File Names, Backups, Character Limit

[Dimitri Harvalias]

Just wondering how others are dealing with this issue.
I frequently back up to CD's and, more recently, DVD's to archive and backup my work.
I am constantly running into the limitation on the number of characters in a file name.
With worksets enabled the Revit created backup folders are always exceeding the max limit. Below is a sample of a typical path for one of these folders. Before even the file name and basic path is there the software uses over 70 characters.

D:My DocumentsHCSLVIAObelisk48404 - Obelisk - DH Central_backupbdf3e2d-6584-4f2e-a3cc-a5dd68534a2a1c2bfa35-153a-403f-9f99-a000347bdc49.rws

Higher end backup software does not have the same limitations as the basic 'out of the box' windows backup or simpler third party apps like Nero or Creative. Of course they also use pproprietarycompression software and require that you use their program to unpack backup files. In larger offices these are the logical choice but I am a sole ppractitionerand contract out to various firms so I do my own backups.

Any suggestions as to how to overcome this problem?

[Wes Macaulay]

I don't worry about backing up the workset streams... I'd have the backup software ignore .RWS files so you won't have the error.

Does anyone else backup these files? how about the .DAT files for permissions?

Seems like overkill to me, I guess...

New to 8.1 is that the incredible Matrix-like set of folders is gone... now there are .RWS files in the backup folder, instead of a a92845-2800ce-2k34jk5 folder under it! I like this since it scared me to see all those directories in the backup folder. This would solve your problem in one fell swoop I think...

[Dimitri Harvalias]

Thanks Wes. I'll have to check out 8.1 now that the major project I've been working on has been put to bed.

[edaniels]

My CAD Manager/IT Manager wants to delete the RWS files daily. Will the central file have a problem with the deletion of the rws files on a daily basis? I belive the log files can be deteled daily?

[Wes Macaulay]

Um, nope, not now, not ever! The RWS (Revit workset streams) are the basis for rolling back or recovering the central file in case someone makes a change you don't want, or if the central file blows up (e.g. because of the Windows delayed file write bug, fixed supposedly in Win2000 SP4 and WinXP SP1).

They should never be deleted. They need not be backed up I suppose (though it would be good if they were.)

[sbrown]

Can you place everything in a zip, then create the cd/dvd of the zip? I too don't see a real need to back up the back up folder structure.

[edaniels]

I have learned first hand about the backups. I just got the central file back from the Factory on Friday for a group the flew the coup. You could hover over the group but as soon as you click to edit it, revit said, so sorry please try again. So I sent it in, they got the group to work again but do not know what went wrong. The CAD Manager was concerned about the amount of backups that revit did and we turned it down to keep one backup and we should have two or three. And you will not believe the rats nest that is the IT structure at the my office. The project files are spread out on four servers for 27 people. The servers vary from P2s to Xeon.
So update on the office policy so far is not to touch them (rws) for now.