Suggestions for 'Synchronize Dirs...' command

[jb]

1. The 'Synchronize Dirs...' command should be able to detect, display and synchronize differences regarding the following:
a) case of names of files and directories
b) attributes of files and directories
c) empty directories existing only on left or rigth side (especially important with option 'Asymmetric')

2. The process of comparing the two directories (started by the 'Compare' button of the 'Synchronize directories' window) should have a progress bar. This would be especially useful when comparing by content (eg. a freshly burnt CD).

3. The 'Synchronize Dirs...' command should support the following subcommands (besides Delete left/right and 'Compare left & right'):
a) Move left/right...
b) Copy left/right...
c) Pack left/right...
d) Multi-rename left/right...
These subcommands would be useful to manage different files and directories more flexibly.

4. The 'Compare left & right' subcommand of the 'Synchronize Dirs...' command (to compare selected pair of files) should be configurable similar to packers and viewers. It should be possible to specify an external comparer using the same syntax as for button commands (eg. C:\Util\MySuperDiff.exe %P%N %T%M).

[bago]

2. The process of comparing the two directories (started by the 'Compare' button of the 'Synchronize directories' window) should have a progress bar. This would be especially useful when comparing by content (eg. a freshly burnt CD).

I agree: with remote samba mounted shares it would be useful.

4. The 'Compare left & right' subcommand of the 'Synchronize Dirs...' command (to compare selected pair of files) should be configurable similar to packers and viewers. It should be possible to specify an external comparer using the same syntax as for button commands (eg. C:\Util\MySuperDiff.exe %P%N %T%M).

I agree on this, too: I like very much the ExamDiffPro (Diff Editor ) and would be useful to run it instead of the "builtin" diff viewer and do a diff check after the program exits (so my diffs can be updated).

A cool feature would be to produce an "overview" of content changes between the dirs (unix recursive diff). It could be handled with the current Diff tool but adding multifile and the ability to view only changed rows or adding to the syncronization panel a "preview" of the file (embedding the diff viewer with the syncronization panel). It probably is not easy to implement but could be very useful.

[jb]

A cool feature would be to produce an "overview" of content changes between the dirs (unix recursive diff). It could be handled with the current Diff tool but adding multifile and the ability to view only changed rows or adding to the syncronization panel a "preview" of the file (embedding the diff viewer with the syncronization panel). It probably is not easy to implement but could be very useful.

I would not ask that much because a full-fledged Compare/Merge utility is quite complex and therefore quite large (say >2MB). Probably it would require a lot of work to add this functionality to TC (currently approx. 1.7MB).

BTW: Personally I use 'DIFFzilla' and 'Araxis Merge 2001 Professional'. DIFFzilla comes with Visual SlickEdit v7 (a fabulous multi-plaform editor for programmers ).

[richardtc]

Having just ordered TC because I find the sync dir option usefull, can I suggest an improvement. I use TC in place of mybriefcase; mainly because mybriefcase takes too long and is a bit flaky, unlike TC.

It would be good if there was someway of automating or having a list of sync dirs. For example I have two dirs to sync at the moment, but if it was automated I would probably be more restrictive and have a list of dirs to sync.

Note, this isn't a criticism, just a nice to have.

Richard

[ben hub]

2richardtc
have you ever tried the command cm_SyncChangeDir (# 2600) ?

If your problem is to synchronize directories with the same names on different units in a network, this command may be quite helpful

[sadyc]

4. The 'Compare left & right' subcommand of the 'Synchronize Dirs...' command (to compare selected pair of files) should be configurable similar to packers and viewers. It should be possible to specify an external comparer using the same syntax as for button commands (eg. C:\Util\MySuperDiff.exe %P%N %T%M).

I agree on this, too: I like very much the ExamDiffPro (Diff Editor ) and would be useful to run it instead of the "builtin" diff viewer and do a diff check after the program exits (so my diffs can be updated).

An external diff would be nice.
I think there should be another option in the menu, to use the external diff. So, you could use both internal and external, depending on your choice.

--sadyc

[jb]

An external diff would be nice.
I think there should be another option in the menu, to use the external diff. So, you could use both internal and external, depending on your choice.

Basically I agree, because TC can compare .zip and .rar archives like directories, but some external compare (& merge) tools cannot. Furthermore the internal comparer is faster and sufficient in many cases. So it would be helpful being able to switch easily between the internal comparer and the external comparer (& merger).

For me comparing is a key operation. Therefore I would go even further to make the choice as quick as possible. Currently "Compare left & right" (internal comparer) is the DEFAULT command in the context menu of "Synchronize directories". So you can just doubleclick a line to compare a pair fo files. I would like the default command to be configurable.
My favorite configuration would be:
Doubleclick : External Comparer & Merger (default command)
Ctrl+Doubleclick : Internal Comparer (secondary command)

BTW: Concerning the default command TC does not conform to the Windows GUI standard which says that the name of the default command should be written bold, but "Compare left & right" is not bold.

[jb]

Basically I agree, because TC can compare .zip and .rar archives like directories, but some external compare (& merge) tools cannot. Furthermore the internal comparer is faster and sufficient in many cases. So it would be helpful being able to switch easily between the internal comparer and the external comparer (& merger).

Corrrection (or additional suggestion):
When comparing a pair of files in .zip or .rar archives, TC could unpack them before calling the external comparer. Maybe also the internal comparer gets only paths to already unpacked files.

[Chris Scott]

What is the command to put "synchronize directories" on the button bar? Have looked and searched the list several times and if it's there I can't recognize it.

[Hacker]

[________________Tools________________]
cm_FileSync=2020;Synchronize directories

HTH
Roman

[Clo]

2Chris Scott
Hi !
- Simply use 2020 in the command-field of the button-bar dialog-box.
- All commands are located in the file <Totalcmd.inc>
- A detailled topic exists in the Tutorial (only) about this…

 Kind regards,
Claude
Clo

[Chris Scott]

Well there it is, plain sight. I'm totally embarrassed now. But got the solution. Thanks!