Freefilesync

[grangervoldemort]

1)

I just installed Freefilesync.

 

I have many folders that need backing up anytime changes are made (I know I need to use Realtimesync afterwards to achieve this) from a SSD to a HDD. Both are internal SATA drives in the same system.

 

Hit a problem.

 

So I need any changes made to my files/folders to be replicated onto the backup HDD. That includes moves and deletion.

So I selected Mirror with Move folders option ticked.

 

Now I started testing with test folders and created a folder with some folders and sub folders and files to simulate. 

 

Ran into a problem. When moving a file outside of the source folder... say to the desktop, Freefilesync (from now on 'FFS'), thinks that I deleted the file.

So when I click compare it tells me it's going to delete the file.

 

Files have the potential to be moved anywhere on the SSD. So what can I do?

 

2)

Next, when I open the desktop folder, many icons are missing. But some are there. Example Microsoft Word is there.

 

I checked the desktop folder on two different machines and found that on both this issue is present. 

 

In both cases I am logged into the main account (on PC there is only one account anyway).

 

Why is this the case?

[LogicalDrm]

1. Don't move files out of main folder you have set to be compared. Or use Update function instead. Moving file means that its not there anymore. If you move it inside sub-folder under compared main, then its added to that sub-folder. This is kinda no-brainer on how things DO work.

 

2. I don't understand your issue there. You mean that shortcut icons are totally missing, or that they don't work?

 

@Lady Fitzgerald has used way more FreeFileSync than I so she may be more help in here.

[grangervoldemort]

On 12/9/2018 at 1:23 PM, LoGiCalDrm said:

1. Don't move files out of main folder you have set to be compared. Or use Update function instead. Moving file means that its not there anymore. If you move it inside sub-folder under compared main, then its added to that sub-folder. This is kinda no-brainer on how things DO work.

Can't do that. The PC in question isn't going to be used by me and is going to be used by non tech savvy family.

Can't update as that wouldn't move any of the files thus duplicating the file structure, which is important.

On 12/9/2018 at 1:23 PM, LoGiCalDrm said:

2. I don't understand your issue there. You mean that shortcut icons are totally missing, or that they don't work?

 

@Lady Fitzgerald has used way more FreeFileSync than I so she may be more help in here.

 I will get back to you on that.

 

As for Lady Fitzgerald, I have blocked her from another thread.

[LogicalDrm]

10 hours ago, grangervoldemort said:

Can't do that. The PC in question isn't going to be used by me and is going to be used by non tech savvy family.

Can't update as that wouldn't move any of the files thus duplicating the file structure, which is important.

As of my understanding, you are asking something which isn't software issue, but more user issue. There are probably ways to keep files where they are even after being moved. But easiest way would be to copy them, leaving original file in place and copying to other location. FFS is only doing simple comparison between file structures, sizes, types and edit dates. If file is missing when check is made, software thinks its removed from where it previously was. It doesn't care if you've deleted or just changed its location, as thats just algorithm on looking at files. There are ways to change this. But you need broader understanding on scripting for that, and things would be much more complicated.

 

I'm trying to think, if having read-only setup would work. But with that you would only have receiving end doing changes that don't affect to source.

[grangervoldemort]

1 hour ago, LoGiCalDrm said:

As of my understanding, you are asking something which isn't software issue, but more user issue. There are probably ways to keep files where they are even after being moved. But easiest way would be to copy them, leaving original file in place and copying to other location. FFS is only doing simple comparison between file structures, sizes, types and edit dates. If file is missing when check is made, software thinks its removed from where it previously was. It doesn't care if you've deleted or just changed its location, as thats just algorithm on looking at files. There are ways to change this. But you need broader understanding on scripting for that, and things would be much more complicated.

 

I'm trying to think, if having read-only setup would work. But with that you would only have receiving end doing changes that don't affect to source.

I think the way around this is very simple. Backup the desktop too... 

That's why I checked the desktop folder and came across the missing icons issue which I'll look into later to confirm as per your query. 

[grangervoldemort]

What do you think? Will that work?

[LogicalDrm]

9 hours ago, grangervoldemort said:

What do you think? Will that work?

The icons? Without knowing what the actual issue is, I can't say. If its missing icons, then backing up desktop will save all created icons/folders/files. Just everything in users Desktop folder. If icons aren't working, then the file path for them differs aka there isn't anything where icon points at.

[grangervoldemort]

51 minutes ago, LoGiCalDrm said:

The icons? Without knowing what the actual issue is, I can't say. If its missing icons, then backing up desktop will save all created icons/folders/files. Just everything in users Desktop folder. If icons aren't working, then the file path for them differs aka there isn't anything where icon points at.

No I mean say a file is moved from documents to desktop. As I explained in that case FFS thinks it's deleted. By also including the desktop folder as a backup location FFS will see there is a new file i the desktop folder and copy that over... right? Thus solving the issue VERY simply and still allowing file structure to be kept.

 

Or am I missing something here?

[LogicalDrm]

59 minutes ago, grangervoldemort said:

No I mean say a file is moved from documents to desktop. As I explained in that case FFS thinks it's deleted. By also including the desktop folder as a backup location FFS will see there is a new file i the desktop folder and copy that over... right? Thus solving the issue VERY simply and still allowing file structure to be kept.

 

Or am I missing something here?

Yeah, that would work. You talking these things as they are two different issues was confusing me.