I was sorry to see that Time Machine 1.0 doesn't support parametric file exclusion. The only way to exclude files and folders from your backup is to add them, manually, to the "Do Not Backup" list behind the "Options" button in Time Machine's Preference Pane.
I used to have a special Finder label (purple) which I considered to mean "Do Not Backup." I was able to tell my old backup program to exclude any file with the label "purple" or which was contained by a folder with the label "purple."
I can sort of replicate this functionality by:
This is fine, but requires a manual refresh to keep it current.
I'd like to, at this point issue a challenge. Can someone hack together a way to do this automatically, and set it to happen just before Time Machine starts its next backup? Bonus points for the person who figures out how to exclude the "contents" of a "smart folder."
I used to have a special Finder label (purple) which I considered to mean "Do Not Backup." I was able to tell my old backup program to exclude any file with the label "purple" or which was contained by a folder with the label "purple."
I can sort of replicate this functionality by:
- Clearing the "Do Not Backup" list in Time Machine
- Doing a Spotlight search for things with the label "purple"
- Selecting all of those items and dragging them into the "Do Not Backup" list
This is fine, but requires a manual refresh to keep it current.
I'd like to, at this point issue a challenge. Can someone hack together a way to do this automatically, and set it to happen just before Time Machine starts its next backup? Bonus points for the person who figures out how to exclude the "contents" of a "smart folder."