What is Synchronization?
If you need to keep multiple sets of files matched up, so that the newest versions of each file are in each set of files, that’s synchronization, in short. However, there are multiple levels of backing up and comparing files, and there are advantages and disadvantages to each method. You may need an extra copy of important files that don’t change, or you may need to delete old files. If you were merging paper files, you’d check dates on every page, and make a decision. With computer files, you also have to think about which documents were worked on last, and which set hasn’t changed since the last backup. Here’s how to choose:
Simple Backup:
Copy all files in a work folder to a storage folder. This is used when you aren’t sure of the condition or accuracy of the files in the backup. Good for disaster recovery, but can be too slow for copying only new work: every file is copied, even if only a few have changed. In FileTiger, use the Backup button to copy files only, without folders, or the Tree Copy button to include folders. In Tree Copy, choose ‘All Files’.
Copy versus Backup versus Tree Copy
Copy (and Move) only work on selected files. This is fully manual.
Backup copies only files shown in the file list. If you are using a file mask in the drop-down list to display, for example, only photographs (*.jpg), but the folder also contains other files, Backup will only copy the files displayed, and you won’t need to find and select every jpg file.
Tree Copy, by comparison, will copy either every file or only the newer and missing files, as selected. It includes subfolders, hidden subfolders, hidden files–nearly everything. It ignores file masks and files selected.
Copy Newer and Missing Files:
Copies files only if they don’t already exist in the storage folder, or if the files are newer than the files in stored files. Good for quickly bringing a backup file set up-to-date. Can duplicate files if you routinely change filenames in your projects, because your storage file set will contain both the new filenames and the old, orphaned filenames. In FileTiger, use the TreeCopy button, and choose ‘Newer and Missing Files only”.
Synchronization, One-Way
Copies files newer and missing, as above, and also deletes files from the storage folder if they don’t exist in the work folder. This is a two-step process in FileTiger. First, backup the work with the Tree Copy or Backup buttons. Then delete the extra files by pressing F6 (Select Matching). On the storage folder side, click on ‘Flip Tags’ so that all the files that are no longer in the work folder are selected. Press the ‘Delete...’ button.
You can routinely copy only newer and missing files, and just delete any orphaned files as needed. Careful: Routinely deleting old files makes it more difficult to find lost work; if you make a mistake in your work folder, it’s better if it does not immediately cause your backup to be deleted. So delete the orphan files with caution.
Synchronization, Two-Way
If you routinely switch computers, maybe between a desktop PC and a travel notebook, two-way synchronization might be needed to keep your projects organized, especially if there will be work done on both computers between synchronisations. Two-way match-ups of files is not automated in FileTiger, but you can do it by copying newer and missing files, using Tree Copy, both from right to left, and from left to right. Note that renamed files will be duplicated on both sides.
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