I am unable to use a quoted versioning folder path and therefore unable to use a versioning folder with spaces in it's path. Here is the error I get for the folder "K:\ffs\Old Versions":
Error Cannot create directory "D:\Desk\"K:".
ERROR_INVALID_NAME: The filename, directory name, or volume label syntax is incorrect. [CreateDirectory] Unsupported character '"'
FreeFileSync seems to be trying to concatenate the quoted versioning folder ("K:\ffs\Old Versions") onto the folder from which I run the program ("D:\Desk\").
Bug: can't use quoted versioning folder path
- Posts: 2
- Joined: 1 Aug 2025
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- Posts: 2947
- Joined: 22 Aug 2012
I don't know how/where you specify the versioning folder K:\ffs\Old Versions.
If you specify the versioning folder in the FFS GUI Synchronization Settings (F8), after selecting Versioning as your Delete and Overwrite method, you can simply drag&drop your preferred versioning folder into the field for the user-defined versioning folder or browse to and select such folder.
If the dragged&dropped or selected folder (or the path to that folder) comprises a (white)space, that name appears in said field without quotes. And works perfectly as the versioning location during a sync.
So no need to enter "K:\ffs\Old Versions", just enter K:\ffs\Old Versions.
If you store such sync configuration as a *.ffs_gui or *.ffs_batch file, and inspect the contents of that *.ffs_gui or *.ffs_batch file, you will also notice that <Synchronize>...</Synchronize> section comprises the tag <VersioningFolder Style="...">K:\ffs\Old Versions</VersioningFolder> without quotes around your versioning location.
(The Style="..." refers to whichever Naming Convention you selected for your versioning)
If you specify the versioning folder in the FFS GUI Synchronization Settings (F8), after selecting Versioning as your Delete and Overwrite method, you can simply drag&drop your preferred versioning folder into the field for the user-defined versioning folder or browse to and select such folder.
If the dragged&dropped or selected folder (or the path to that folder) comprises a (white)space, that name appears in said field without quotes. And works perfectly as the versioning location during a sync.
So no need to enter "K:\ffs\Old Versions", just enter K:\ffs\Old Versions.
If you store such sync configuration as a *.ffs_gui or *.ffs_batch file, and inspect the contents of that *.ffs_gui or *.ffs_batch file, you will also notice that <Synchronize>...</Synchronize> section comprises the tag <VersioningFolder Style="...">K:\ffs\Old Versions</VersioningFolder> without quotes around your versioning location.
(The Style="..." refers to whichever Naming Convention you selected for your versioning)
- Posts: 2
- Joined: 1 Aug 2025
You are right. I never even tried it without quotes because quotes are so frequently required when paths contain spaces. I didn't try drag/dropping either so I'm glad to know I can do that too. Thank you for your response. It is very much appreciated.