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FileKeeper FAQ

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  1. How does FileKeeper protect data on desktops and laptops
  2. Which applications does FileKeeper support?
  3. Some of my documents are more important than others. Can I keep more versions of them?
  4. Which operating systems does FileKeeper support?
  5. Does FileKeeper work if my files are stored on a network file server?
  6. Does FileKeeper provide protection for my e-mail?
  7. Will FileKeeper work with databases like Microsoft Access, Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, or MySQL?
  8. How does FileKeeper's recovery of deleted documents differ from Windows' Recycle Bin?
  9. What is the difference between FileKeeper and Windows XP/Vista Previous Versions?
  10. Are there any downsides to using FileKeeper?
  11. I back up my files regularly. Doesn't that give me the same protection as FileKeeper?
  12. If I use FileKeeper, do I still need to do backups?
1. How does FileKeeper protect data on desktops and laptops
FileKeeper protects data in a number of ways:
  1. For most common applications data such as Office-type documents, files are protected as a user saves the data -not periodically when a backup is launched or when you periodically copy the files to another location
  2. Only changes between the versions of files are saved locally and transmitted to a safe storage location such as USB hard disk drive or network drive
  3. Files are recoverable regardless of network connectivity using Windows Explorer via intuitive right-click menus
  4. Data protection and retention policies are defined and managed by:
    • FileKeeper Corporate: IT administrators using the central Policy Server and optionally by the end user using the FileKeeper Control Panel
    • FileKeeper Professional: The user with the FileKeeper Control Panel
2. Which applications does FileKeeper support?
FileKeeper supports any application designed to run on Windows-based systems. Here's a list of popular applications which FileKeeper has been tested with:
  1. Microsoft Outlook
  2. Microsoft Word
  3. Microsoft Excel
  4. Microsoft PowerPoint
  5. Microsoft Visio
  6. Microsoft FrontPage
  7. Microsoft Access
  8. Adobe Photoshop
  9. Adobe Illustrator
  10. Microsoft Visual Studio
  11. Plain text editors like Microsoft Notepad, Microsoft WordPad
3. Some of my documents are more important than others. Can I keep more versions of them?
With FileKeeper, you are always in control of how many file versions are retained. The number of versions retained is based on the type of document. For example, an accountant may choose to save more versions of Microsoft Excel than a company salesperson. The default settings for FileKeeper are usually sufficient for most users but can be easily adjusted using the Policy Server and/or FileKeeper Control Panel.
4. Which operating systems does FileKeeper support?
FileKeeper Corporate agent and FileKeeper Professional currently support the following client operating systems:
  1. Windows XP with Service Pack 2 or later
  2. Windows 2000 Professional with Service Pack 4 or later
  3. Windows Vista
  4. Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 1 or later (FileKeeper Corporate Policy Server)
5. Does FileKeeper work if my files are stored on a network file server?
Yes. There is a setting for this that is off by default but can be turned on. If turned on, this setting will cause FileKeeper to retain previous versions and copy any changes to your designated Data Vaults, even if they are edited directly on a network file server.
It is also possible if you work on your files directly on your computer, to designate a network file server as a Data Vault.
6. Does FileKeeper provide protection for my e-mail?
Yes. Many e-mail clients, such as Microsoft Outlook, can store all e-mails in files stored on the local HDD. These files are usually kept open the entire time that the user is using the system. FileKeeper uses "OFP", protection technology that is used to capture hourly snapshots of Microsoft Outlook .PST files and other "always open" files. Once the snapshot is taken, only the byte-level changes are captured and stored.
7. Will FileKeeper work with databases like Microsoft Access, Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, or MySQL?
FileKeeper's "OFP" protection technology can be used to back up databases, such as Microsoft Access, where all data is stored in a single file. However, databases such as Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, and MySQL are usually installed on dedicated servers and usually have databases that consist of multiple files spanning a disk or group of disks. To protect these applications, it is recommended businesses use Yosemite Backup which is designed specifically for protecting server systems, applications, and databases running at the Core of your business.
8. How does FileKeeper's recovery of deleted documents differ from Windows' Recycle Bin?
Microsoft Windows' Recycle Bin retains documents you have deleted from My Documents (Windows Explorer) or an application's Open or Save dialog box. When you empty the Recycle Bin, all the documents in it are permanently deleted.
FileKeeper is far more selective and flexible than the Recycle Bin. FileKeeper's recovery feature lets you decide how long you want to retain certain document types after they have been deleted and FileKeeper's recovery works regardless of how the document is deleted, even if it is deleted from the DOS prompt. In addition to recovering the file that was deleted, FileKeeper even allows you to recover any previous version of your deleted document.
9. What is the difference between FileKeeper and Windows XP/Vista Previous Versions?
Microsoft Windows XP and Vista offer a feature called Previous Versions. Much like FileKeeper, this feature allows the user to recover a previous version of a file. Windows' Previous Versions will only save a version of your file whenever a Windows Backup is launched or the Windows system is updated. In general, this is likely to only be once per day. In addition, Previous Versions may not be available when you're disconnected from the network.
FileKeeper is far more granular and flexible than Windows Previous Versions. FileKeeper captures the changes to a file every time that file is saved by the user regardless of network or storage device connection status. This allows the user to recover any number of versions of the file even within a 24 hour period.
10. Are there any downsides to using FileKeeper?
The previous file versions retained by FileKeeper occupy a very small percentage (typically, less than 5-10%) of free space on your computer's hard disk. However, since FileKeeper stores protected copies very efficiently by only saving the original file plus any changes to the file between versions the value of transparent and continuous protection and quick one-click file recovery vastly outweigh the potential, but unlikely, increase in storage costs.
11. I back up my files regularly. Doesn't that give me the same protection as FileKeeper?
No. Traditional backups are time-based (e.g. scheduled). This means the data is a point-in-time (say, 11pm) copy of all or a portion of your folders and documents. This reduces the number of recovery choices you have for a given file since backups are only taken once per day.
FileKeeper is event-based and saves only the changes between versions of the file each and every time you save it to disk. Recovery can be done to any previous version saved allowing greater freedom of recovery.
12. If I use FileKeeper, do I still need to do backups?
FileKeeper is the best solution for protecting user data such as Microsoft Office documents on laptop and desktop systems because it provides continuous protection and allows for easy and intuitive recovery of files and previous versions using the Windows Explorer right-click menus. If there is a need for bare metal disaster recovery, we recommend you augment the use of FileKeeper with a traditional time-based backup solution such as Yosemite Backup. When combined, FileKeeper can provide the continuous protection of your data while Yosemite Backup protects the system.