Cannot exclude FileVault Account from Time Machine...

Hi
I use a FileVault account to work on work-related stuff at home, which I do not want backed up to TimeMachine. Despite excluding this account in TimeMachine prefs, it continued to get backed up after logging out. After reading that exclusions should ideally be set up before the first-ever back-up, I erased my TM drive and started from scratch, excluding both the Home folder (call it ABC) and the sparsebundle (.ABC) for the account. This didn't work, so I also manually edited the TM prefs in /Library to add both these paths under "Exclude by Path".
Yet still it goes to "preparing to back-up ABC..." when I log out. So far I have cancelled this process each time, so there is as yet no back-up on the TM drive, but I simply wish it would not prepare/attempt a back-up and just return to the login window.
What am I missing?
Many thanks

Paul,
Yet still it goes to "preparing to back-up ABC..." when I log out. So far I have cancelled this process each time, so there is as yet no back-up on the TM drive, but I simply wish it would not prepare/attempt a back-up and just return to the login window.
If you have it properly excluded, then let it proceed when you log out. I think what you are seeing is a standard log-out script when a user account is file-vaulted. It's going to always say that even if you have your file-vault excluded.
I believe, that Mac OS starts the file vault backup script automatically, but it hasn't yet hit the fact that your file vault is excluded. So try letting the log out process proceed. It will always say "Preparing to backup ABC..." but then it will hit the exclusion list and should stop. Let is log out and then log back in and see if that's that case.
Otherwise, try deleting the TM Prefs .plist, re-exclude your file vault account, and then log out. You will likely see that message again, but see if it does indeed proceed to back it up.
*Delete The Time Machine Preference .plist*
Go to --> Macintosh HD / Library / Preferences (Note: NOT Home / Library / Preferences).
Drag the .plist file labeled,
com.apple.TimeMachine.plist
to the root level of your Macs’ hard drive.
Reboot your computer.
This .plist file is automatically recreated at startup if it is missing.
Now try choosing the external HD in the TM Prefs for backup.
Cheers!

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