Keep multiple versions of folder contents with Windows File History tool

Don't miss how easy it is to have Windows keep backups of folder contents, so you can always access the set of files that you had in a folder yesterday, a week ago, last year, or even 10 minutes ago.

In Windows 11, simply search for and open File History:

Select a location on your network, or on an external hard drive. Note that while File History will be set to back up files automatically at different intervals, you have the option to initiate a backup by clicking 'Run now'. You can exclude certain directories from the backup process.

You can set files to be backed up at 10, 15, 20, 30, and 60 minute intervals, or every 3, 6, 12, 24 hours. Windows can keep the backups for 3, 6, 9, 12, or 24 months, indefinitely, or until you run out of network space.

You can access the backups by selecting properties for a folder and looking under the 'Previous Versions' tab.

If you are using the home edition of Windows, it may not be possible to access the backups.

Testing the strength of a Zoom connection

During a Zoom session, you can get stats on the strength of your connection to help anticipate if the video and audio will be stable throughout the call.

In a Zoom call, click on the menu for the video icon and select 'Video Settings'

On the left side menu, you'll be able to click on 'Statistics'. It will give you metrics for the audio, video, and screen sharing connection.

Latency (or the data speed from source to recipient) of more than 100 milliseconds); packet loss (data that doesn't reach its destination, which is what can cause screen freeze, make the video pixelate or seem jumpy) of more than 2%; or jitter (how the latency goes up and down over time) of more than 30 milliseconds, will indicate that you’re going to have a problem with the connection. 

There’s also an option in Zoom to do an advanced test of a specific domain.   During a Zoom session if you press SHIFT + ALT CTRL + D, Zoom's Network diagnostics tool will come up. It has an array of tests that you can run.

On the 'Advanced Test' tab, you can run a test targeted at a specific domain for a meeting.

An MTR test is a mytraceroute test, which combines a ping and traceroute test. Ping simply measures how long it takes to send and receive data from another server. Traceroute tracks each host the data goes through from the source to the destination.

In reviewing the results for a MTR, keep in mind how RTT compares to latency. Latency is the speed going one way, and RTT is round trip time - how long it takes the data to go there and back again.

Scrolling text hidden behind deposition video in OnCue

Trial techs everywhere have switched to OnCue's trial presentation software, and my experience using it in court has been very positive. It does however have a minor glitch, which I think many will want to be aware of. In version 4.3, if when working in the designation editor, while showing ranges from the same designation list (a list defined as multiple deposition designations for a single deponent) in presentation mode, you toggle off scrolling text for a designation range from the same list by clicking the green arrow / red X lined page icon at the right above the waveform:

. . . and then publish the designation line numbers for the closed captioning text can peek out on the left:

It's a minor problem which can easily be corrected by pressing T to toggle off the scrolling text. Pressing T when you see this error won't bring back the scrolling text first. It clears the hidden cut off text 'behind' the video. If you press T a second time it will display the scrolling text again.

The problem seems to occur, when one designation range from a list has been presented with scrolling text; the scrolling text setting for another designation is turned off; the designation range is cleared from the presentation screen; and then the next designation is presented. If you do NOT clear the previous designation, the error does not occur.

Also keep in mind that if you toggle off the scrolling text for a designation range, the update won't take effect at all unless you first select a different designation range. Just toggling off the text and then publishing the range will leave the closed captioning text in place.

This problem did not happen in all deposition videos I tested, but did frequently reoccur in the videos in the OnCue demo case. I just post here about it, because it's good to be aware of potential problems and not be surprised in the courtroom.