In some cases FreeFileSync fails to detect differences between folders being synchronized.
For example, if I mirror C:\ Music to drives E:, H: and M: and then make changes to C:\Music, then start FreeFileSync and then mirror to the three drives one after the other, without exiting FreeFileSync, one of two things happens:
1. If the drop-down list for the target drive already includes the previously backed-up drives, it works fine.
2. If the second or third drive is not already in the drop-down list for the target drive, no changes are detected until I exit then re-start FreeFileSync.
FreeFileSync fails to detect differences between folders
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> ... is not already in the drop-down list for the target ...
Not sure what you mean here.
Any file and folder that is part of one or more of your left-right base locations (the ones under Drag&drop) will be part of you Comparison (and consequent sync) between the specified left and right base location pair. But if your left-right base location pair is just
left: C:\Music and right E:\
then obviously H: and M: are not part of your Comparison (and consequent sync)
If you want to keep all three pairs in sync, you can define a multiple left-right base location pair configuration (and save it).
1st pair left C:\Music and right E:\
2nd pair left C:\Music and right H:\
3rd pair left C:\Music and right M:\
Not sure what you mean here.
Any file and folder that is part of one or more of your left-right base locations (the ones under Drag&drop) will be part of you Comparison (and consequent sync) between the specified left and right base location pair. But if your left-right base location pair is just
left: C:\Music and right E:\
then obviously H: and M: are not part of your Comparison (and consequent sync)
If you want to keep all three pairs in sync, you can define a multiple left-right base location pair configuration (and save it).
1st pair left C:\Music and right E:\
2nd pair left C:\Music and right H:\
3rd pair left C:\Music and right M:\
- Posts: 5
- Joined: 16 Dec 2017
In case I was unclear, I'll try again. This is a bug. Hopefully a developer will investigate...
In some cases FreeFileSync fails to detect differences between folders being synchronized.
For example, I have a folder C:\Music.
I mirror C:\Music to drive E:, then I mirror C:\Music to drive H: and then I mirror C:\Music to drive M: (three separate synchronize operations).
After changing C:\Music, I start FreeFileSync. FreeFileSync saves a limited number of folders it displays in the Drag & drop list. Depending on backups made since the last backups made for C:\Music, the drop-down list for the target folder may contain 0, 1, 2 or 3 of the C:\Music backups.
If I then mirror C:\Music to drives E:, H: and M: one after the other, without exiting FreeFileSync, one of two things happens:
1. If the drop-down list for the target drive already includes all three the previously backed-up drives, it works fine.
2. If the second or third drive is not already in the drop-down list for the target drive, no changes are detected until I exit then re-start FreeFileSync.
In some cases FreeFileSync fails to detect differences between folders being synchronized.
For example, I have a folder C:\Music.
I mirror C:\Music to drive E:, then I mirror C:\Music to drive H: and then I mirror C:\Music to drive M: (three separate synchronize operations).
After changing C:\Music, I start FreeFileSync. FreeFileSync saves a limited number of folders it displays in the Drag & drop list. Depending on backups made since the last backups made for C:\Music, the drop-down list for the target folder may contain 0, 1, 2 or 3 of the C:\Music backups.
If I then mirror C:\Music to drives E:, H: and M: one after the other, without exiting FreeFileSync, one of two things happens:
1. If the drop-down list for the target drive already includes all three the previously backed-up drives, it works fine.
2. If the second or third drive is not already in the drop-down list for the target drive, no changes are detected until I exit then re-start FreeFileSync.
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- Posts: 2523
- Joined: 22 Aug 2012
Still pretty unclear what your problem is.
But it may be related to unfamiliarity on how to use FFS.
I will refer to the numbers in the Main Dialog Overview section of the FFS Manual Quick Start page.
> ... saves a limited number of folders it displays in the Drag & drop list
The Drag&drop list (actually fields) is item 7, and applies to one or more left and right base location(s).
FFS does not "save" the Drag&drop fields, but will only "save" locations in the form of the Last Session sync; one of the sync configurations that can be selected from Sync Configurations list 8, and the configuration that is opened by default when opening the FFS GUI.
If you select another sync configuration under 8, the Drag&drop fields 7 (and all other Compare and Sync settings) will change in line with the other configuration selected under 8. It is even possible to select multiple configurations under 8 (shift-click or ctrl-click), and the Drag&drop fields 7 will then comprise the left-right base locations and settings of all configurations selected under 8.
If you want to be able to run your C:\Music to E:\, H:\ and M:\ separately, you should create the individual sync configurations, and save them each under a unique, recognizably named *.ffs_gui file (via the icons above 8). Those configurations will then (and after exiting and restarting FFS) show up in the list under 8.
When you want to run one of those syncs individually, select the corresponding configuration under 8, and your Drag&drop fields 7 will instantly change to those of the selected saved configuration.
If you want to simultaneously run more than one such saved configuration, select the proper multiple configurations under 8, and your Drag&drop fields 7 will instantly change to the superset of the selected configurations.
PS: take a look at the FFS Tips&tricks Tutorial (specifically at 1:15)
But it may be related to unfamiliarity on how to use FFS.
I will refer to the numbers in the Main Dialog Overview section of the FFS Manual Quick Start page.
> ... saves a limited number of folders it displays in the Drag & drop list
The Drag&drop list (actually fields) is item 7, and applies to one or more left and right base location(s).
FFS does not "save" the Drag&drop fields, but will only "save" locations in the form of the Last Session sync; one of the sync configurations that can be selected from Sync Configurations list 8, and the configuration that is opened by default when opening the FFS GUI.
If you select another sync configuration under 8, the Drag&drop fields 7 (and all other Compare and Sync settings) will change in line with the other configuration selected under 8. It is even possible to select multiple configurations under 8 (shift-click or ctrl-click), and the Drag&drop fields 7 will then comprise the left-right base locations and settings of all configurations selected under 8.
If you want to be able to run your C:\Music to E:\, H:\ and M:\ separately, you should create the individual sync configurations, and save them each under a unique, recognizably named *.ffs_gui file (via the icons above 8). Those configurations will then (and after exiting and restarting FFS) show up in the list under 8.
When you want to run one of those syncs individually, select the corresponding configuration under 8, and your Drag&drop fields 7 will instantly change to those of the selected saved configuration.
If you want to simultaneously run more than one such saved configuration, select the proper multiple configurations under 8, and your Drag&drop fields 7 will instantly change to the superset of the selected configurations.
PS: take a look at the FFS Tips&tricks Tutorial (specifically at 1:15)
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- Joined: 11 Jun 2019
Post a screenshot of your sync window. I recreated the exact scenario and have no such issue
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- Joined: 16 Dec 2017
There are several steps so I don't see a way to capture it in a screen shot.
Maybe I'll try to create a simple example later.
Maybe I am missing something so I'll ask a basic question. If I start FreeFileSync and do multiple backups without exiting, and the last one detects no differences, then I exit and re-start FreeFileSync and then differences are detected, is this a bug? See the screen shots.
Maybe I'll try to create a simple example later.
Maybe I am missing something so I'll ask a basic question. If I start FreeFileSync and do multiple backups without exiting, and the last one detects no differences, then I exit and re-start FreeFileSync and then differences are detected, is this a bug? See the screen shots.
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I think I might understand...
Are you clicking "compare" every time you select a new destination?
Are you clicking "compare" every time you select a new destination?
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- Joined: 16 Dec 2017
I never click compare as FreeFileSync apparently detected changes when I've used it.
