This script is designed to wrap execution of SuperMemo so that it can be safely maintained in a cloud-based file synchronization folder on your computer. Currently it supports Dropbox and OneDrive.
Note: Since I use Dropbox the OneDrive support has only minimal testing, but it worked fine. If you use the OneDrive support please let me know if it works well for you.
Storing your collection in a location that is synchronized while SuperMemo is running can result in catastrophic collection corruption if the service is not disabled first. This script handles all of that and also pre-emptively backs up your collection to another location of your choice.
Announcement on SuperMemopedia
There's absolutely nothing wrong with the AutoHotKey-based Dropbox Conflict Resolver available on the SuperMemopedia site. It's a perfectly fine tool. If you like it and want to keep using it please feel free. It's been in use for years. Of course, it only supports Dropbox, but in theory it could be modified to support OneDrive as well.
SafeSuperMemo takes the same idea and extends it by adding an automated file backup of your collection. Since it is written in PowerShell it also eliminates the dependency on AutoHotKey, and significantly expands the possibilities of what features can be added.
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Stops the sync service (Dropbox or OneDrive) so it doesn't interfere with SuperMemo file management. If not shut down it can cause catastrophic corruption of your collection.
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Makes a backup to the location of your choice with a timestamped prefix in the folder name. Ex: If your collection is named All My Knowledge the backup may be 20170126T195859 - All My Knowledge etc.
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Basic backup verification by comparing the number of files and folders in the backup and the master collection stored in Dropbox (or OneDrive). If the counts do not match the script terminates with an error. This will take a few seconds. File size verification is more thorough but takes far longer, so it is not used.
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Opens the collection for use.
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Once SuperMemo is closed, it restarts the sync service (Dropbox or OneDrive) and then reports the number of backups you currently have in your backup location.
To use, just create a shortcut to Powershell and pass it the path to the .ps1 file. Place the shortcut on your desktop or taskbar.
The script and its associated properties file are both thoroughly documented. See them for more details. Be sure to check the warnings.
This script is just one piece of what should be a larger backup strategy. Given the importance of your collection you should ensure you have appropriate levels of redundancy and recoverability to insure against data loss.
For example, my active SuperMemo collection is kept in Dropbox with the Dropbox folder mounted on the C drive. Currently (May 2017) the collection contains 12,000 cards/items and consists of 1595 folders and 16,096 files consuming 56Mb of disk space.
Backups are stored in a separate drive F. Currently (May 2017) there are 405 timestamped backups consisting of a total of 444K folders and 4.4 million files consuming 12.1GB disk space. (Yes this is excessive, but as the script author I eat my own dog food and am over-cautious) The entire system is backed up using a cloud backup service. In the event of a system loss the current collection and any/all backups can be retrieved from the cloud service. I also occasionally make direct backups of the active collection as well.
I've used this personally 150 over 400 times without incident, including recovering from backup copies a few times. But just because I never encountered an issue with is no guarantee you won't. Therefore your use of this must be at your own risk. Be sure to check the warnings in the script documentation. You are responsible for the integrity of your collection!
The script has been used extensively on Windows 10. It should run under previous versions of Windows that support PowerShell.
SafeSuperMemo is distributed under the terms of the MIT license.