Include Special Files does not include files from root

Hi Daniel. Thank you for responding! So to confirm..

if WordPress core is installed in a SUB-DIRECTORY — which is a valid, supported, and very common approach (see codex) — then that sub-directory is what the BackWPup plugin considers to be the “root — even though at least two CRITICAL files (htaccess and index.php) reside outside that “root”, in the /public_html/ directory (the true Document Root of the site, according to php).

I also tried adding those two FILES to the plugin’s Extra Folders setting, but as i said, the plugin FAILED to include them in the backup. However the plugin DID successfully backup a FOLDER that i added to my Extra Folders setting. So, perhaps the Extra Folders setting can only handle folders, and not files? Or can you confirm that the Extra Folders setting can handle files too, and perhaps there’s just a problem on my particular site?

Thanks in advance for your help here.

Hi Daniel,

So the Extra Folders setting will only backup FOLDERS (and ALL files within those folders).

I suggest it should also be able to backup individual FILES (based on their server path).

As I said, it’s very common to install WP as a sub-directory, rather than in the actual Server Root:
public_html/wordpress/

This way, there are a few files are in the (true) root folder, OUTSIDE the WP core folder:
public_html/index.php
public_html/.htaccess
public_html/robots.txt

These files really must be included in the backup of a WP site, or the backup is incomplete, because the site cannot be restored from it.

Perhaps have a setting that lets the user tell the plugin to look for (and backup) these vital files from one level above wp-core.

Or at least allows individual files in the Extra Folders setting (and rename it to Extra Files and Folders).

Just my 2 cents here. BackWPup is otherwise an excellent plugin — but unless its backup includes these ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL files, it is not reliable or safe.

Thanks for your consideration.

Hi Daniel. BackWPup has been my go-to plugin for backups for a long time. But I remain concerned that it cannot include the few important files that are sometimes OUTSIDE the WordPress core directory (when WP is installed in a sub-directory).

That’s how I configure WP sites (to keep the server cleaner), so in the server document-root (public_html/), i always have index.php and .htaccess, both absolutely essential files to backup, especially if they’ve been customized at all.

I know Backwpup has the “Extra folders to backup” setting, so you’re almost there. It just needs to accept FILES too. Or have a separate input for EXTRA FILES (set by path from server root).

It’s the one issue that keeps me looking for other plugins, and prevents me from getting the PRO version and using it on all my client sites.

Thanks for your consideration.

Yes, thanks, I found that on another support thread – https://ww.wp.xz.cn/support/topic/doesnt-backup-all-root-files-when-wp-is-in-a-folder?replies=16#post-7007127

And it worked as expected. That’s great, thank you!!

I also offered my 2-cents about possible improvements to the ui/ux, so it could help more people who have this configuration of wp
https://ww.wp.xz.cn/support/topic/doesnt-backup-all-root-files-when-wp-is-in-a-folder?replies=16#post-7364325