That's all the "!=" sign means, files have a different time stamp, not that they are different content-wise.
c:\TMP\MakeList\Code: Select all
__ListFile1.txt 0 k 09/21/09 04:42 -a--
Contents: This
c:\BIN\CMD\Code: Select all
__ListFile1.txt 0 k 09/21/09 04:46 -a--
Contents: Thit
SyncTool, Compare:
[x] Ignore Date,
Those files are equal, ==
Why? Comparison is by Size; Size is the SAME.
SyncTool, Compare:
[x] Ignore Date
[x] Compare by Content,
Those files are NOT equal, !=
Why? You are
IGNORING the date, thus SyncTool is telling you they are different so YOU can decide what to do with them. If you allow date comparison the Arrows miraculously appear.
It wouldn't matter what content the
same named file has, once you Ignore Date, the only result you can get is "!=" or "==". The only --> or <-- results you will get are for missing files on either side.
This is expected behaviour, TC can't guess which file you intend to keep when you wont let it make a decision based on Date.
As noted, it would be better if we had:
Compare by Content- [x] If date is different
- [x] If size is different
If neither checked, then it will always compare by content. And would give the end user control.