Backup tool with versioning for Windows ?

cgidesign

I am thinking about a:

Software that runs on Windows and can backup files to an external storage (in my case a NAS that provides shared folders like a Windows does).

But, different from normal sync. or backup tools, I would like to have file versioning and the option to add comments to the versions.

I know about git but am asking for a more simplified and "artists friendly" solution.

Idea is for example:

Making V1 of a Blender model -> saving to the the NAS as V1

Loading V1 -> making changes -> adding notes what has changed etc. -> saving to the NAS as V2

Or:

Loading DS canvases into an image edit software -> editing for a specific purpose -> saving as "Image-Purpose-A" -> adding notes about what the purpose is

Loading same image "Image-Purpose-A" -> editing for a different purpose -> saving as "Image-Purpose-B" -> adding notes for purpose B.

Later I can either load image A or B and read what they were made for.

This is just something I am thinking about, but maybe somebody knows a solution that does not need a team of unix or linux administrators to set up.

Taoz

Sounds like a useful tool so here's a quick mock up simulating a simple solution (as I understand your request).  Just need to add the logic to make it work.  Here's how it's supposed to work:

1. on the NAS (or whatever location you want) you create a Base Folder for all your backup files (in the example here \\NAS\3D Files). Inside that folder you can create subfolders, e.g. for Blender or DAZ, or for different file or project types, or whatever you prefer.  These are listed in the left pane as Destination Folders.

2. in the Source File Folder field (here D:\Files to Back Up) you save the file you want to back up, as file.extension, e.g. file.obj, file.duf or whatever (presuming you only want to process one file at a time, to avoid any confusion).  The program will then automatically detect that file as the file to back up.

3. select a Destination Folder for the file you want to back up. This will list all the files inside that folder, if any, and show the path for that folder in the Back Up Path field.

a. if you want to create the first version of a file, just add the file name to the Back Up Path, append -01 to the file name (or whatever version style you prefer),  add your notes to the notes text box, and click Back Up File.  

b. If you want to back up an update to an existing file, select that file on the Files list, in the example here SomeDazStudioFile-02.duf.  You will then see the path for that file in the Back Up Path field.  Then you just change 02 in the file name to 03 to create the update.  Edit the notes in the notes box to match the update, and click Back Up File. 

The notes will be saved as an invisible text file (not shown on the file list), in the same folder and with the same name as the back up file, but with a .txt extension.

cgidesign

Yep, this is the most basic concept I had in mind.

Of course everyone can create v1, v2, ... versions by just using save as ... but I am missing the "notes part" from time to time. Would be great to have something like this in DS as well. I often have multiple versions of a scene and can't remember afterwards, which version was made why. And creating text files by hand would get convoluted quickly.