Synchronize can be configured via a GUI. You can use the GUI to execute a synchronization, or you can use the GUI to create a configuration file and run the synchronization in console mode.
Create
a New configuration.
Open a new configuration.
Save the current configuration.
Save the current configuration AS a new file.
Quit the program.
Start a Preview of the synchronization of the directories using this configuration.
Start synchronizing directories using this configuration.
Pause the current synchronization.
Stop the synchronization after completing the current file.
Swap the paths of source and destination directories in all jobs
Open the Options window.
Display help Contents for "Directory Synchronize Pro".
Display information About "Directory Synchronize Pro".
Pause the synchronization after completing the current file.
The Job tree tab: shows the configured jobs in a visual tree.
The Job tree: shows the details of the configured jobs.
Enable/Disable check box: to enable or disable a job for synchronization. Only the enabled directories get synchronized.
Add a New job to the tree.
Edit the selected job. This opens the Job Edit dialog for the selected job.
Move the selected job Up. The jobs are synchronized from top to down. Upper jobs get synchronized first.
Move the selected job Down. The jobs are synchronized from top to down. Upper jobs get synchronized first.
Copy the selected job.
Remove the selected job from the list.The Default settings tab: shows/edits the default settings.
Enable All jobs.
Disable all jobs (None enabled).
Expand the job tree one level. This opens up the tree for one level. Clicking it once more, will expand the tree another level.
Collapse the job tree.
The Total progress of the overall synchronization. During the synchronization this bar shows also the elapsed and remaining time.
The progress of the synchronization of the current Job. During the synchronization this bar shows also the directory activities.
The progress of the synchronization of the current item. During the synchronization this bar shows also the name of the file/directory being synchronized.
The Sync Queue tab: shows the synchronisation queue. You'll see here all the files which are going to be synchronized.
The Summary tab: shows some statistics about the synchronization: number of Analyzed files/directories, number of files/directories to be synchronized, number of New files/directories, number of Modified files, number of Larger files, number of files which are Larger and modified and number of files/directories to be deleted.
The statistics of the current synchronization.
The number of Analyzed files/directories.
The number of files/directories To be Synchronized.
The number of files/directories To be copied Always.
The number of New files/directories.
The number of Modified files/directories.
The number of Larger files.
The number of Larger AND modified files.
The number of files/directories To be Deleted.
The Synchronization Queue list which shows the file names, modification dates and sizes of the files in Directory A and Directory B. By right clicking the name of a file/directory you may open the file or its parent directory.
The View tab: allows filtering the view of the synchronization. This filter does not affect the synchronization queue. It only affects files/directories currently being shown.
Show New files/dirs.
Show Modified files.
Show Larger files.
Show Larger & Modified files.
Show Files to be deleted.
Show Dirs to be deleted.
Reset the view filters.
Apply (OK) the filters.
The Filter tab: allows filtering the synchronization queue. This helps you to make a selection of files to be synchronized. This filter does affect the synchronization queue. Only the files that remain in the queue are synchronized during the synchronization process.
Show New files/dirs.
Show Modified files.
Show Larger files.
Show Larger & Modified files.
Show Files to be deleted.
Show Dirs to be deleted.
Reset the view filters.
Apply (OK) the filters.
The Messages tab: shows the messages being created during the analysis and synchronization process.
Allows filtering the Info messages.
Allows filtering the Warning messages.
Allows filtering the Error messages.
Allows filtering the File operations.
Reset the view filters.
Apply (OK) the filters.
Clean the Messages list.
The Basics tab: shows basic configuration of the job.
The Label of this job. The label is only used for displaying purposes, but must be specified.
The path to the Source directory to synchronize to the
destination directory. Here you specify the directory with the
original files. You can specify the following (case sensitive)
wildcards:
<username>
for the name of the current user, and
<userhome>
for the home directory of the current user.
Browse for the source directory.
The
Destination directory for this job. Here you specify the
destination directory where to store the backup-files. You can
specify the following (case sensitive) wildcards:
<date>
for the current date, and
<DD>
for the current day,
<MM>
for the current month,
<YYYY>
for the current year.
<time>
for the current time, and
<hh>
for the current hour,
<mm>
for the current minute,
<ss>
for the current second.
<username>
for the name of the current user, and
<userhome>
for the home directory of the current user.
Browse for the destination directory.
Includes subfolders in this synchronization. Here you can decide whether you want to synchronize the content of the source directory including subfolders or not.
Synchronization Mode pull down. This pull down allows you to select pre-defined synchronization configurations or to define your own custom configuration. The options are:
Synchronize A -> B (incremental): This is a mono-directional (one way) preconfigured synchronization which copies all the new and modified files/directories from DirA to DirB. A file/directory in DirB which does not correspond to a file/directory in DirA is marked as redundant and will be deleted. DirB is exactly the same as DirA after the synchronization.
Synchronize B -> A (incremental): Same as 1 with DirA and DirB swapped.
Synchronize A <-> B (incremental): This is a bi-directional (two way) preconfigured synchronization which copies all the new and modified files/directories from DirA to DirB and from DirB to DirA. All redundant files in DirA/DirB (according to each other) will be deleted after the synchronization. DirA and DirB will be exactly the same after the synchronization.
Backup A -> B: This is a full copy preconfigured synchronization which will copy all files/directories one-by-one from DirA to DirB. This mode is useful when you want to make a complete back up of DirA.
Restore B -> A: This is a full copy preconfigured synchronization which will copy all files/directories one-by-one from DirB to DirA. This mode is useful when you want to restore a backup to DirA.
Contribute A -> B: This is a mono-directional (one way) preconfigured synchronization which copies all the new files/directories from DirA to DirB. No file is deleted from DirB in this mode.
Contribute B -> A: Same as 6. with DirA and DirB swapped.
Synchronize A -> B (custom): This is a mono-directional (one way) custom synchronization from DirA to DirB. You may set up your own options to define the synchronization behavior as you may wish.
Synchronize A -> B (custom): Same as 8. with DirA and DirB swapped.
Context Information about this tab.
OK button to save all the settings to the job.
Candel button to ignore all changes.
Note: Some tabs get only available only in a custom synchronization mode. 'Conflict Resolution tab' will only get available in a bi-directional synchronization.
The Copy Mode tab in which copy options are set.
Copies All files and directories. If a file already exists in the destination directory it will always be overwritten with that one from the source directory. If you specify this option, all other copy options will be ignored.
Copies only New (not existing in destination directory) files and directories. Files that exist in the source directory but not in the destination directory will be copied to the destination directory.
Copies only Larger files and directories. If there already is a file with the same name in the destination directory, it will only be overwritten with the file from the source directory if its size is smaller than the size of the original file in the source directory.
Copies only Modified files and directories. If there already is a file with the same name in the destination directory, it will only be overwritten with the file from the source directory if its modified-date is older than the modified-date of the original file in the source directory.
Copies only Larger AND modified files and directories. If there already is a file with the same name in the destination directory, it will only be overwritten with the file from the source directory if its size is smaller and its modified-date is older than the size and date of the original file in the source directory. If you specify the option 'Copy larger' or 'Copy modified', this option will be ignored (you already copied this files).
Context Information about this tab.
The Conflict Resolution tab: shows options when conflicts happens while using a bi-directional synchronization. You may set these options only if the Sync Mode is set to bi-directional.
Bidirectional sync conflict resolution through copying the latest modified file to both directories: when synchronizing bidirectionally, if two files are modified in both directories individually, the latest modified file will be copied to both directories.
Bidirectional sync conflict resolution through copying the largest file to both directories: when synchronizing bidirectionally, if two files are modified in both directories individually, the largest file will be copied to both directories.
Bidirectional sync conflict resolution through renaming copying both files to both directories: when synchronizing bidirectionally, if two files are modified in both directories individually, they are postfixed (renamed with added extensions .DirA and .DirB) and they both will be copied to both directories.
No Bidirectional sync conflict resolution Do nothing: Just warn me: when synchronizing bidirectionally, if two files are modified in both directories individually, none of the files are copied. Instead the user gets a warning and could fix the conflict manually.
Context Information about this tab.
The Filters tab to define which files/directories should be included/excluded. You may redefine these options if the Sync Mode is set to custom.
Filters Tree gives an overview of all filters in a tree structure.
Add a New filter.
Edit an existing filter. This button is highlighted only if a filter in the filter tree is selected.
Remove an existing filter. This button is highlighted only if a filter in the filter tree is selected.
Expand the filter tree one level. This opens up the tree for one level. Clicking it once more, will expand the tree another level.
Collapse the filter tree.
Context Information about this tab.
The Basics tab to define the the type of the filter and whether to include/exclude items.
Select hier the Filter type. One of the tabs By Pattern and By Size will get enabled according to the selected filter type.
Filter based on File/dir pattern. This filter affects both files and directories.
Filter based on File size pattern. This filter affects only files.
Select hier whether to Include or Exclude the matched files or directories.
Include the matched files or directories.
Exclude the matched files or directories.
Context Information about this tab.
OK button to save all the filters.
Candel button to ignore all changes.
The By Pattern tab to define a pattern to match the name of the files or directories.
Define here the Pattern for the file/directory name. One of the tabs By Pattern and By Size will get enabled according to the selected filter type. Only files/directories matching a specified pattern should be included or excluded. For example if you specify '*.txt' only files/directories that end with '.txt' will be processed; or if you specify '*_new', only files/directories that end with '_new' will be processed. You can use wildcards (i.e. '?' and '*'). '?' means zero, or one character, '*' means zero, one, or more characters.
Pattern is a File pattern.
Pattern is a Directory pattern.
Context Information about this tab.
The By File Size tab to define filters based on file sizes.
Match files Smaller than.
Match files Exaclty with the size.
Match files Larger than.
The File size in bytes.
Context Information about this tab.
The Deletion tab to define the deletion behavior after the synchronization. You may redefine these options if the Sync Mode is set to custom.
Delete files not existing in the source directory from the destination directory. Files that have been deleted in the source directory, but still exist in the destination directory will be deleted in the destination directory.
Delete directories not existing in the source directory from the destination directory. Directories that have been deleted in the source directory, but still exist in the destination directory will be deleted in the destination directory.
Delete Excluded Files from the destination directory. When this option is selected all files which match the Excluded Files pattern will be cleaned up (deleted) from the destination directory.
Delete Excluded Directories from the destination directory. When this option is selected all files which match the Excluded Directories pattern will be cleaned up (deleted) from the destination directory.
Context Information about this tab.
The Backup tab to define the backup behavior during the synchronization. You may redefine these options if the Sync Mode is set to custom.
Keep n backups: Before a file in the destination directory will be overwritten or deleted the file is copied to a special subdirectory of the destination directory as a backup.
Keep the backup files inline (within) with the destination directory. If this option is not selected, an alternative backup folder could be specified.
Alternative Backup directory in which the backup files will be created.
Browse for the alternative Backup directory.
Context Information about this tab.
The Log tab to define the logging behavior after the synchronization.
Enable or disable separate logging for this job.
The
Logfile. If you want
logging for this directory, you must specify a logfile. The path
must be given absolute. The directory and file don't have to exist,
they will be created. If the file already exists the log will
overwrite the file. If you don't specify a log file, separate
logging for this job will be disabled.
You can specify the
following (case sensitive) wildcards:
<globallog>
for the directory of the global
log, and
Browse for the logfile or directory.
Context Information about this tab.
The Advanced tab to define advanced options.
If "Specify max seconds between timestamps to be equal" is checked then timestamps that differ x seconds are treated as equal (the current timestamp of "12:05:00" would be treated as equal to the timestamp "12:05:01". If you synchronize this file with the "Modified" option it will not be copied because both files have an equal timestamp). Caution: If this value is chosen too big files that are actually different might be falsely considered to be identical.
If "Write timestamps back to source files" is checked then after a file has been copied the destination timestamp is written back to the source file (the current timestamp would be written back to the source file. The next time you synchronize this file with the "Modified" option it will not be copied again because both files have the same timestamp). Caution: Doesn't work if the source file is write protected.
Copy symbolic links as files if any. Symbolic links are copied as if they are files. Only applies if the source file system uses symbolic links (UNIX, Linux, MacOS).
Skip symbolic links if any: Symbolic links are ignored while copying. If you already copied symbolic links and select later to skip symbolic links the symbolic links that have been copied to the target directories as files will be deleted in the target directories. Only applies if the source file system uses symbolic links (UNIX, Linux, MacOS).
Verify the synchronized files by using checksums. If this box is checked then after a file has been copied checksums of the source and destination file are calculated and compared. If the checksums don't match an "Verify error" will be reported.
Context Information about this tab.
Handling
of timestamp related problems
Some
filesystems don't store timestamps accurately (e.g.
FAT) and it is possible that problems
with the option "Modified" arise (e.g.
FAT always forces the timestamp down to even seconds; if you copy a
file with a source timestamp of "12:05:01" to FAT it will
be stored with a destination timestamp of "12:05:00". The
next time you synchronize this file with the "Copy modified"
option it will be copied again
because the source timestamp is newer than the
destination timestamp).
The Actions tab to perform some actions on the job settings.
Copy all the job options (except the paths) to all jobs in the job tree.
Copy all the job options (except the paths) to enabled jobs in the job tree.
Reset all the job settings (except the paths) to initial default settings. This loads the application defaults to your job.
Context Information about this tab.
The General tab to define general settings.
Use System “Native Windows” look & feel: If you are using MS Windows or MacOS, you can select to use your own native windows look & feel.
Use Java “Metal” look & feel.
Whether the config files are saved in the program folder. In some cases it is useful to define another config path for example if you do not have write permissions in the program folder.
The path to the directory in which the configuration files reside. You can define a path in which you usually keep your saved configuration files.
Browse for the configuration files path.
Use Java NIO API to fasten file operations. On some systems the New I/O API of Java (NIO) could fasten file operations (copy/delete/...) especially copying larger files. It may also cause DirSync Pro to use less memory.
Check for DirSync Pro program updates every time at start-up. If an update is available following window will show up and lets you go to the download page to download the latest version.
Check for DirSync Pro program updates Now. If an update is available following window will show up and lets you go to the download page to download the latest version.
OK with the changes and exit options window.
Cancel the changes and exit options window.
The Log tab to define logging settings.
Enable/disable global logging. If enabled, a log file (JOB_SET_NAME.log) will be created containing all the logs.
Whether the log files (global log or individual logs) are saved in the program folder. In some cases it is useful to define another log path for example if you do not have write permissions in the program folder.
The path to the directory in which the the log files should be saved. Please see the chapter 'Advanced features' for explanation on default values for this option.
Browse for the log file path.
Use Minimal log level: only events, warnings and errors are logged.
Use Moderate log level: events, warnings, errors and file names are logged.
Use Excessive log level: events, warnings, errors, file names and configuration data are logged.