FreeFileSync Forum

> ... I think I found out that the correct setting for me would be the Mirror variant and not the Update variant, mainly because of the last option regarding the item existing only on the right side that I want to be deleted. The last part of your line above is a bit unclear, but: Look at the descri...

> As I have only text files in all folders this is good news and hope thats will be working. I answered that FFS can/does NOT do what you describe. Even not when the files involved are plain text files. The script/batch file I am referring to, would be a self created cmd/com, PowerShell, Basic or wh...

The layout of your FreeFileSync (FFS) GUI looks "messed up" (e.g. not showing your left and right base location(s) ). You can reset the FFS GUI layout via Tools / Reset Layout. For seeing the "content" of your sync locations, you first need to run a Compare. After that, by defaul...

If you use the Mirror sync variant, any files pre-existing in your destination/target (right-side) location that do not, or no longer, exist in your source (left-side) location, will be deleted from your target location. If you use the TwoWay sync variant, after running the first sync, any files del...

1) and 2) Not possible. FreefIleSync (FFS) can not merge files. But even batch/script files could only do that if the file-content would be plain text or plain text based. 3) and 4) Also not possible. And even harder than a plain merge, as the overlap between file-content would need to be determined...

Sorry, xCSxXenon is right. I made a confusing typo.
My second folder pair should have read:
C:\folder1 => E:\folder1

By default, FFS uses "Fail-safe file copy" (found in the FFS Options). This creates an overhead compared to "simply copying and pasting files", especially if pre-existing files are overwritten by your sync. And obviously, in case you would have set the VerifyCopiedFiles flag to T...

Your problem description is not completely clear (at least to me). > But for some file, always the same files, it asks for copy even if they are identical and the cloud version is newer This part is clear: If you run a Mirror sync from D:\[SomePath1] to P:\[SomePath2], after a sync the content of P:...

Yes you can. Simply define multiple left-right folder pairs , e.g. a first pair: C:\folder1 => D:\folder1 and a second pair: C:\folder1 => D:\folder1 You should only do this when using a Mirror or Update sync variant, because these variants do not modify the content of their left-side locations. And...

> ... is there a way to copy and rename the source file, ... For FreeFileSync (FFS) the short answer is: no! You can however use Versioning , that lets you retain deleted or overwritten files in a user specified location, as many versions as you want and as long as you want. And (by default) nicely ...

Amen

Consider using RealTimeSync (RTS)

The function of RealTimeSync is to execute a command line each time it detects changes in one of the monitored directories, or when a directory becomes available (e. g. insert of a USB-stick). Usually this command line will trigger a FreeFileSync batch job.

> ... I want instantaneous sync Apparently not, because you want to have the opportunity to change the filename first. The only option is then to create the file in a folder that is outside the folder tree(s) being monitored by RealTimeSync (RTS), then change the filename, and only then move the fil...

> ... so before syncing for the first time I copied all the files in Windows Explorer ... As FFS copied 206MB and still intends to copy 12.9GB, it seems that, unless the changes to your left-side location are quite substantial since your copying in Windows Explorer, FFS intends to re-copy the entire...

You don't need to use the Credential Manager. You can choose to always enter the username and password manually, and select NOT to save it for later (re)use. Or simply run your syncs as a different user; the safer way to go anyway. See e.g. the second part of this reply . Regarding using a Password ...

Obviously, you can still check if the lost data is still there; in whole or in part.

> If you had offered help, ... , my posts would never have even headed towards ranting. Before your reply of March 25, you never asked for help other than the hypothetical "How do I recover my lost music?", and even that only after putting the blame at the program ("I have lost hundre...

Don't know, so better recover from the recycle before running another sync ...
Or doing anything else on your PC ...

If you used Recycle-bin or Versioning as your Delete Files method, you should still be able to recover your files. If you used the Permanent method, you are at a loss. Yet again the lesson: For new syncs, after running a Compare, always check if the proposed actions meet your expectations before run...

OK, so now it is clear what you want. In the Windows command line, you can escape the special meaning of the % character by escaping it by itself, so %% . Not sure if that also works like that in FFS, but it does not hurt to try. So, try typing e.g. D:\!Backup\FFS\ %% appdata %% \blabla directly as ...

Not clear what your problem is: %appdata% always resolves into something like C:\User\[UserName]\Appdata\Roaming . So, when used like you describe, it will always include the C:\ part and cause your definition to fail. If your intention is to define a single FFS sync configuration for different user...

In your case, the suitable sync variant is the Update variant. This will copy every left-side item to the right, if that item only exists on the left side (similar to the Mirror variant), will overwrite existing right-side items, if the left-side item is newer (similar to the Mirror variant), will d...

> I am synchronizing directories and files older than 90 days. ... I suppose this should read "younger" instead of "older", otherwise the next part contradicts > The expectation is not only that I ignore files older than 90 days when I do the comparison ... Then about the second ...

> Of course, I can go to the filter and remove the excluded items.

Spot on!

> However, it is not as user friendly as a pull-down of file directory structure that one can click to select and de-select. That is where you can use the FFS bottom-left Overview window. A nice collapse/extendable file directory structure overview, with again the possibility to right-click and choo...

No problem. Just create (at least) two left-right folder pairs . Assuming your external backup-drive is called F: , make your first left-right folder pair e.g. D:\[path-to-source-folder-on-D] => F:\Backup D 1 and the second pair E:\[path-to-source- folder-on-E] => F:\Backup E 1 So, also if you need ...

> Upon my first compare, those folders and sub-folders that I wanted to exclude would not show up as option for me to perform what you have suggested Yes they will. You only have to make those "equal" files and folders visible first. Run a Compare, and then toggle the "="-icon mi...

Likely, you have set your "Delete Files" method to "Recycle bin" . Any files that get deleted or updated (=overwritten) will then be moved to the Recycle bin. This has nothing to do with your Exclude Filter. But given the warning you get about the Recycle bin not being available ...

As described by xCSxXenon, after running a Compare , you can right click a file or folder and then select to temporarily, but also to permanently Exclude that file or folder form your sync. For the permanent Exclusions to remain active across different FFS sessions, you can best save the sync config...

To prevent confusions:
It is not RealTimeSync (RTS) you are talking about, it is FreeFileSync (FFS).

In order to run FFS minimized, you need to save your sync configuration as a *.ffs_batch file, and follow the instructions as described here.