Some files will be synchronized as part of multiple folder pairs. To avoid conflicts, set up exclude filters so that eac

[lipwak]

Screenshot 2025-04-27 at 9.03.14 AM.jpg (334.12 KiB) Viewed 57998 times

Hi,

I have used FFS for years but don't know about all the workings of it. I have a nightly sync set up that works just fine.I needed to set up a new arrangement today as I am now using a "new" eternal drive to back up to. I used the old setup for this giving new paths for both sides. I want my current external drive to be mirrored to the "new" external drive. The "new" external drive has lots of files and folders on it. (I could just erase it and I bet that would fix things...)

When I try to sync I get this error: "Some files will be synchronized as part of multiple folder pairs. To avoid conflicts, set up exclude filters so that each updated file is included by only one folder pair"

When I start the process, I note that it looks at the drive I want to be the target of the mirror first. My other mirror sync that I do starts with the source drive.

The error message shows me three or four duplicate files/folders that it says are the problem. (See attachment) I don't have 3 multiple Movies folders and don't have 3 or 4 multiples of the other files as well.

I seem to remember checking the "use local settings" box in previous sync setups but checking that doesn't fix the error now.

Thanks for any help.

[xCSxXenon]

You have three folder-pairs that are writing, and one pair reading, this file:
"/Volumes/10-28-22/Movies/.com.apple.timemachine.supported"

Three pairs sync the same data is a conflict because each could contain different data, causing one pair to, basically randomly, trump the other two each sync. Writing to and reading from the same location in a sync is an issue because it takes at least two runs to fully sync. The first to sync A->B, and then the second to sync B->C. This can be solved by creating another sync that covers A->C and using filters to prevent this A->B->C propagation, or just know you have to run a sync multiple times.

[lipwak]

Thanks, that's all Greek to me but I think I will solve the problem by just erasing the target drive, copying everything over and then syncing from then on.

[xCSxXenon]

That won't fix it, you have a configuration conflict, not a data one

[lipwak]

Hmm. My setup for another sync is set up the same way and it works. I took the setup from a previous hard drive and just changed the paths since both drives have different names. Otherwise they are the same settings. I could set up a new configuration. I'll try that.

[lipwak]

How about I delete all of the ffs files that may be on the target drive? Would that help? They'd be .ffs (with some having _gui after that) wouldn't they? Are they invisible on a Mac?

[lipwak]

I created a new configuration and that seemed to work as I wanted so I think I am all set.

The only thing different with this one was that I didn't have to empty the trash after it was all done. I usually have to do that. We'll see if if I have to do that next time.