dir sync software

[Thomas Lauer]

I know and use Syncback (http://www.2brightsparks.com/syncback/) for
simple backup and synchronising tasks. Does exactly what it says on the
tin: a very nice freeware program, as far as it goes.

What I am looking for now is a program that packs a slightly bigger
punch. I have many directories (whole drives indeed) that need more than
a simple backup. I need real two-way-synchronisation, the full Monty.

The ideal software for me would analyse the two directories (plus
subdirs), be able to exclude specific files and folders and present me
with a list of changed files (yes, a plain list, NOT a tree). I would
then decide on a case-by-case basis whether a file can be deleted or
into which direction it has to be copied and the whole thing would then
go about its business.

I have done an exhaustive search (literally) but I have not found a
freeware program that does that job efficiently. Some have the synching
but are not able to delete files (strange). Others can't exclude
directories etc etc.

Does anyone know a killer app for that?

 

[Gary R. Schmidt]

I know and use Syncback (http://www.2brightsparks.com/syncback/) for
simple backup and synchronising tasks. Does exactly what it says on the
tin: a very nice freeware program, as far as it goes.

What I am looking for now is a program that packs a slightly bigger
punch. I have many directories (whole drives indeed) that need more than
a simple backup. I need real two-way-synchronisation, the full Monty.

The ideal software for me would analyse the two directories (plus
subdirs), be able to exclude specific files and folders and present me
with a list of changed files (yes, a plain list, NOT a tree). I would
then decide on a case-by-case basis whether a file can be deleted or
into which direction it has to be copied and the whole thing would then
go about its business.

I have done an exhaustive search (literally) but I have not found a
freeware program that does that job efficiently. Some have the synching
but are not able to delete files (strange). Others can't exclude
directories etc etc.

Does anyone know a killer app for that?

Unison - <http://www.cis.upenn.edu/~bcpierce/unison/>

Cheers,
Gary B-)

 

[Thomas Lauer]

Unison - <http://www.cis.upenn.edu/~bcpierce/unison/>

Tried to download the binaries, their download server seems to be down.
I'll try again later.

At any rate, this looks a bit like overkill (as I said, I have very
specific ideas...).

But thanks, I'll keep on looking

 

[SlayFinger]

The ideal software for me would analyse the two directories (plus
subdirs), be able to exclude specific files and folders and present me
with a list of changed files (yes, a plain list, NOT a tree). I would
then decide on a case-by-case basis whether a file can be deleted or
into which direction it has to be copied and the whole thing would then
go about its business.

This is pretty much why I wrote my own GUI frontend for robocopy. No,
you can't have it. If you can write scripts use Autohotkey to create the
GUI. Basically, the GUI has three tabs. One is the output of the run,
the second is the JOB file that I can edit, and the third tab is the
drive mapping tab. With a click of the mouse I can toggle simulated mode
to real copy mode. On the second tab, I have a drop-down list of many
JOB files that I can select from.

If you have robocopy, do a search for "Robocopy GUI 3.0" on google.
Someone has written a GUI for it, but I prefer my methods better.

I also wrote GUI frontends for xxcopy and nnback but robocopy had the
best output format to suit my needs.

Synchronize It! was the best commercial product that I found. If you
have the money, it may suit your needs. The reason I mainly stopped
using Synchronize It! is that was a bit slower than robocopy.

 

[Thomas Lauer]

This is pretty much why I wrote my own GUI frontend for robocopy. No,
you can't have it.

Why not? Is it too great for us or too buggy?

If you can write scripts use Autohotkey to create the GUI.

I was indeed thinking about that but I have not yet used the GUI
functions of AHK. Instead lazy me hope(d) someone has already written
something.

Basically, the GUI has three tabs. One is the output of the run,
the second is the JOB file that I can edit, and the third tab is the
drive mapping tab. With a click of the mouse I can toggle simulated mode
to real copy mode. On the second tab, I have a drop-down list of many
JOB files that I can select from.

So I'll continue to think about that...

Synchronize It! was the best commercial product that I found.

That's a very good program indeed, but there are a couple of issues with
the interface I find annoying. And it has some minor but irritating
bugs.

Thanks for the hints.

 

[Demetris]

Have a look at JFileSync (Java-based): http://jfilesync.sourceforge.net/

Also have a look at this review of sync software by Tom Kelsey:

http://www.tomkelsey.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/

He posted here about it a couple of months ago. Search for "jfilesync".

Greetings,
Demetris

 

[SlayFinger]

Why not? Is it too great for us or too buggy?

No bugs. If it had bugs, it would be too dangerous to use. It must be
100% reliable, especially when using the /MIR parameter that I use a
lot! I just don't have time to make it something that works for others.
It's really for my use and has some custom code in it. No comments at
all. Variable names that should be changed, etc...

I was indeed thinking about that but I have not yet used the GUI
functions of AHK. Instead lazy me hope(d) someone has already written
something.

Cool. Good to know that you have used AHK before.

That's a very good program indeed, but there are a couple of issues with
the interface I find annoying. And it has some minor but irritating
bugs.

Yeah, the interface took some getting used to. Again, another reason
that I wanted my own GUI.

 

[SlayFinger]

Why not? Is it too great for us or too buggy?

No bugs. If it had bugs, it would be too dangerous to use. It must be
100% reliable, especially when using the /MIR parameter that I use a
lot! I just don't have time to make it something that works for others.
It's really for my use and has some custom code in it. No comments at
all. Variable names that should be changed, etc...

I was indeed thinking about that but I have not yet used the GUI
functions of AHK. Instead lazy me hope(d) someone has already written
something.

Cool. Good to know that you have used AHK before.

That's a very good program indeed, but there are a couple of issues with
the interface I find annoying. And it has some minor but irritating
bugs.

Yeah, the interface took some getting used to. Again, another reason
that I wanted my own GUI.