Syntax rules for exclude and include lists

NetBackup uses syntax rules for its exclude lists and include lists.

Table: Syntax rules for exclude and include lists describes the syntax rules.

Table: Syntax rules for exclude and include lists

Syntax type

Rule description

Patterns (file path)

Only one pattern per line is allowed.

Meta or wildcard characters

The following meta or wildcard characters are recognized:

  • [ ]

  • ?

  • *

Literal use of wildcards

To use the wildcard characters literally (as non-wildcard characters), precede them with a backslash (\).

For example, suppose that the brackets in a file name are not used as wildcards, as in \home\abc\fun[ny[name. In your exclude list, precede the brackets with a backslash, as in \home\abc\fun\[ny\[name to have NetBackup interpret the brackets literally.

Note:

A backslash (\) acts as an escape character only when it precedes a wildcard, which means that NetBackup normally interprets a backslash literally. A backslash is a legal character to use in pathnames.

Spaces

Spaces are considered legal characters. Do not include extra spaces unless they are part of the file name.

Do not include extra spaces at the end of a file name, otherwise NetBackup does not include, or exclude the file.

File path end

End a file path with a \ to exclude only folders with that path name (for example, C:\home\test\). If the pattern does not end with a \ (for example, C:\usr\test), NetBackup excludes both files and folders with that path name.

Exclusion of all files with a given name

To exclude all files with a given name, regardless of their folder path, enter the name without a preceding \. For example:

test

Do not enter C:\test in such a case. The addition of a preceding \ is equivalent to the addition of a prefix to the file pattern. It would result in all of the files (not only those named temp) under C: being excluded.

The following is an example of an exclude list:

C:\home\doe\john

C:\home\doe\abc\

C:\home\*\test

C:\*\temp

temp

In this example, NetBackup excludes the following files from server-directed backups:

  • The file or folder named C:\home\doe\john

  • The entire folder C:\home\doe\abc\ (because the file path ends with a \)

  • All files or folders named test that are two levels under home

  • All files or folders named temp that are two levels under the root

  • All files or folders named temp at any level