RealTimeSync always syncing

[EICP]

Hi,
I have two external HDDs connect to a USB powered hub and then to my laptop and use RealTimeSync for sync to both HDD when there's a change to a specific folder (with sub-folders).
With 1 hdd, every change makes the old file to go to the Windows recycle bin, and with the other the file is permanently deleted. So, after creating both "profiles", than i created a batch job of both HDD/settings (screenshots attached).

Sometimes (many), my RealTimeSync doesn't stop updating even if there's nothing more to update. The only way to solve this is to stop it, reconnect both HDDs, or to restart the pc.

Anyone knows what may be causing this and how to solve?

Thanks

[Plerry]

> ... my RealTimeSync doesn't stop updating even if there's nothing more to update.
It is not very clear what you mean.

RealTimeSync (RTS) does not do any "updating" (or mirroring, for that matter).
RTS monitors one or more specified directories (and its/their subdirectories) for changes, and if it detects any changes it executes its specified command line, which normally will launch FreeFileSync (FFS) to run a specified FFS sync configuration (a *.ffs_batch file).
Additionally, RTS will detect insertion/connection specified locations on external drives, and upon connection also will execute its specified command line.

After an FFS-sync (launched by RTS) is finished, the RTS job will stay active and continue to monitor for further changes, and upon detecting any of those, will launch FFS again.
This ad infinitum, until the RTS job is killed.

[EICP]

What happens sometimes is that i change something in the directory monitored by FFS and then it stays constantly "working" like if changes were still being made.

I made a screen capture for showing you what is happening:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Oz6npvbTH3N2ZJA0WbytPFIGLD8m0MwG/view?usp=sharing

[Plerry]

What your image seems to show, is the results of a Comparison, of which the conclusion seems to be that there are no differences that need to be synced.
Consequently, the FFS GUI just sits there doing nothing (contrary to: stays constantly "working").

It seems you purposely opened the *.ffs_batch sync configuration in the FFS GUI, and/or saved the *.ffs_batch configuration (as perhaps launched by RTS) without making it "hidden" and auto-closing (see here ad 2) ).

If you saved the *.ffs_batch configuration with settings to make it run "hidden" and auto-closing, any such sync task launched by RTS should run (and close) as defined.

[xCSxXenon]

What directories is RTS set to monitor and what is the idle time set to?

[EICP]

What your image seems to show, is the results of a Comparison, of which the conclusion seems to be that there are no differences that need to be synced.
Consequently, the FFS GUI just sits there doing nothing (contrary to: stays constantly "working").

It seems you purposely opened the *.ffs_batch sync configuration in the FFS GUI, and/or saved the *.ffs_batch configuration (as perhaps launched by RTS) without making it "hidden" and auto-closing (see here ad 2) ).

If you saved the *.ffs_batch configuration with settings to make it run "hidden" and auto-closing, any such sync task launched by RTS should run (and close) as defined.

Hi,
Sorry for the late reply.
Precisely, there nothing to do but it keeps running, scanning, working, comparing, you name it.
Even know, i only moved a file from one sub-folder to another (both in the same folder), and now it doesn't stop, doing what it's called, like you can see on the video.

When i recorded that video, i only opened FFS GUI for you to see that there is nothing to be synced.

The *.ffs_batch is saved with both options, hidden and auto-close.


Thanks

[EICP]

What directories is RTS set to monitor and what is the idle time set to?

Hi,
It's one folder on my pc, and 1 on each external HDD (2) and with an idle time of 10sec

Thanks

[xCSxXenon]

That RTS config looks fine. The 10 second delay would mitigate the issue where there is a file changing every time you sync, triggering another sync. For your sync config in FFS, what is your "On completion" setting set to?

[EICP]

That RTS config looks fine. The 10 second delay would mitigate the issue where there is a file changing every time you sync, triggering another sync. For your sync config in FFS, what is your "On completion" setting set to?

hidden and auto-close

[xCSxXenon]

That RTS config looks fine. The 10 second delay would mitigate the issue where there is a file changing every time you sync, triggering another sync. For your sync config in FFS, what is your "On completion" setting set to?

hidden and auto-close

That is not an option for the "Run a command on completion" setting

[EICP]

That RTS config looks fine. The 10 second delay would mitigate the issue where there is a file changing every time you sync, triggering another sync. For your sync config in FFS, what is your "On completion" setting set to?

hidden and auto-close

That is not an option for the "Run a command on completion" setting

My mistake.
I don't have nothing.

The situation i described only happens sometimes. For example, I've been using my laptop for the last 4h, including making several changes to the folder being scanned by FFS (which then syncs them to the 2 external HDDs), and it didn't happen happen yet.

[xCSxXenon]

I would try removing the destinations from the monitored directories. I wonder if creating a file on F triggers RTS, FFS copies that file to [Elements] and [My Book], which each trigger RTS again. When the issue happens, does it ever run more than three times?

[EICP]

The task is simple: I create/change something (only) on "F:\MÚSICA" and it syncs with a folder with the same name on both HDD's. That way i have always backups of my music in order to play safe (we never know...).

I used to do this manually but was a bit of pain in the a..., and sometimes i would forget to do to one of the HDD's or not being sure and having to go there confirming.
This hassle made me search for a goof software to help me with this task and FFS seemed exactly what i wanted, in such a away that i even donated money for the project.

And yes, it keeps running/scanning. comparing till a point that i become so annoyed with it that i have to open RTS for it to stop.

[xCSxXenon]

I would try removing the destinations from the monitored directories. I wonder if creating a file on F triggers RTS, FFS copies that file to [Elements] and [My Book], which each trigger RTS again. When the issue happens, does it ever run more than three times?

[EICP]

I may not understanding exactly what you are suggesting but if i remove the destination directories (both external HDDs), what will be the point? That way it won't sync with them any change i make to the music folder on the laptop.

[Plerry]

> ... but if i remove the destination directories (both external HDDs), what will be the point?
Remove them from the RTS configuration , obviously nor from your FFS configuration.

As all your changes that need to be synced occur on F:,
RTS only needs to monitor F:\MUSICA for changes, not your backup drives.

[EICP]

> ... but if i remove the destination directories (both external HDDs), what will be the point?
Remove them from the RTS configuration , obviously nor from your FFS configuration.

As all your changes that need to be synced occur on F:,
RTS only needs to monitor F:\MUSICA for changes, not your backup drives.

Hi,
Yes, you're right but one of the external HDDs has a different configuration. While 1 reflects any changes made on F, the other does that to but sends the original files to Windows recycle bin as a safety feature in case i do something wrong (ex: delete by mistake).

Thanks

[Plerry]

> While 1 reflects any changes made on F, the other does that to but sends the original files to Windows recycle bin as a safety feature in case i do something wrong (ex: delete by mistake)

As I understand your above description, that would still not require to have RTS monitor the "other" drive (2?) for changes.
It just requires different settings in the (FFS) sync configuration for the two syncs.

[EICP]

> While 1 reflects any changes made on F, the other does that to but sends the original files to Windows recycle bin as a safety feature in case i do something wrong (ex: delete by mistake)

As I understand your above description, that would still not require to have RTS monitor the "other" drive (2?) for changes.
It just requires different settings in the (FFS) sync configuration for the two syncs.

Hum, didn't know that.
I thought that i had to create a batch run of config made for F and both external HDD on FFS, save it, and then open it on RTS.

[Plerry]

> I thought that i had to create a batch run of config made for F and both external HDD on FFS, save it, and then open it on RTS.

You define your sync settings in FFS.
There you define your two left-right pairs
1) F:\Musica => [Elements]\Musica
2) F:\Musica => [My Book]\Musica
Assuming that in your Global Sync Settings (F8), the green gear-icon on top, the Delete Files method is set to Permanent, then for the 2nd pair you need to use local sync settings, via the green gear-icon in between that left-right pair, and change the Delete Files method for that pair.
Test your sync configuration and if OK then save your FFS sync configuration.

You can now drag that saved sync configuration to RTS, and in RTS delete the two lines referring to
[Elements]\Musica and [My Book]\Musica (via the minus-icon in front), leaving only F:\Musica to be monitored for changes by RTS. Then save that RTS configuration.

By the way:
Did you test that a Recycle-bin is being used for deletions from [My Book]\Musica ?
As for as I know, Windows can not use or force the use of a Recycle-bin on external drives.
And it does not move deletions from external drives to its internal recycle-bin ...
Some external drives (e.g. NAS's) may have their own "recycle-bin"s, but those are local to that drive and beyond the control of Windows or FFS.

If my suspicion is true, in FFS you can select the Delete Files method Versioning, in which case it is fully under control of FFS. You can then even choose your preferred location for the versions on any internal or external drive accessable to FFS while running the sync.
You can this also as a local sync setting.

[EICP]

> I thought that i had to create a batch run of config made for F and both external HDD on FFS, save it, and then open it on RTS.

You define your sync settings in FFS.
There you define your two left-right pairs
1) F:\Musica => [Elements]\Musica
2) F:\Musica => [My Book]\Musica
Assuming that in your Global Sync Settings (F8), the green gear-icon on top, the Delete Files method is set to Permanent, then for the 2nd pair you need to use local sync settings, via the green gear-icon in between that left-right pair, and change the Delete Files method for that pair.
Test your sync configuration and if OK then save your FFS sync configuration.

You can now drag that saved sync configuration to RTS, and in RTS delete the two lines referring to
[Elements]\Musica and [My Book]\Musica (via the minus-icon in front), leaving only F:\Musica to be monitored for changes by RTS. Then save that RTS configuration.

By the way:
Did you test that a Recycle-bin is being used for deletions from [My Book]\Musica ?
As for as I know, Windows can not use or force the use of a Recycle-bin on external drives.
And it does not move deletions from external drives to its internal recycle-bin ...
Some external drives (e.g. NAS's) may have their own "recycle-bin"s, but those are local to that drive and beyond the control of Windows or FFS.

If my suspicion is true, in FFS you can select the Delete Files method Versioning, in which case it is fully under control of FFS. You can then even choose your preferred location for the versions on any internal or external drive accessable to FFS while running the sync.
You can this also as a local sync setting.

I'll have to read that with more time and try to setup it again from the scratch.

Regarding the recycle bin, only the Elements has that configuration; My Book is set to delete or overwrite files permanently. And yes, when i change something that already exists, the "older" file on Elements is sent to the Windows Recycle Bin.

Thanks