Exclude files and folders

Excluding files/folders means ignoring the selected files/folders during replication (backup). See also: [About exclusions].

{info:title=Tip}File Exclude feature can be enabled/disabled for the Volume ("Limits" tab of Volume properties window). Read more in [ServerBackup:Create volumes].
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{info:title=Note}The Excluded Files and Folders and Advanced Excluding Rules are communicated to the Backup Agent at the beginning of every replication.
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Follow the instructions below to select file(s) and folder(s) not to be replicated by the Policy.
{info:title=Note}By default, all file(s)/folder(s) located on a Device are replicated.
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{info:title=Note}In the "Policy Settings" tab, there is an option to exclude All Volume Shadow Copy Writers.
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1. Access the "Create New Policy" or "Edit Policy" window. See [Create policies] and [Edit policies].

* To open a folder, double-click it.

!Edit Policy window_File Excludes_folder selected_English.png!
* To go to the parent folder, click on "Up."

!Edit Policy window_File Excludes_Up button_English.png!
* To go to the desired folder, manually type the path into the address bar and click "Go."

!Edit Policy window_File Excludes_Go button_English.png!
* To find out the current path, see the address bar.

!Edit Policy window_File Excludes_Location_English.png!
* To change the number of items per page, type a value in the appropriate field. Currently, the maximum number of items per page is 25.

!ExcludeCommand.png!
* To navigate by pages, click on the arrow icons or type a page number into the appropriate field.

!ExcludeCommand1.png!
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Columns:
* *Path*
* *Size*
* *Access Time*
* *Modify Time*

4. Select checkboxes next to the files and folders you want to exclude from the replication.

!Edit Policy window_File Excludes_files selected_English.png!

{info:title=Tip}You can add rules to exclude files by pattern. For example, {{\*.logs}} or {{\*.mp3}}. See [Advanced Excludes|#advanced] below.
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5. Click on "Save" at the bottom of the window.

!Edit Policy window_File Excludes_files selected_Save button_English.png!

The selected files and folders will be ignored by the Policy. Files and folders that are not selected will be considered by the Policy.

{note:title=Notice}
If you want to exclude MS SQL Server related files (.{{{*}mdf or .ldf{*}}}) you won't see them in this tab because the SQL Server service locks them; use the Advanced Excludes instead and make sure you add the full path to the file as a pattern, e.g. {{C:}}{{{}*\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL\DATA\database.mdf{*}}}
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h5. Advanced Excludes {anchor:advanced}

Follow the instructions below to define a pattern (mask) to exclude files from the replication. Using patterns, you can exclude files of certain type, for example, files which have .avi extension.

1. In the "Create New Policy" or "Edit Policy" window, select the "Advanced Excludes" tab.

2. Define a file mask in the "Pattern" field. Example:
{code}
/*.avi
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!Edit Policy_Advanced Excludes tab_Pattern_English.png!

{note:title=Notice}Advanced exclude patterns must reference a Device in the Disk Safe, and begin with an absolute path, e.g. {{C:}}{{{}*.txt{*}}} *or* {{*/*{}}}{{.log}}.
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3. Optionally check the "Recursive" option to ignore files from sub-folders on the basis of the specified pattern. If the "Recursive" option is checked, the exclude rule will be applied not only to the root folder files, but also to the files from sub-folders.

!Edit Policy_Advanced Excludes tab_Recursive checkbox_English.png!

4. Click "Add." The pattern will appear in the list.

!Edit Policy_Advanced Excludes tab_Add button_English.png!

5. Add as many masks as you need.

!Edit Policy_Advanced Excludes tab_2 Patterns added_English.png!

{info:title=Tips}
* To start editing a pattern, click on the item in the list.

!Edit Policy_Advanced Excludes tab_Pattern edition_English.png!

* To delete an item from the list, click on the "Delete" icon in front of the pattern item. 

!Edit Policy_Advanced Excludes tab_Pattern_Delete icon_English.png!
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6. Click on "Save" at the bottom of the window.

!Edit Policy_Advanced Excludes tab_Pattern_Save button_English.png!
{excerpt:hidden=true}Instructions on how to exclude files and folders from the replication in Server Backup Manager.{excerpt}