how to exclude everything except

[hesxenon]

I'm trying to exclude every hidden folder in home dirs (like those created by e.g. java, rust, deno, many other programs etc) except .ssh

The reason is, that the hidden files I am actually interested in are tracked in dotfiles but I don't want to push my private keys to some repo.

In general it would be nice to have some sort of "textual config editing" - just providing a link to borgbase docs when you can't actually see what patterns and exclusions are being used doesn't seem to be enough to me.

[goebbe]

You can use excludes and includes by using --pattern or --patterns-from options, via Vorta > Schedule > Shell Commands > Extra arguments for borg create.

Feature request with examples for both options: #1991

The following "Extra arguments for borg" will include .ssh but exclude all other hidden files and folders in /home/username (and subfolders):
--pattern=+ home/username/**/.ssh --pattern=- home/username/**/.*
Order matters! First specify the include "+" pattern, then specify the exclude "-" pattern.

Now, rereading your comment: It may be that you got confused about the meaning of "includes" and "excludes".
If the only thing you want to achieve is to exclude .ssh from your backup, but include all other hidden files and folders, you could simply go to Vorta > Source > Manage Excluded items
Push the "+" button (here, this is to add a new exclude pattern) and type .ssh
All other hidden files and folders should be included in the backups, anyway, if you use /home/username as a source.

Hope this helps.

[hesxenon]

thx, but I don't really understand what I would specify in "sources" then? Nothing? Root?

Is Vorta even a good choice for this use case?

[goebbe]

For the use case: Keep in mind that Vorta aims to be a tool for the backup of user data.
If you are concerned about backup of system data you should consider using borg directly.

[goebbe]

@hesxenon
In sources you specify the path(s) of the folders you want to put into your backup.
e.g. /home/hexcenon
By default, Vorta will do a backup of all the files and subfolders in this path(s). This includes all hidden files/ folders.
Now, if you want to exclude specific files/ folder from your backup you can use "exclude" rules.
Vorta > Source > Manage Excluded items (at the bottom of this tab)

So you have (at least) two different ways to choose your folders/ files for the backup:

1. Select all folders paths manually and add them in sources
   or:
2. Select a "parent" path e.g. your home directory in sources and exclude the files/ folders that you do not want to have in your backup (by using exclude patterns).

You can mix the two approaches. :-)

[hesxenon]

yeah, but with the "sources/exclude" approach I cannot specifiy the additional create args, can I? And thus I don't know how to exclude .ssh while specifying exclude items

[goebbe]

If you want to use a list of includes and excludes, I recommend using the --patterns-in option and point to a text-file where all the sources / includes and excludes can easily be specified in a long list.
Have a look at the following post in this feature request, for an example: #1991 (comment)

You can combine the --patterns-in option with additional create options. As far as I know, there are no limitations, here.

These patterns-files are referred to at the level of Vorta profiles and are applied each time you create a new backup.
You should also have a look at the borg specs for more details: https://borgbackup.readthedocs.io/en/stable/usage/help.html But keep in mind that borg supports different pattern styles, which can be confusing.