Same file across different subfolders not synchronised but duplicated (filename)

[RAB999]

Am I missing something obvious here in the synch process - nowhere can I find it stated that FFS uses filename as part of its comparison criteria to identify the same file?

I've so far assumed it did; and so could deal with matching / synching the same named file across different subfolders, using the additional criteria such as file time and size; content; or just file size to decide which is the most recent and update / overwrite accordingly.

But now I'm not sure??!!

In my example today I created a new file and put this in in slightly different folders on my PC and mobile device. I then added data to one file, thinking that although in different subfolders FFS would detect two files, named "testfolderfile" and update the older one to be the same as the newer, larger one.

However as the two before and after screenshots show, what the comparison and then two-way synch have done is create two versions of the file in each of the two different subfolders. This isn't what I want - I expect to see the same, latest (larger 447k) file copied into the higher subfolder in the folder structure and the smaller one and then superfluous subfolder deleted.

51010 fsynch test same file diff folder.JPG (58.01 KiB) Viewed 453 times

51010 fsynch test same file diff folder AFTER.JPG (87.31 KiB) Viewed 453 times

Why hasn't this happened? The FAQs and other online guides don't seem to make this clear if there are some parameters I've wrongly set? Thanks in advance for someone explaining.

[Plerry]

FreeFileSync (FFS) is a file synchronization tool that retains the folder structure in which files are stored (with respect to the left and right base location).
So, if you have identically named files in differently named folders, FFS considers such files to be different files, and will sync those, depending on you sync settings.

[RAB999]

Thanks for this feedback. So I've completely misunderstood what this app is doing! If it doesn't search for the same filename in different subfolders within a selection then I can't see how it's much better than a simple cut and paste via Windows!
Am I the only one with this misunderstanding (my files move around a bit, either deliberately or accidentally)?
I'd be very interested in some informed tips about other products available (ideally for free) which do what I'm describing? Disappointingly I've probably got even more duplicates now than when I started using FFS :=((
Thanks in advance.

[xCSxXenon]

I can't see how it's much better than a simple cut and paste via Windows!
Am I the only one with this misunderstanding (my files move around a bit, either deliberately or accidentally)?

It provides a graphical interface to interact with the data. It bridges the gap between a data-usage analyzer and copy-pasting. It also also much easier ways to handle filtering, two-way syncing, and handling many other edge cases the native tools don't.

[Plerry]

... I can't see how it's much better than a simple cut and paste via Windows!

FreeFileSync finds all files (in all folders in scope) that exist left- or right-side only, or where one side is newer or different from the other side and, in line with your selected sync variant, proposes (and if you click Synchronize, executes) actions to make both sides equal.
This while retaining the folder structure of files, relative to the left and right base location.

"with a simple cut and paste via Windows" I suppose you mean a simple copy and paste in Windows.
With cut and paste you would be moving files, not "synchronizing".

With a copy and paste in Windows, you have to identify the differences between left- and right-side yourself, select those differences and then copy and paste those to the opposite side. This folder by folder.
Conversely, if you do not identify the differences between left and right yourself, but instead you select everything (in scope of your intended sync) and copy and paste it to the other side, you would likely copy over many, many files that already exist at the other side. Or you would need to repetitively click not to copy over files that already exist at the other side. However, although such identically named files may already exist at the other side, you don't know if the files are identical (and not just their names).
Besides that, such approach only works for a uni-directional sync, not if files may be created, modified or deleted in both your left- and right-side location.