Need a basic name/location comparison
- Posts: 1
- Joined: 28 Apr 2023
I have over 400,000 files that I like to have backed up on three drives. The issue I have found is that these files can get smaller or larger by a byte or so, even though the file itself has not changed. The files are zip files and due to some programs with badly written code, they sometimes change size without changing the contents. These files never change, more are added weekly/monthly, but they never are changed. They are read only. so what i need is for the program to just see which files have been added to any of the source drives and sync those files only to the other drive. Using any of the comparison modes in FreeFileSync, these files that change size by even a byte, are flagged as different and in need of syncing, which can mean the difference between syncing 40 files and 4000. I would like a way to just compare the file name and location for syncing. Is it possible with this software or would that be something that may be implemented in a future version?
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- Posts: 2946
- Joined: 22 Aug 2012
Not a feature available in FFS now.
And (my guess ...) not likely to be added, as it is quite specific.
But, that is up to the author, Zenju.
> ... they sometimes change size without changing the contents
You don't indicate if the file-date remains unchanged or not.
If it remains unchanged, it seems you could use the time-span filter.
Then simply define your time-span to start on the date of your previous sync.
And (my guess ...) not likely to be added, as it is quite specific.
But, that is up to the author, Zenju.
> ... they sometimes change size without changing the contents
You don't indicate if the file-date remains unchanged or not.
If it remains unchanged, it seems you could use the time-span filter.
Then simply define your time-span to start on the date of your previous sync.
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- Posts: 2946
- Joined: 22 Aug 2012
On second thought ...
There may be a possibility to do this with FFS, irrespective of the file-date being updated by the changes or not.
In the Synchronization Settings (F8 in the FFS GUI), you can select a Custom sync variant.
For the left-most Difference Category "Item exists on left side only", you select or leave the Action "Copy new item to right" (you cycle through the Action options by clicking on the corresponding Action icon).
For the second-left Difference Category "Left side is newer", you select the Action "Do nothing". This solves your problem if files-dates are updated when files are changed.
For the middle Difference Category "Conflict/item can not be categorized", you again select the Action "Do nothing". This solves your problem if file-sizes have changed, but the file-date has not been updated.
The second-right and right-most Difference Categories should normally never occur in your case, so you can safely select "Do nothing". If there are circumstances that would allow items to fall in any of these two right Categories, select your suitable Action.
There may be a possibility to do this with FFS, irrespective of the file-date being updated by the changes or not.
In the Synchronization Settings (F8 in the FFS GUI), you can select a Custom sync variant.
For the left-most Difference Category "Item exists on left side only", you select or leave the Action "Copy new item to right" (you cycle through the Action options by clicking on the corresponding Action icon).
For the second-left Difference Category "Left side is newer", you select the Action "Do nothing". This solves your problem if files-dates are updated when files are changed.
For the middle Difference Category "Conflict/item can not be categorized", you again select the Action "Do nothing". This solves your problem if file-sizes have changed, but the file-date has not been updated.
The second-right and right-most Difference Categories should normally never occur in your case, so you can safely select "Do nothing". If there are circumstances that would allow items to fall in any of these two right Categories, select your suitable Action.
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- Posts: 4867
- Joined: 11 Jun 2019
What poopy software that changes is by a byte or so lol
It must be "opening" it and closing it with a tiny difference.
If they are never modified, I would second Plerry's suggestion to use time span
It must be "opening" it and closing it with a tiny difference.
If they are never modified, I would second Plerry's suggestion to use time span
