-Synchronize Dirs - bug if subfolder with same name exists

[Whatts]

Hi,

I just noticed (what I think is a new and unreported) bug in TC 8.50.
I apologize if this has already been reported, but here goes:

When performing a Synchronize Dirs and an identically named subfolder exists on both sides, it's always included in the comparison (even if "only selected" is checked).

Imagine this scenario:
On the left I have a subfolder "ToSync" that I want to sync with subfolder "Incoming" on the right. I select both subfolders, hit Sync Dirs and it works fine (with "only selected" checked).

But if I have a subfolder on the right that is also called "ToSync" (that I DON'T want to sync, it just happens to have the same name as the subfolder on the left), it will automatically be included in the comparison (even if it is not selected and "only selected" is still checked). Everything in this "ToSync" on the right, will show up in the comparison.

If I change the name of the subfolder on the right (to "ToSync2" for instance), the comparison is again correct.

I hope this is somewhat clearly explained...

Greetz,

Whatts

[Gral]

...
On the left I have a subfolder "ToSync" that I want to sync with subfolder "Incoming" on the right. I select both subfolders, hit Sync Dirs and it works fine (with "only selected" checked).
...

You decribed non-existing behaviour. It does not work that way.
Synchronize dirs is name-based feature on top-level and cannot compare directories basing on directory content, file's size or file's content ONLY criteria (altough there was such a request and i think it could be very useful).
So, there is no bug but lack of feature, and your post may be considered as a (next) feature request.

[petermad]

On the left I have a subfolder "ToSync" that I want to sync with subfolder "Incoming" on the right. I select both subfolders, hit Sync Dirs and it works fine (with "only selected" checked).

That's not correct - in this case ToSync on the left side is compared with the none existing ToSync on the right side - hence all files form the left side will be copied to a new ToSync folder on the right side (if the green arrow -> is pressed).

And Incoming on the right side is compared with the non existant Incoming folder on the left side and all files from the Incoming folder on the right side will be copied to a new Incoming folder on the left side (if the blue arrow <- is pressed).

Just by marking ToSync on one side and Incoming on the other will not make TC compare these two directories - why? - imagine you had selected more than one folder on each side - how should TC compare, if not by name.

[MVV]

I want only to emphasize that:
A. As it was said, sync dialog always compares folders that are opened in panels, not selected ones;
B. Sync dialog has edit fields showing top-level folders which are compared, so they may be changed;
C. Selections from both panels are merged when option 'only selected' is used.

[Whatts]

I'll try to make it more clear using some screenshots later today (seems I can't post links to my screenshots yet, not until I've been a member for at least a day).

[Whatts]

I'll try to make it more clear using some screenshots.

The content of the ToSync subfolders on both sides (so these are NOT the folders I want to sync):
Image: https://tomklaverblad.info/TC/1.png

The content of left side ToSync and right side Incoming (so the subfolders I DO want to sync):
Image: https://tomklaverblad.info/TC/2.png

I go up one level and select/highlight the folders I want to sync here:
Image: https://tomklaverblad.info/TC/3.png

And then the content of the non-selected right side ToSync folder shows up in the comparison:
Image: https://tomklaverblad.info/TC/4.png
(note that the "Only selected (in main window)" option is set)


If I have the subfolders highlighted as in step 3, I'm thinking the contents of a non-selected folder (even if it exists on both sides) shouldn't show up?

[Dalai]

As the others already said: TC compares folder "Incoming" on one side with "Incoming" on the other side. TC does not compare "Incoming" on one side with "anything else" on the other side, regardless of the option "Only selected"! On other words: Folder names on the left side must exactly match the ones on the right side. If a directory exists only on one side, it is shown as non-existing on the other side (including the files in it).

Regards
Dalai

[MVV]

Whatts,
Have you read what people said to you? Have you read my previous post? I've mentioned some things that you must keep in mind while using Sync tool.

In your case TC doesn't sync ToSync with Incoming, it does sync TC-left with TC-right (your Sync dialog shows folders to be synced -- it was mentioned too in my previous post).

[Whatts]

MVV, I've read the other posts and I've realized that I was indeed wrong. I apologize for not getting it sooner.

I can get the compare results I want by opening the folders and then performing a comparison (so the actual content will be synced even though the parent folder name is different).

So you can consider this a feature request (sync one folder from each side based on content and not folder name).

[ghisler(Author)]

You are apparently misunderstanding the option "only selected":

When this is checked, TC will still compare the two folders in the left/right path edit box of the compare tool. However, it will only go into the subfolders selected in the main program. It doesn't matter whether you select a name on one side or on both - TC will always go to the subfolder with that name on BOTH side, otherwise sync would be broken.

If you want to compare folder "x" with folder "y", you have to go inside these folders and then open the sync tool.

[Whatts]

Yep, I indeed misunderstood the "only selected", and now it's clear how it works (and why it works like this).