Ask Slashdot: Best Way To Store Data In Hard Copy? 329
First time accepted submitter bmearns writes "I have some simple plain-text files (e.g., account information) that I want to print on paper and store in my firebox as a backup to my backup. What's the best way to encode the data for print so that it can later be restored to digital form? I've considered just printing it as text and using OCR to recover it. The upsides are that it's easy and I can even access the information without a computer if necessary. Downsides are data density, no encryption, no error correction, and how well does OCR work, anyway? Another option is printing 2D barcodes. Upsides are density, error correction, I could encrypt the data before printing. Downsides are that I'll need to split it up into multiple barcodes due to maximum capacity of popular barcode formats, and I can't access the data without a computer. Did I miss any options? What do slashdotters suggest?"
Re:Text, but why? (Score:5, Insightful)
Why, the answer is simple, there is no standard for Digital backup. zero zip. There are only two methods of time test backup.
1) Text printed on no acid paper.
2) Microphish. or film.
I suggest you print it with ocr readable characters with a pigment based ink. If you are that serious about backup, take it to a printer and have them printed with good ink on the best paper you can find. store the copies in two separate locations.
Remember every one, there is NO standard on digital backup medium.
Text printed correctly on zero acid paper or film is the only time test way.
IMHO
Re:Text, but why? (Score:5, Insightful)
Engraved to stone (Score:4, Insightful)
Text. It's the only way. (Score:5, Insightful)
This is a backup to your backup, so digital means must have failed before you'd consider using it. Text is low density, but it has an advantage that any encrypted barcode or other high tech means do not have -- it can be read by human eyes. When you're huddled in a rough lean-to roasting a feral cat over the campfire amid the wreckage of civilization, you will still be able to read your backup. That might come in handy.
Re:Google (Score:4, Insightful)
I know you're joking, but if you're trying to archive things like this, it's a good idea to include the documentation for how to generate and read the codes your using.
Re: One word (Score:4, Insightful)
Dude, this happens to stuff that is very valuable to you? You either have an awesomely interesting life or are a weird mix of paranoid and careless.
Re:Text, but why? (Score:4, Insightful)
For account numbers and passwords, this is a good solution. But IMO, it isn't a good enough solution. A better solution is print them twice. Put one copy in a waterproof, fireproof safe. Put the other copy in a safe deposit bank across town. This is to protect you from the possibility that your whole house and all your computers become inaccessible while you are away from home. (http://www.capitalbay.com/headline/339999-as-landslide-swallows-five-homes-in-wealthy-northern-california-neighborhood-residents-struggle-to-find-the-root-cause.html), (http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/07/07/199688745/runaway-train-explosion-still-ablaze-in-quebec).
And since you've got that safe deposit box, it's a great place to put original birth certificates, copies of insurance policies, property deeds, auto titles, and a SSD containing a backup of important data from your computer. A monthly trip to the bank to swap out your backup drive is also a good opportunity to check if your paper docs are up to date. If you don't have very much data that you think needs backing up, you can use a smaller, cheaper USB drive.
Re:Text, but why? (Score:4, Insightful)
Actually, fire safes are a lot better for paper than CD/DVD media, which will be destroyed faster than paper chars.
Re:Text, but why? (Score:3, Insightful)
But when you see that at print time, why would anyone expect that to survive?
Steam coming out of your printer is a pretty significant clue if you ask me.
I have boxes of normal 20 pound office bond (nothing special) circa 1985 containing old listings. Its as crisp and intact as ever, and it got no special treatment, simply sitting in boxes on the shelf. I have continuous forms from old IBM mainframe 3800 printers that looks rattier. Probably the paper. But even these show no signs of print flaking off.
I've simply never seen print flaking off.
I've seen it wipe off with just finger pressure, but that was because the fuser roll had died and was no longer heating.
Re:Text, but why? (Score:3, Insightful)
Re: Easy (Score:5, Insightful)
He is making a valid point.
Soon IDE will be a thing of the past, and maybe SATA will be replaced with something better... maybe native USB3.0 to the disk?
When I cleaned out my garage I found some old floppies (5.25" and 3.5", including compilers and OSs that cost me quite a lot), some DAT tapes, some Jaz disks, some zip disks, some audio cassettes and some MFM disks too.
All of which are pretty much junk.
An interesting aside - when I looked up the specs for a 20Meg MFM disk I found I was surprised that a then current PC was able to read the entire contents in less than half a minute. If only we could do that with today's 3TB drives...
Re:Text, but why? (Score:4, Insightful)
You can buy fire safes that are rated for 1, 2, ore 3 hours of fire which will maintain internal temperatures no hotter than 125F
This would work well with the archival DVDs, since the disk is made of Polycarbonate (thermoplastic polymers) that has a melting point of 311F (155C)
While it's true that paper will ignite up at 424.4F (218C) it starts to yellow and char starting down at 302F (150C) which could interfere with OCR.
There's no reason he couldn't burn an archival DVD and print a paper hard copy; then keep them both in the safe.