I set realtimesync up. (What a convoluted nightmare that was!) Now it works, but the normal compare and synchronise window that it opens remains open after realtimesync has finished. I can't find any controls to do that and there's nothing I can find in the help file.
Can anyone help?
Help with realtimesync
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> there's nothing I can find in the help file.
When saving the *.ffs_batch FreeFileSync (FFS) sync configuration that is invoked by RealTimeSync (RTS) upon detecting changes in the monitored directories, act as described in the manual, and checkmark at least "Auto-Close".
When saving the *.ffs_batch FreeFileSync (FFS) sync configuration that is invoked by RealTimeSync (RTS) upon detecting changes in the monitored directories, act as described in the manual, and checkmark at least "Auto-Close".
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I read, and went to reread after your post the RTS part of the manual. Nowhere does it mention 'auto close'.
https://freefilesync.org/manual.php?topic=realtimesync
I did think I had it set but in the manual it shows 'source' and 'target' folders. In reality you have to set them backwards because of the way folders are added so I was never sure if source and target were set correctly.
I did think I had it working, but it came up with an error saying you can't save to the same folder. I wasn't saving to the same folder. I was saving to a completely different drive.
It also kept mentioning node_modules can't be saved to themselves. Node_modules is simply one of the subfolders of the directory I was saving, and as I said, the source and target were completely different directories.
It did seem to work at first, because the normal difference window popped up and I had to close it twice. That's when I posted here. But then it stopped, and the real time sync setting was nowhere to be found to restart it. I have tried this many times over the years and never been able to get it to work.
https://freefilesync.org/manual.php?topic=realtimesync
I did think I had it set but in the manual it shows 'source' and 'target' folders. In reality you have to set them backwards because of the way folders are added so I was never sure if source and target were set correctly.
I did think I had it working, but it came up with an error saying you can't save to the same folder. I wasn't saving to the same folder. I was saving to a completely different drive.
It also kept mentioning node_modules can't be saved to themselves. Node_modules is simply one of the subfolders of the directory I was saving, and as I said, the source and target were completely different directories.
It did seem to work at first, because the normal difference window popped up and I had to close it twice. That's when I posted here. But then it stopped, and the real time sync setting was nowhere to be found to restart it. I have tried this many times over the years and never been able to get it to work.
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I really wonder if FFS and RTS are suitable tools for you, given that even after trying many times over the years, you still find it a convoluted effort, still mix up RTS and FFS, apparently still miss the basic concept of defining proper, non-overlapping left-right pairs, and even don't follow links in the reply to your question.
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I really wonder if being in a community group supposedly to help people out with problems is the right future for you, given that when someone has difficulty you give a link to something I've read several times but clearly have difficulty in understanding. RTS is complicated for me, hence reaching out for help, and all you can do is sit in judgement?
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boris,
In reference to Your reply "I really wonder if being in a community group" is unfair and uncalled for and a sure way to find yourself unable to get help in the future.
Plerry gave a clear reference to solve the issue you have. By your own admission, you state that you are incapable of understanding and following the instructions as presented, " I've read several times but clearly have difficulty in understanding".
Maybe it would be best if you find someone in your area that is more inclined to dealing with application setup and pay them to get everything set for you. Eliminate the headache.
Good Luck
In reference to Your reply "I really wonder if being in a community group" is unfair and uncalled for and a sure way to find yourself unable to get help in the future.
Plerry gave a clear reference to solve the issue you have. By your own admission, you state that you are incapable of understanding and following the instructions as presented, " I've read several times but clearly have difficulty in understanding".
Maybe it would be best if you find someone in your area that is more inclined to dealing with application setup and pay them to get everything set for you. Eliminate the headache.
Good Luck
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- Joined: 22 Apr 2016
"Unable to get help in the future" because someone was a little discourteous to me and I gently called them out on it? Since when did people come to a help forum knowing everything there is to know? The entire purpose of the forum is to get help with something you don't understand is it not?boris,
In reference to Your reply "I really wonder if being in a community group" is unfair and uncalled for and a sure way to find yourself unable to get help in the future.
Plerry gave a clear reference to solve the issue you have. By your own admission, you state that you are incapable of understanding and following the instructions as presented, " I've read several times but clearly have difficulty in understanding".
Maybe it would be best if you find someone in your area that is more inclined to dealing with application setup and pay them to get everything set for you. Eliminate the headache.
Good Luck BenThere, 31 Jan 2026, 18:50
And why are you jumping in to warn me that my non understanding and reaction to discourteous will land me in hot water?
Firstly plerry accused me of not following a link. I followed the link. The wasn't anything about realtime sync in the page that came up.
Also I don't mix up RTS and FTS. I've used FTS for many years. The whole point of my post is that I want to use RTS but can't figure it out. So where does that suggest I don't understand the difference?
Then he says I don't understand the basic concept of defining proper left-right pairs. No, what I said was it was confusing not knowing which came first in the dialogue box.
So clearly I am simply asking for some help in understanding that I can't get from the manual. And I get told I should not use the program. Then when I pick him up for judging me instead of helping, you decide to wade in saying no one is going to help me now because I can't figure out the problem and don't like being told I'm not intelligent enough to be able to use it? If you really are here to help then help me figure it out instead of trolling me.
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That RTS documentation linked says to use a .ffs_batch configuration. If you follow the link Plerry posted, it describes the proper way to save a .ffs_batch configuration to avoid user interaction. Once saved, you can use that with RTS.
I don't know what you are talking about saying the order of the directories matters and all that other stuff regarding source/target. What you said doesn't really make sense, but it doesn't seem relevant anyway. Revert whatever changes you made to get back to your working sync config, and get them saved as a .ffs_batch config for RTS
I don't know what you are talking about saying the order of the directories matters and all that other stuff regarding source/target. What you said doesn't really make sense, but it doesn't seem relevant anyway. Revert whatever changes you made to get back to your working sync config, and get them saved as a .ffs_batch config for RTS
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boris,
First, I apologize, it was not my intention to suggest that you are not intelligent. We all have times when we just can't figure something out, no matter how hard we try, as in my handle.
In your posts I could feel your frustration as I have "Ben There" at times also.
"I have tried this many times over the years and never been able to get it to work."
At a certain point I have found it is just not worth the frustration to continue trying to figure it out myself. Some times it's just better to pay someone locally, to "Eliminate the headache", that will come out and show you what to do at your computer. Maybe a local user group, community college student in computer science or someone at a local computer store.
Again, I wish you Good Luck and hope you take this with the sincerity it has been sent.
First, I apologize, it was not my intention to suggest that you are not intelligent. We all have times when we just can't figure something out, no matter how hard we try, as in my handle.
In your posts I could feel your frustration as I have "Ben There" at times also.
"I have tried this many times over the years and never been able to get it to work."
At a certain point I have found it is just not worth the frustration to continue trying to figure it out myself. Some times it's just better to pay someone locally, to "Eliminate the headache", that will come out and show you what to do at your computer. Maybe a local user group, community college student in computer science or someone at a local computer store.
Again, I wish you Good Luck and hope you take this with the sincerity it has been sent.
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That's fine we all overreact sometimes to posts too, and I am also guilty of that.boris,
First, I apologize, it was not my intention to suggest that you are not intelligent. We all have times when we just can't figure something out, no matter how hard we try, as in my handle.
In your posts I could feel your frustration as I have "Ben There" at times also.
"I have tried this many times over the years and never been able to get it to work."
At a certain point I have found it is just not worth the frustration to continue trying to figure it out myself. Some times it's just better to pay someone locally, to "Eliminate the headache", that will come out and show you what to do at your computer. Maybe a local user group, community college student in computer science or someone at a local computer store.
Again, I wish you Good Luck and hope you take this with the sincerity it has been sent. BenThere, 02 Feb 2026, 18:29
However, I am currently writing my second app. This one i android instead of windows. Because of the issues with FFS I wrote a powershell script to automate the backing up of the app project folder (which is what I was trying to do with FFS) It is far simpler than FFS as it's 8 lines of code and a double click to initiate. So in fact my backup needs for that particular scenario are well taken care of now.
However I've used FFS for so long now I automatically turn to it and I'm not going to pay anyone to make something work for me. I need someone to help me solve a problem, and once that's done I can replicate it a thousand times. I think also from memory the manual online displays a different menu to what I have but I will check that later to be sure and post back.
If I figure it out I will also post the problem and solution together for anyone else that might face the same thing. Sometimes 'RTFM' is just not enough. Peace.
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Not that PowerShell is difficult per se, but it certainly isn't easier than clicking a different 'save' button and checking two boxes. I'm glad you got something working, and I love scripting enough to have a GitHub repo with a bunch I've created, but data usage topology simply can't be represented any better than a GUI. If you got a script working, I'd be very surprised if you weren't able to get RTS behaving as desired. Best of luck!
