Including specific files with a backup job's backup selections

Last published : Apr 02, 2026
When you create a backup definition, you create a list of backup selections. The backup selections are the files and data that you want to back up when the backup jobs run. You can include additional specific files or backup sources with the rest of your backup selections. When you include files with a job's backup selections, you can select certain conditions which must be met for the file to be included. For example, you may want to include any read only files that reside in a specific directory. When you include a file with a backup job's backup selections, Backup Exec backs up the regular backup selections and it includes the file or files that you specifically selected.
To include specific files with a backup job's backup selections
  1. Create or edit a backup definition.
  2. In the Selectionsbox, clickEdit.
  3. On the Selection Detailstab, clickInsertand then selectInsert Selection.
  4. Complete any of the following fields to identify the files that you want to include:
    Resource name Enter the name of the volume or drive that you want to include in the backup.
    Path Enter the path of the folder and/or subfolder that contains the files that you want to include. You can use wildcard characters. Use a question mark ( ? ) to represent any single character. Use two asterisks ( ** ) to represent any number of characters.
    Name Enter the name of a specific file that you want to include in the backup. You can use wildcard characters. Use a question mark ( ? ) to represent any single character. Use two asterisks ( ** ) to represent any number of characters.
    For example, to include all files with a .exe extension, type "**.exe".
  5. Complete any of the following options as necessary:
    Apply to subdirectories Select this option to include the contents of all of the subfolders when you select a directory.
    Only modified files Select this option to include only the files that have been modified in the directory that you specified.
    Only read-only files Select this option to include only read-only files in the directory that you specified.
    Files dated Select this option to include the files that were created or modified during a specific time period. You must select the beginning and ending dates for the time period.
    Files not accessed in X days Select this option to include any files that have not been accessed in a specific number of days. You must enter the number of days.
    Tag as business-critical Select this option to prioritize the backup of the selected resource above other resources that are not tagged as business-critical.
  6. Click OK.
More Information
About selecting data to back up
Excluding files from backups
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