Using ignores, files and folders can be selectively ignored from your backup folders using the following commands:
jotta-cli ignores add --pattern PATTERN --backup BACKUP
jotta-cli ignores add --pattern PATTERN (adds the pattern to all backups)
where PATTERN can be either a file/folder path relative to the backup root,
or a glob-like pattern. The --backup flag can be omitted in order to add a pattern to all backup folders.
Adding a pattern
All patterns are defined relative to the root of your backup folder.
E.g. In a backup with an absolute path of /shared/Documents/backup1:
If you want to ignore a folder with the absolute path /shared/Documents/backup1/folder/subfolder, you would use the pattern folder/subfolder (and not /shared/Documents/backup1/folder/subfolder).
This would be done via the command:
jotta-cli ignores add --pattern folder/subfolder --backup backup1
Any leading / in a pattern will be ignored. It is implied as all patterns start relative to the backup root. Any leading or trailing whitespaces are also ignored. Trailing slashes will also be ignored: there is no distinction between files and folders in the new ignore system.
Removing a pattern
Patterns can be removed with the rem command:
jotta-cli ignores rem --pattern PATTERN --backup BACKUP
Glob patterns
You can use * or ** to make more dynamic patterns
* matches everything but /
** matches everything
**/ matches zero or more directories
Examples:
**.pngmatches every .png in the tree*.pngmatches every .png in the root folderfoo/*.pngmatches every .png in the "foo" folder in the root folderfoo/**.pngmatches every .png in any folder below the "foo" folder in the root folder**/foo/**.pngmatches every .png in any folder below any folder called "foo"**/.ignoremematches every file called ".ignoreme" in the entire folder tree
Testing glob patterns
Be aware of the shell expanding * or ** when inputting patterns. Use the below command to test that patterns work and are input correctly before adding them. You can test if a pattern will match a given path using
jotta-cli ignores test --pattern PATTERN --path PATH
Use variables or quotes to escape the pattern if you see the patterns being mangled.
On windows using msys2 you can set MSYS2_ARG_CONV_EXCL=* to prevent invalid expansion ( read more here: https://www.msys2.org/wiki/Porting/#filesystem-namespaces )
Some hardcoded patterns exist and cannot be removed.
These include:
**.DS_Store
**/.Thumbs.db
**/.desktop.ini
Amongst others.
Checking existing patterns
Existing patterns can be checked on a backup with the list command.
jotta-cli ignores list --backup BACKUP
If the --backup option is omitted, all patterns for all backups will be listed.