I would like to have the compare by file content made a little smarter.
What I DON'T LIKE ABOUT FFS is that it keeps updating the date on files. It always copies the newer over the older dated file EVEN IF THEY ARE THE SAME. I have multiple computers and multiple NAS. The current version is always updating the date so it seems that the dates on all my NAS and computers are constantly being updated and copied even if they are the same.
What I would like is to be able to compare files and if the files are identical then the newer file is set to the older file because IT REALLY HASN'T CHANGED! It just got copied by another computer at a later time.
Currently I use compare files option but then I must manually select the direction of copy. This could be made automatic without much effort.
A New Option For When to Update or Not Update Files
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- Joined: 30 Mar 2022
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- Joined: 8 May 2006
That should not be.What I DON'T LIKE ABOUT FFS is that it keeps updating the date on files.
Set up a simple sync of a few files from say c:/tmp/ to c:/new/.
Are the file date/time different between the to directories.
Do the same with your NAS.
Are the file date/time different between (say) c:/tmp/ & \\NAS\new\?
It is possible there is something running on your NAS affecting outcomes (causing the date to change - after the file is copied to the NAS), Recurring "Updates" That "Don't".
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Now this is different (potentially).It always copies the newer over the older dated file EVEN IF THEY ARE THE SAME.
If your Compare is Time & Size, & if the source is newer - & even if the size & content are the same, then yes, it will copy source to target.
A Content compare would not select the same content file even if the dates do differ.
(But obviously would be much slower.)
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I understand that if you compare by date that it will always copy the newer over the older file so I don't use the compare by data/size option. I compare by content. When two files have the same content they should be set to the date of the older file. This avoids needlessly copying files between different backup devices.
At this time, when the contents of two files are the same, I must compare the dates manually. This works but it is a pain when there are many files. At least this keeps the files from updating the date.
At this time, when the contents of two files are the same, I must compare the dates manually. This works but it is a pain when there are many files. At least this keeps the files from updating the date.
