source code that I generated with that program to a folder inside a Google Drive/Dropbox folder. That way I know it is saved to the cloud. this way I do not have to set up a special backup extension inside each Development enviornment.

Firstly is there a built in simple solution for doing the above? or Do I need to write a custom service that checks to see when those programs are closed? and if that is the way to go where should I look for an example of how to get started?

Thanks.

Answer 1

No, there is no simple built-in method that will backup the files that you want when you want it.

Instead you could simply point your work directories to your Gdrive or DropBox folders, and create a folder inside them for each.

Or you could create a task that copies the files every 10 minutes or however long.

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But if you want it to run only when you exit the programs you specify: Yeah, you’ll pretty much need to write a batch file for each of the programs you want to back up. Then call the batch file instead of the program.

startVS.bat

set DropBox=C:\Wherever\
start /wait "" "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\Common7\IDE\devenv.exe"
xcopy /s /e /d /y "%userprofile%\Documents\Visual Studio 2008\Projects\*.*" "%DropBox%"

If you want to have the same icon, and for the batch file run minimized:

1) Open Windows Explorer, navigate to startVS.bat, right-click on it, and click Create Shortcut.
2) Right-click on startVS - ShortCut -> Click Rename and rename it Visual Studios, then press [ENTER].
3) Right-Click on the new Visual Studios -> Properties -> Change Icon -> Browse
4) Paste %ProgramFiles% (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\Common7\IDE\devenv.exe into the File Name box.
5) Click Open -> OK
6) Click Normal Window -> Minimized -> OK
7) Put a copy of Visual Studios (really named Visual Studios.lnk) where ever you want it, like in the Start menu.

If you are not running a 64 bit system, at step 4 paste %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\Common7\IDE\devenv.exe into the File Name box.