Roll Back File Version using DropBox

[Trevor.Dennis]

Drop Box keeps previous file versions for thirty days, so if you sync your current project folder to Drop Box, and you have a decent connection, then if you were unlucky enough to suffer from a corrupt PSD or TIFF file with lots of layers and hours of work involved, you could roll back to the last OK version.  Note this is just a thought, and I have not tried it.

Recover older versions of files - Dropbox Help - Dropbox

Something else I have just discovered, you can increase your Drop Box allowance from the initial 1Gb to a more useful 10Gb of free storage, by installing the Drop Box app on multiple systems, with each new installation giving you an extra Gb.  You can then access the full amount from any of your systems, and you don't loose the additional storage even if you never use the other systems again.  Just a thought, but one I shall be looking into.

[gener7]

I tested the versioning a while back, Trevor. I made a file and changed the font color and even added a font then made the save. Each save was a minute apart. Worked as advertised. I could download any 3 saved versions.

So I can work on a file, save to Dropbox as often as I need. I can save the final to local disk, but if a layer comes out bad, or I thought it looked better at an earlier stage, I'm covered.

I am using the free Dropbox version, but that's 30 days retention.  Extended Versioning is 1 year, but it's $4 /mo add-on for Dropbox Plus users  and must be purchased via Dropbox.com.  8.25 + 4.00 is 12.25 USD. I think business users can get 120 days retention and 2 TB for the same price.

Still versioning is vastly superior when it can save you from rebuilding a file while you are on a tight schedule.

[Trevor.Dennis]

Thanks for the heads up Gene.  So do you manually save to Drop Box, or have you set up some sort of file sync?   I guess I could always read the instructions. 

It's another thing we could offer to those 'Photoshop ate my PSD file, and it is definitely not my fault that my laptop's battery ran out part way through saving even if I did ignore the repeated warnings because I couldn't be arsed to go get the power adapter' posts.  But, much like the other after the fact tips we tentatively pass on, it's too little too late.

[davescm]

Clever idea.

Got me thinking and it looks like you may be able to do something similar with CC storage (like you I've not tried but will experiment today)

Versioning FAQ

Trevor.Dennis  wrote

......................   I guess I could always read the instructions. 

No..... we're blokes, we don't do that !

Dave

[davescm]

Just tried the creative cloud versioning - it worked perfectly. All it requires is that you keep your working copy in the Creative Cloud Files folder and hit Save occasionally.

Restoring a previous version in the cloud - synced the local folder version immediately and of course if you have a CC subscription you have a 20GB limit (2GB for photography plan)

Dave

[gener7]

I'm glad you mentioned that Creative Cloud also has versioning, Dave.

That does beg the question, "but for how long?"

10 days. That's it. Versioning FAQ for Creative Cloud Storage.

Gene

[davescm]

You're right, CC version storage is for 10 days.

But actually that would suit me for the main purpose I saw in the idea which was to avoid the potential  loss of a few hours work, if I or my PC did something stupid when working on a large file. Hitting Ctrl+S  now and then whilst working is not disruptive in the way that Save As and incremental naming is.

I would still Save As at specific points to keep local master versions. Also clearing out the CC archive is quite easy (I tried that earlier).

So for me this has given a very useful purpose for the CC storage, which hitherto  I had not used as I keep my images and back ups on local drives.

Dave

[Trevor.Dennis]

davescm  wrote

You're right, CC version storage is for 10 days.

Dave

It's still a very workable and useful facility, and it demonstrates how kicking an idea around with your buddies can lead to to other ideas.  We all have our ways of coming at things. 

Nice one.

[gener7]

That's the only point I want to make. If you are going to use Cloud Storage for versioning, then certainly you want to know how long the service will hold on to them and how important it is to you.

So far I use OSX's Time Machine and Windows has File History as a versioning scheme.

I'm more comfortable as you are Dave with saving files to local drives. Just tinkering with the thought of Cloud versioning.

I would maybe want a script that would be a push button method to time-stamp a save so I can focuses on edits when that time comes around. I remember Trevor was talking about some software that does exactly that.

Gene

[gener7]

Trevor.Dennis  wrote

It's another thing we could offer to those 'Photoshop ate my PSD file, and it is definitely not my fault that my laptop's battery ran out part way through saving even if I did ignore the repeated warnings because I couldn't be arsed to go get the power adapter' posts.  But, much like the other after the fact tips we tentatively pass on, it's too little too late.

I wish instructors would make redundant backups a "Day one priority" instead of allowing their students to find out there is no magic software out there that will restore that 300 layer hosed file.

That and at least registering their $3000 Creative Suite Premium serial number with Adobe.