Autosave script and versioning (OS X)

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OCTO
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Post by OCTO » Mon Jan 30, 2017 7:53 am

I currently use:
- Autosave Script (this hits Cmd+S), attached
- ChornoSync

Having both programs auto-run at 5 minutes intervall, I create automatic versioning (999+ versions). I can simply go back in time and check exactly when something was done improperly, or to return to previous ideas that have been deleted.

Autosave in Finale is not the same as Cmd+S.

Attachment here:
http://notat.io/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=275
Last edited by OCTO on Mon Jan 30, 2017 11:40 am, edited 1 time in total.
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David Ward
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Post by David Ward » Mon Jan 30, 2017 10:38 am

For some reason, both Firefox and Safari block the link. However, if I go to http://notat.io/ in the usual way, and then to Digital Notation Tools I can get to it.
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OCTO
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Post by OCTO » Mon Jan 30, 2017 11:41 am

David Ward wrote:For some reason, both Firefox and Safari block the link. However, if I go to http://notat.io/ in the usual way, and then to Digital Notation Tools I can get to it.
Oh, sorry, yes. It is because of https protocol. Your browser thinks that notat.io certificate is a fraud. Just accept exception and that is it. It is better over https anyway.

Now I have changed the link to http, it should work for anyone without accepting anything.
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BuonTempi
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Post by BuonTempi » Tue Jan 31, 2017 4:15 pm

Here's an app that looks like it might be very useful in combination with Finale: it basically gives you autosaving and versioning for every app on your Mac:

https://toolforcesoftware.com/foreversave/

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David Ward
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Post by David Ward » Tue Jan 31, 2017 4:22 pm

That looks good. Have you tried it?

Is the autosave equivalent to Command S (as in OCTO's autosave) or is it more like the interruptive process of Finale's own autosave?
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BuonTempi
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Post by BuonTempi » Tue Jan 31, 2017 4:44 pm

I haven't tried it, but will give it a go. You have to do the initial save of your document manually, i.e. it doesn't save Untitled documents. But once you've done that, it looks like it auto-saves transparently, and provides versioning with QuickLook browsing.

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OCTO
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Post by OCTO » Wed Feb 01, 2017 3:18 am

That is also a nice app. I might have it. It does the same thing as my script+ChronoSync.

BTW, I love ChronoSync. An excellent tool.
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BuonTempi
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Post by BuonTempi » Sun Feb 05, 2017 5:37 pm

I've been trying out ForeverSave 2, and I really like it.
Firstly, you set it up per application, so you can have different intervals and settings for different apps.
Secondly, it creates its own little archive where it stores each version that it saves, and you can restore them elsewhere if needed. You can set it to clear files older than X days.
Thirdly, if you haven't already saved the document, it will prompt you to save it at the first auto-save interval.

I have to say that I'm very tempted to buy it, just for Finale -- though I'm sure I can find other apps to use it with.

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michelp
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Post by michelp » Sun Feb 05, 2017 7:13 pm

If you have a Dropbox account, just put the file you are working on in the Dropbox folder. You will have access to consecutive versions (each time they are saved !) on your space on their server.
Michel
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BuonTempi
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Post by BuonTempi » Sun Feb 05, 2017 7:29 pm

michelp wrote:(each time they are saved !)
Yes, but this app takes the drudgery out of remembering to save and pressing the buttons!

I've already found it useful, as I'm assembling a score from parts, which don't "construe". So I'm having to move selections of each staff around, to see what fits best. (Start from the final cadence, and work back!) Having multiple reference points of different combinations has really helped.

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michelp
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Post by michelp » Sun Feb 05, 2017 8:04 pm

Agreed, but Finale can auto-save too at predefined intervals, right ? (Program preferences, hopefully reliable ?).
Michel
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OCTO
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Post by OCTO » Sun Feb 05, 2017 8:10 pm

michelp wrote:Agreed, but Finale can auto-save too at predefined intervals, right ? (Program preferences, hopefully reliable ?).
Finale does quasi-autosave. It makes basically a snapshot of the current state. And only one.
If you quit without saving, it will not autosave the changes. If you open it again, the previous autosave file will be reset. So, no versioning, and no true save.
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michelp
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Post by michelp » Sun Feb 05, 2017 9:33 pm

I understand that Auto-save erases the previous backup, right ? That's why I was suggesting combining Auto-save with Dropbox, because Dropbox archives ALL versions that were saved at some point, not only the last one.
Michel
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motet
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Post by motet » Sun Feb 05, 2017 9:56 pm

But there's the .bakx file.

The Dropbox idea is interesting. For Autosave to be effective, though, it needs to be set for every 5 or 10 minutes. Wouldn't you quickly have dozens of versions, hundreds over the course of a couple of weeks work?

I certainly rely on Autosave for when Finale crashes, but in my 13-odd years of using Finale I don't think I've otherwise needed to revert to a backup more that a couple of times, and certainly not several versions back.

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michelp
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Post by michelp » Sun Feb 05, 2017 11:27 pm

motet wrote:Wouldn't you quickly have dozens of versions, hundreds over the course of a couple of weeks work?
Yes, of course, but with 1 TB of space (1 year subscription fee), I don't think about it.
When the work is completed, I can always delete the previous versions if I need to regain space (not the case).
As a matter of fact, I very rarely need these back-ups, but the idea that they are available allows me to sleep better ;)
Michel
MacOsX 12.7.4, Finale 27.4.1 & 26.3.1, Mac Mini Intel Dual Core i7 3Ghz, 16 Go Ram. Azerty kb. MOTU Midi Express XT USB, Roland Sound Canvas SC-88vl, MOTU Audio Express. 2 monitors (27"' pivot, 24'"), JW Lua, RGP Lua

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