Copying symbolic links

[Edokyar]

I am currently using version 11.29 on a Windows 10 home system running version22H2 (OS Build19045.2354).
I had a lot of duplicte files on my hard drive.
So, using a piece of software, I identified all of the duplicate files, created symbolic links for each duplicate (that point to the original file) and then deleted the duplicate files.
Works great and save me a lot of room on my hard disk.

Here's my issue, when I run FreeFile Sync, none of the symbolic liknks are copied from my source hard drive to my backup drive.

Instead, a new file is created on my backup drive that is exactly like the original file. (Same size and everything.)

My question is, is there a way to have FreeFileSync copy the symbolic links and not create a whole new file on the destination drive ?

Here's how to do it with XCopy: xcopy /b /i <source symlink name> <destination symlink name>
And RoboCopy will do it if I include the following parameter: /SL :: copy symbolic links versus the target.

I really REALLY like this FileSync app and am hopeing there is a way to configure things so as to symbolic links and NOT recreate the original file on my destination drive.

Thanks for any replies.

[therube]

Symbolic Link Handling
https://freefilesync.org/manual.php?topic=comparison-settings

[Edokyar]

Thanks for the reply.

That setting "Direct" works.
But ONLY if I allow FreeFileSync to move SymbolicLinks from one place on my hard disk to another place on my hard disk.

I was trying to get symbolic links moved from my hard drive to any of my network or locally attached drives.

But the "DIRECT" setting dosen't work. (At least for me.)
If I chose "Follow" then the Symbolic Links move completes but instead of a symbolic link in the new location I end up with a complete file.
And that is normal behavior if I would perform a regualr file copy'

I get one of two errors during the syncing process.
When copying to cloud storage (IE: Google drive}, I recieve the following message for each symbolic link.
ERROR_INVALID_FUNCTION: Incorrect function. [CreateSymbolicLink]

AND

If attempting a Symbolic Link move ("Direct") to a local NAS disk drive or a USB attached disk drive, then I get the following error.
ERROR_NOT_A_REPARSE_POINT: The File or disectory is not a repase point, [CreateSymbolicLink]

I am running Windows 10 Home version 22H2 (OS Build 19045.2364)
And FreeFileSync 11.29 64 Bit 12/16/2022

Any aditional ideas would be greatly appreciated.