full sync ?

[sevyy]

Hello,

I have a stupid question. With the version 4.3, a new database format is used
for <Automatic> mode and a "a full sync is suggested before upgrading "... but
pratically, how to do it ?
In Automatic mode, I first compare, then synchronize files but when upgrading
to from 4.2 to 4.3, I had problems (files which need to be deleted were
copied).

Thanks in advance

[Zenju]

"files which need to be deleted were copied" this is exactly the reason why a
full sync is suggested. It's not critical, i.e. there is no risk of losing any
data, but it's inconvenient to have to remove files that should be deleted.
The full sync needs to be done with the previous version, (="before
upgrading").
However if you've already sync'ed with v4.3, the old database file is
overwritten, so it's too late.

[sevyy]

Hello,

thanks for the reply. The problem is that I didn't find any "full sync"
option. I found "automatic, mirror, update, custom" when clicking on the
"synchronise" button. Under the "'advanced" menu, I can't find any full sync.
Is there any shortcut ? I always do the following : 1/ compare 2/ sync (the
automatic mode is the one I use the most).

This bring another question / suggestion : I manage different profiles for
various computers, external HDD. When the database format change, I can do a
full sync (even if I don't know how to do) before upgrading FFS for the most
used profile... but for the next one (a less used profile), the new version of
FFS is already installed, so I need to re-install the previous version for
doing a full sync and then to re-install the new version.
It's time consuming to do full sync for all profiles... and not really usefull
to manage 2 versions of FreeFileSync in order to do the full sync. Is there no
way to upgrade the database format through i.e. the '"advanced" menu ?

i.e. : one database is already updated to the new version... but at least 6
are still in the old format.

thanks in advance

[Zenju]

> I didn't find any "full sync" option.
"full" doesn't convey further meaning, what's meant is an ordinary sync with
<automatic> variant.

The migration step is actually quite simple:
1. sync all your profiles which use a database file with the old < v4.3 release
2. upgrade to new FFS version. From now on FFS will write the new database format. Since everything is already in sync, there is no problem of incorrect determination of sync directions.

[sevyy]

thanks for explanation !
and good evening,

[alanjshea]

The database updates are a bit of a frustration for me too. I have many syncs
set up, to multiple external drives, and to a freenas server from multiple
computers. Its very time consuming to try to get them all synced up at once
before doing an upgrade. So I haven't upgraded FFS in over a year because of
that.

I have finally worked out how to install and manage two versions so that I can
make the migration more easily.

I hope the database changes are done -- I appreciate the work and the
evolution of the program -- its really great -- but it would be extremely
helpful to have at least an upgrade utility available so that I don't have to
remember which old version I need when I find an old sync that hasn't been
upgraded yet.

Thanks.