Excel (duplicate workbook)
Hi, Is there a way that I can make a copy of a workbook, put it in a different folder, and have it update automatically every time I make changes to the original workbook?
Thanks
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redmondb:
Windows has hardlinks, softlinks and symbolic links.. There is difference between them..
So in Windows what is the difference between a short-cut and symbolic link (sym-link) and a hard link?
A short cut is basically a file that points to another file. It is an antiquated, pointing system from the Windows 95 era. Shortcuts not only use up space on your hard drive, they linger around after the item they are pointing to has been deleted and may break if the destination is renamed or moved.
A symbolic link is like a short cut but instead of being saved as a file, they are registered to the file system. This means they do not use hard disk space but programs recognise and can read where the link is pointing to. A symbolic link can point to any file or folder either locally on the computer and over a network using a SMB path.
A file hard link and the directory junction are a little different. It not only points to the item but duplicates it as a copy without taking up the extra hard disk space required by a clone. If you have a hard link pointing to a file then delete the original file, the hard link will still retain a copy of the clone. One limitation of the file hard link is that the link can only be made on the same file partition as the file.
Finally a junction is a hard link for directories. To me they are the most useful and unlike their file hard links counterparts you can create junctions on different partitions. Again a junction is stored on the file system where it does not take up additional space and is treated by the operating system and programs as a local folder.
For more explanation
http://ipggi.wordpress.com/2009/09/07/windows-file-junctions-symbolic-links-and-hard-links/
Windows has hardlinks, softlinks and symbolic links.. There is difference between them..
So in Windows what is the difference between a short-cut and symbolic link (sym-link) and a hard link?
A short cut is basically a file that points to another file. It is an antiquated, pointing system from the Windows 95 era. Shortcuts not only use up space on your hard drive, they linger around after the item they are pointing to has been deleted and may break if the destination is renamed or moved.
A symbolic link is like a short cut but instead of being saved as a file, they are registered to the file system. This means they do not use hard disk space but programs recognise and can read where the link is pointing to. A symbolic link can point to any file or folder either locally on the computer and over a network using a SMB path.
A file hard link and the directory junction are a little different. It not only points to the item but duplicates it as a copy without taking up the extra hard disk space required by a clone. If you have a hard link pointing to a file then delete the original file, the hard link will still retain a copy of the clone. One limitation of the file hard link is that the link can only be made on the same file partition as the file.
Finally a junction is a hard link for directories. To me they are the most useful and unlike their file hard links counterparts you can create junctions on different partitions. Again a junction is stored on the file system where it does not take up additional space and is treated by the operating system and programs as a local folder.
For more explanation
http://ipggi.wordpress.com/2009/09/07/windows-file-junctions-symbolic-links-and-hard-links/
AmitKhilnaney,
Yes, that was my understanding also (roughly!).
However, "duplicates it as a copy without taking up the extra hard disk space required by a clone" - so there's only ever a single version of the data. If that becomes corrupt then both the original and the hard-link are knackered. (The only protection that hard-link gives you is that if you delete the original then the data is still accessible via the hard-link.)
Regards,
Brian.
Yes, that was my understanding also (roughly!).
However, "duplicates it as a copy without taking up the extra hard disk space required by a clone" - so there's only ever a single version of the data. If that becomes corrupt then both the original and the hard-link are knackered. (The only protection that hard-link gives you is that if you delete the original then the data is still accessible via the hard-link.)
Regards,
Brian.
redmondb:
Yes you are correct on that part.. But excel auto recovery works fine in general situation. Or if user have enabled Voume shadow copy services that can help also.. but in general senario i mean non server/enterprise scenarios hard link is quite effective solution.
Yes you are correct on that part.. But excel auto recovery works fine in general situation. Or if user have enabled Voume shadow copy services that can help also.. but in general senario i mean non server/enterprise scenarios hard link is quite effective solution.
Thanks, AmitKhilnaney. Mainly, I was just checking my understanding. As I mentioned at the start, hard links may be exactly what he wants. Oh...
camtz - what do you want the copy for? :)
Regards,
Brian.
camtz - what do you want the copy for? :)
Regards,
Brian.
you welcome redmondb
Thanks
Amit
Thanks
Amit
ASKER
Many thanks
you welcome camtz
Thanks
Amit
Thanks
Amit
It may be exactly what camtz wants, but aren't hard links (in Windows, at least) a matter of pointers rather than physical copies of the data? If so, they wouldn't be much use for backup.
Regards,
Brian.