CompuServe Messages

I am a registered owner of Quarterback 5. Some days ago, I was using version 5.03 to backup my 42 MB hard disk, in my standard Amiga 2000. It had taken 27 floppies and about 4 hours, at maximum compression. Just before the end, a requester appeared, asking for the insertion of another floppy which, I thought, I would not need, because there should have been sufficient spare capacity on the floppies already loaded. Without thinking (I admit), I cancelled the requester and was horrified to see the whole operation aborted. Now I realise that I can still use the backup disks already taken, but I lost the last few files and the catalogue, and no archive bits were set. Given the time required and the importance of regular backups, it is essential that no actions are permitted which could lead to an abort without a second, warning requester. Users get tired and sometimes impatient, whether experienced or not. I trust this will be fixed in the next release. You might also use the space on the main Backup window below the "Tagged" box for a third, displaying time started, number of disks used so far and actual compression rate, plus predictions, based on these figures, of time to complete, time remaining and total number of disks likely to be required. Athough only estimates, they would become progressively more accurate as a backup proceeds and would be particularly helpful for users like me forced to rely on floppies for backups. If you also linked the estimates to choice of media selected, you could encompass other users' requirements as well. Michael Buckland-Smith.