1 folder pair works adding 2nd pair breaks 1st folder pair!

[DTUser1]

Sorry, I feel a bit silly having to ask. I've used basic features of FFS for years and I'm very happy with it. But came across something today that I'm totally at a loss to explain.

I have the following folder pair and filter setup to mirror the two JSON files specified in the filter:

C:\Users\davet\AppData\Roaming\Code\User  ---> D:\Miscellaneous\_TempSyncTest
Include: \settings.json
         \keybindings.json
Exclude: <empty>


This works exactly as expected - 1st time I synced the 2 x JSON files were added to the right folder and thereafter only appeared in the sync list if either file had been modified. Perfect!

Then I added this second sync folder pair (the filter is the default)

C:\Users\davet\Favorites  ---> D:\Miscellaneous\_TempSyncTest
Include: * <the default>
Exclude: <empty>


But when I run the comparison for this scenario (ie with both folder pairs present), the sync list shows that there are files in "C:\Users\davet\Favorites" that are to be added to the right folder - so far so good.

But it also shows that the 2 x JSON files from the 1st folder pair are to be deleted from the right folder - and that's definitely not right.

If I delete the 2nd folder pair that I added (so revert back to the 1st folder pair + filter only), then everything goes back to working entirely as expected.

If I re-add the 2nd folder pair and filter, then the problem noted above returns.

I'm at a total loss to explain what is going on and would be very grateful for any advice.

[Plerry]

You are making a common mistake.

For you 2nd pair you Mirror-sync to D:\Miscellaneous\_TempSyncTest.
This means that you tell FFS to make the content of D:\Miscellaneous\_TempSyncTest exactly equal to whatever is in C:\Users\davet\Favorites (and nothing else!). This means that anything that (pre sync) exists in D:\Miscellaneous\_TempSyncTest but does not exist in C:\Users\davet\Favorites (like your two JSON files) will be deleted from D:\Miscellaneous\_TempSyncTest.

You can overcome this by syncing to dedicated folders, e.g.
C:\Users\davet\AppData\Roaming\Code\User => D:\Miscellaneous\_TempSyncTest\JSON
for your 1st pair, retainign your Filter settings, and
C:\Users\davet\Favorites => D:\Miscellaneous\_TempSyncTest\Favorites
for your 2nd pair, also retaining your Filter settings
Thereby you prevent any overlap between your folder pairs and all associated potential problems.

Alternatively, if it is just the two JSO files you do not want to be deleted from D:\Miscellaneous\_TempSyncTest by your 2nd sync, you can add
\settings.json
\keybindings.json
to the Exclude filter of your 2nd pair.
You now still have a partial overlap between your folder pairs, but you resolve that via you Filter Settings.

OR
Instead of using a Mirror sync variant, you use the Update sync variant.
The Update sync variant syncs left-to-right, but leaves any items that exist right-side only intact (instead of deleting them, like in case of a Mirror sync)

[DTUser1]

Oh maan, that's a perfect explanation - thank you so much :-)

If I summarise (correctly?) my 2 sets of folder-pairs were not unique pairs. Your suggestion creates unique pairs "Thereby you prevent any overlap between your folder pairs". So avoiding any 'cross-contamination' between them.

Perfect - very much appreciated.