[Plugin - 0.23.5] Persistent file backup generator - V0.3.1

[DMagic]

Download from Curse

MediaFire Link

Updated to better handle quick-load plugins.

This simple plugin generates a variable number of backup persistent files in your savegame folder. The number of backups can be altered with the included Settings.cfg file.

Version 0.3: Should now be working with any plugin that bypasses the main menu and loads directly into the space center or an active vessel (really this time).

Version 0.3.1: Compiled against .net 3.5, ModStatistics should no spam debug log errors

To restore a backup just rename the original persistent file, then rename the desired backup from "persistent Backup 3" to "persistent" (without "" and using the # from the desired backup) and it should now load with the working file.

This is intended to serve as a protection against persistent file corruption or from having your vessels wiped out by missing parts. It is not intended to be used for save scumming (reloading a save file over and over to get something perfect). Backup save files are only generated when a file is first loaded from the mainmenu.

Source is available in the download and on GitHub.

License under the 2-clause BSD: BSD License

Edited June 12, 2014 by DMagic
Version 0.3.1

[Drew Kerman]

I've had my remote backups doing this for me but this way is even better. Thanks!

[DMagic]

I updated this. It now directly copies the existing persistent.sfs file into a backup file instead of using the SaveGame method. This seems to accomplish the same thing, but now it works with plugins that bypass the main menu.

[GavinZac]

I updated this. It now directly copies the existing persistent.sfs file into a backup file instead of using the SaveGame method. This seems to accomplish the same thing, but now it works with plugins that bypass the main menu.

Is it possible to get this to write outside the Saves directory, via config maybe? Just imagining it outputing to a Dropbox folder.

[DMagic]

Is it possible to get this to write outside the Saves directory, via config maybe? Just imagining it outputing to a Dropbox folder.

It should be easily possible, but it is against Squad's addon rules to write or alter files outside of the KSP directory: http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/7529-Plugin-Posting-Rules-And-Official-Documentation. Even exposing such an option through the Settings.cfg file would probably be a bad idea.

Changing it yourself wouldn't be too much trouble. You just need to replace the second "activeDirectory" line with the full path of your desired destination, then recompile it.

File.Copy(Path.Combine(activeDirectory, "persistent.sfs"), Path.Combine(activeDirectory, replaceBackup), true);

[GavinZac]

It should be easily possible, but it is against Squad's addon rules to write or alter files outside of the KSP directory: http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/7529-Plugin-Posting-Rules-And-Official-Documentation. Even exposing such an option through the Settings.cfg file would probably be a bad idea.

Changing it yourself wouldn't be too much trouble. You just need to replace the second "activeDirectory" line with the full path of your desired destination, then recompile it.

File.Copy(Path.Combine(activeDirectory, "persistent.sfs"), Path.Combine(activeDirectory, replaceBackup), true);

Hmm. What's their policy on online connections? I know a few mods do a simple GET to check for updates and such; is it permitted to *send* also?

[Superfluous J]

Any plans to implement restoring to these saves in-game? I'd love, when I held F9, for a menu to come up asking which save to restore from.

[DMagic]

Hmm. What's their policy on online connections? I know a few mods do a simple GET to check for updates and such; is it permitted to *send* also?

I'm not really sure what the policy is. The rules post that I linked to says that you have to somehow notify players that you are accessing anything online, but they don't say anything about actually sending data.

Any plans to implement restoring to these saves in-game? I'd love, when I held F9, for a menu to come up asking which save to restore from.

I'm actually trying specifically to avoid that. I don't really like the idea of save scumming and I don't want to encourage it (I know that there are lots of legitimate uses for multiple saves, too). There are a few mods out there that do basically that. I found this one: http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/51901-0-23-Multiple-Saves-DA-v016, but I think I've seen others somewhere too.

[Superfluous J]

I'm actually trying specifically to avoid that. I don't really like the idea of save scumming and I don't want to encourage it (I know that there are lots of legitimate uses for multiple saves, too). There are a few mods out there that do basically that. I found this one: http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/51901-0-23-Multiple-Saves-DA-v016, but I think I've seen others somewhere too.

You call it save scumming, I call it running simulations But I understand the reasoning.

[DMagic]

I updated this again, it should really be working with quick load plugins this time.

[Drew Kerman]

I've been ignored over in the Module Manager thread so maybe you can do something. MM is triggering this plugin when it does its backup, so that all of my persistence file backups become the current persistence file. If I want my backups, I need to get them out of the backup folder MM created.

[DMagic]

You should complain more vigorously in the MM thread. I opened up an issue on the MM GitHub page.

MM isn't triggering this plugin, it's simply overwriting every .sfs file in the save folder when certain circumstances trigger it. The original files should all still exist in a newly created backup folder. Nevertheless this should not happen. If MM wants to overwrite the persistent.sfs file and generate a new backup file that's fine, but it should never overwrite every .sfs file in the save folder, including the quicksave.sfs file.

[Drew Kerman]

well, I've spoken up twice and gotten no response. Hopefully your issue gets some action

[Drew Kerman]

Tested, still working in v1.3.1 Just wanted to bump this because I still find it better than the stock backup and don't want it to be forgotten as an out of date mod when it isn't!

(could use a re-upload tho @DMagic in case anyone else is interested in using it... )

Edited December 24, 2017 by Drew Kerman