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Barry MacDonnell's
Toolbox for WordPerfect

Macros, tips, and templates for Corel® WordPerfect® for Windows®
© Copyright 1996-2008 by Barry MacDonnell. All Rights Reserved.

Page updated Feb 21, 2008
SaveCopy - A macro that saves the current file and then immediately makes a copy on another hard drive, floppy disk, or other removable disk.

Download SAVECOPY.ZIP (v1.03; 05/14/05; 18,035 bytes)

Compatible with WordPerfect 9,10,11,12,X3

Written in WordPerfect version 9.0.0.883, but may also work in earlier versions and most later versions, except in one build of WP, noted below.

Downloading, Documentation, Modifications, and Support

NOTE: This macro does NOT work in WP11.0.0.233 (the first release of WP11). But it works in Wp11/sp1 and later versions (i.e., 11.0.0.300/305). There are Corel-caused problems with macros played in the first release of WP11 (see the top of the Library page for more).

See also MULTISAV, which contains macros that (1) save your document with sequential filenames or (2) save it whenever you enter a hard return.

This macro offers a way to save your currently opened file and simultaneously make an archive copy of it on another hard drive (or floppy or Zip drive) using either the same relative directory (folder) name or a user-specified directory.

Important

Before playing this macro you must insert your preferred alternate drive's letter in the redlined User Modification Area at the beginning of the macro's code.

Macros are just a special type of WordPerfect document (a macro's filename ends with .wcm). They contain commands that WordPerfect should carry out. Just open the document like any other and read the comments and instructions at the top. See the "Downloading, Documentation, Modifications, and Support" link in the left column on this page.

This modification will tell the macro which drive to use to store the copy of your current file. The default is Drive D:, but you can set it to any existing drive that has a permanently assigned drive letter. The other settings in the Modification Area are optional, but you may want to examine them to see if any are useful to you.

After you have made the above modification(s), play the macro instead of using File, Save. You may want to assign the macro to a keystroke combination, toolbar button, or menu item. (Also see the Tip at the bottom of this page.)

You use this macro solely at your own risk. While it has been tested thoroughly by the author on his version of WordPerfect, it may not work with every software or hardware set up. You are advised to make backups of any important files before using it and to test it on your own system(s) to assure yourself that it will reliably meet your needs. See the full Disclaimer at the bottom of this page.

OVERVIEW

The macro saves the current file, then immediately makes a copy of it in one of three user-specified locations -

(1) the root directory of the alternate (target) drive (e.g., a:\ or d:\); or

(2) a specific folder on the target drive named by the user (e.g., ..\Special Projects); or

(3) the same relative directory path and folder as found on the original (source) drive.

The third method is the default setting in the macro's code. This should make it easier to find archived files on large drives with lots of files since they will have the same relative path and name on both drives (unless you move them later!).

For example: If you use the third method, a source file in
C:\Documents and Settings\Barry\My Documents\Clients\
    - will be saved and immediately copied to -
D:\Documents and Settings\Barry\My Documents\Clients\
if the D: drive has been specified at the top of the macro's code.

However, when you copy to a floppy disk you may want to use method (1) or (2) by adjusting the settings in the User Modification Area. [You can always make multiple copies of this macro for different purposes, and assign each to a different toolbar button, keystroke, or menu item.]

Caution

It is not advisable to make all backups to the same "backup" folder on another hard drive, since this could allow one or more files with the same name being backed up into this folder, accidentally overwriting earlier (but probably different) files. Therefore, use methods (1) and (2) above with caution. (These two methods are probably more appropriate for use with removable drive, where you know you will be removing the media before going on to another task; or where a specially modified and differently named copy of SaveCopy is used for a given project; or where the macro has been modified in the User Modification Area to always prompt you before overwriting a backup.)

Method (3) uses the same relative path as the original, a technique used by some third-party backup software programs. The backups will then overwrite the files they are supposed to overwrite. This method is the default method used by the macro.

Also note that this macro makes a (rudimentary) check of the target drive to see if it is a floppy drive (it simply looks for "a:\" in the drive name), and if it appears to be a floppy, it uses a prompted CopyFile command to help ensure nothing is inadvertently overwritten, as well as to warn the user if the floppy disk is full. For all other drive letters (b-z), the CopyFile function is not prompted by default (this can be changed in the macro's User Modification Area), on the assumption that you are copying to a backup (or archive) drive and always want to overwrite any existing file of the same name found in the same relative directory on the target drive.

Starting with v1.03, if you attempt to use SaveCopy to save a macro while editing it, SaveCopy will detect the ".WCM" filename extension and pop a message to alert you that this cannot be done. SaveCopy is intended to make copies of ordinary WordPerfect document (.WPD, .WPT) files.

OPERATION

If you are working on the file named C:\My Documents\Client1\Project.ltr, and you play the macro, it will save the Project.ltr file on drive C in the appropriate sub-directory (i.e., folder) -- that is, the same location as if you had used File, Save. Then it immediately makes a copy named D:\My Documents\Client1\Project.ltr, where D: is your (user-specified) alternate drive.

If you play the macro using the default optional settings, and if there is no My Documents\Client1\ directory on the alternate drive (in the above example, Drive D) the macro will create a directory (folder) of the same name and then make the copy. As mentioned above, you can set options to have the macro make the copy in the root directory of the target drive (e.g., copying to a floppy), or in a special user-named folder on the target drive. But use these latter methods with caution.

As you might expect, if the file you are working on has not yet been saved or is read-only, a "Save As" dialog will pop up to allow you to give it a name and select the directory where the original file should be stored; then the macro will make an immediate copy on the designated alternate drive.

TIPS

  • You may want to make this macro part of a "double-keystroke" macro, such as the author's HRt+Save.wcm (part of MULTISAV.ZIP). In the HR+Save macro, you could replace the command FileSave with MacroFilePlay("Save+Copy.wcm"). Then, when you assign the HRt+Save macro to the backslash key (as explained in a comment inside the HRt+Save macro), a double press of the backslash key would enter a hard return, then play Save+Copy.wcm to save and copy the current file. (When you assign HRt+Save to the backslash key, a single press of the backslash key will enter a backslash character, as usual. Assuming you implement this Tip, pressing the backslash twice in succession would insert a hard return, remove any backslashes entered at that point, and then play the Save+Copy macro.)
  • If you often save to a floppy disk, you might be interested in the Corel shipping macro, SAVETOA.WCM. Note, however, that this can be problematic unless you save to a hard disk first. See "Never save your work to a floppy disk first before saving it to your hard drive. Never save your work only on a floppy disk: they are more fragile than a hard drive."

Disclaimer:
The materials and any software contained on this site are offered without warranty or guarantee of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to implied warranties of merchantability, satisfactory quality, fitness for a particular purpose, noninfringement, or those arising by law, statute, usage of trade, course of dealing or otherwise, and are provided on an "as is," and "with all faults" basis. The entire risk as to the results and performance of these materials is assumed by you. The author assumes no liability whatsoever to you or any other entity or third party for any special, incidental, direct, indirect, or consequential damages -- including without limitation any damages to equipment, or for loss of profits, for business interruption, for loss of data or other information, or for any other loss arising out of the use or inability to use these materials, techniques, suggestions, or software programs, even if the author has been notified of the possibility or actuality of such damages, or they are foreseeable. Materials on these pages have been prepared with reasonable care for educational and informative purposes. No representations are made regarding the use or the results of the use of any macro, suggestion, technique, or other material in terms of their correctness, accuracy, reliability, or otherwise, and you are again cautioned that you use them solely at your own risk. You are advised to make backups of any important files before implementing any macro, suggestion, or technique. Do not assume anything here is error free.

The above Disclaimer also applies to any communication the author may have with you.

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