Automatic backup

FreeMind does not have an autosave function, but it has an automatic backup function.

FreeMind automatically backs up unsaved open mind maps to a dedicated folder. If FreeMind or the operating system crashes, the user can recover the last edited mind maps by manually copying the most recent backed up copies over the files that are missing the most recent changes. FreeMind deletes the backed up files upon its closing, as closing the application implies no crash has happened, but the user can set in preferences that FreeMind should not delete the backup files.

The function is available since FreeMind 0.7.1.

Settings

Settings (preferences) for automatic backups (the following paths are within the preferences dialog, accessible from Tools > Preferences menu):

• Environment > Automatic Save > Time for Automatic Save (in milliseconds, one-thousandths of a second)
• Environment > Automatic Save > Delete Automatic Saves at Exit
• Environment > Automatic Save > Number of Different Files for Automatic Save
• Environment > Automatic Save > Path to Automatic Saves

Admittedly, the language of "Automatic Save" above is somewhat misleading since one could understand it to refer to automatic saves in the files being edited rather than to automatic backups.

The names and the default values of the settings in the freemind.properties file:

• time_for_automatic_save=120000 (corresponds to 2 minutes; value from FreeMind 1.0.1)
• delete_automatic_saves_at_exit=true
• number_of_different_files_for_automatic_save=10
• path_to_automatic_saves=freemind_home

Backup file location

Per default, the automatic backups are stored in the FreeMind's home folder, which is usually the subfolder "freemind" of the user's home folder.

The default setting in the user.properties file:

path_to_automatic_saves=freemind_home

In this setting, "freemind_home" stands for FreeMind home folder. It can be replaced with another path.

See also FreeMind home folder.

Disabling automatic backups

To disable automatic backups, one may set Time for Automatic Save to the value of 2000000000, which corresponds to over 1388 days.

Why one would want to disable automatic backups:

• Prevent potentially sensitive data or information from being stored in multiple locations, one the main one, the other one in FreeMind's home folder (or whatever else the path to automatic backups was set in the settings). For example, when one deletes NoLongerNeededMindMap.mm, one would have to remember to check whether there are any automatic backups in the dedicated folder for them and delete them as well.
• Maintain the habit of saving the mind map after each completed unit of work, by pressing Control + S, rather than delegating that task to an automatic mechanism.
• Maintain the habit of making regular backups. This cannot be replaced by automatic backups; by default, they are deleted at the end of each session.
• Prevent application freezes or semi-freezes that happen when a large mind map is automatically saved into a backup file.

Tracker items

• Feature request: Having a true autosave, 2009-10-30

See also

• Data loss prevention