Is it possible to copy file symlinks as links?

[SlimShaggy]

I can't find a way to configure TC to copy file symlinks (not directory junctions) as links. Is it at all possible? Setting CopyLinks=1 in the config file does not help here, I guess it applies to directory junctions only.

[ghisler(Author)]

No, unfortunately file symlinks cannot currently be copied, only directory symlinks.

[HerbieH]

Hello SlimShaggy.

You can use 'FastCopy ver 3.52' for copying file-symbolic links.
https://fastcopy.jp/en/
It will retain the symbolic link correctly back to the 'original' file, and not just make a 'new' symbolic link of the symbolic link, you try to copy.

Remember to make the setting:
Main settings - Copy/Move options - Copy Junction/Symlink as Junction/Symlink (not target)

PS: The 'FastCopy.chm' file gives an excellent description (jap/eng) on how to use command lines, which is easy to use in a TC-icon.
I personally use: /auto_close /open_window /cmd=update /estimate %S /to="%T"

[Hacker]

Just FYI, I got a few errors while copying with FastCopy (never with TC).

Roman

[HerbieH]

To Roman.

What errors?

I have used FastCopy for years and never had any any errors. (I always use latest version.)
It detects all junctions perfectly, and I heavly rely on it on my FTP-server work etc.

Total Commander ALSO does a great job for me , and I rely very much on TC too for my server work, like FTP-file transfer etc.

But FastCopy has a better way of continue copying on errors - and then giving me a list of errors at the end.
..and it integrates nicely into TC.

[Hacker]

HerbieH,
To be honest I do not remember anymore, some kind of I/O errors a few months back after which the copy could not be resumed. I was transferring one 8 TB file from an internal hard drive to an external USB hard drive.

Roman

[HerbieH]

Roman thanks for your answer.

A 'big pancake'. My biggest filecopy to this day has been a 1.4 TB Veracrypt container - and I honestly don't remember if i used FastCopy or TC internal..

I will test very big files on FastCopy at some point in the future, and let the forum know...

[LeeBinder]

me too!!! PLEASE add the available options..

• into Settings/ Copy options
• into the copy dialog options

THANK YOU CHRISTIAN!

[ghisler(Author)]

Have a look at the option CopyLinks in wincmd.ini (section 4b in the help). There are options to just copy it 1:1, or adjust the target path when copying between drives.

[byblo]

Since i started using heavily directories and files in symlink, i feel stuck with TC now...

* Copying a symlink file does not work (file is duplicated instead)
* Syncronizing my backups gives now empty directories instead of symlink directories, and files can be either ignored or duplicated...

Thus, it became impossible to use TC just to simply copy or make backup where symbolic links are used...

Close to give up with TC. It was great 10 years ago, but getting very outdated/broken on many ways

[ghisler(Author)]

No, only directory symlinks.

[konfekt]

Good morning,

I am sorry for resurrecting this very old thread (and I can open a new one, if preferred), but in the latest stable version 10.52 of Total Commander I still do not know how to copy symlinks to files as symlinks despite applying the settings as given in viewtopic.php?t=40835.

As far as I know, Total Commander, like Double Commander that can copy symlinks to files as symlinks, is written in Pascal, so I wonder if it could be possible after all?

If not, how about a warning message, as I tend to forget that Total Commander replaces the symlinks to files in folders by files.

[konfekt]

In the meanwhile, using FastCopy (which is free for non-professional use) serves as a workaround as it copies symlinks as symlinks by default (instead of replacing them on the target by their target linked to) by pressing Ctrl+F5, as follows (from https://www.ghisler.ch/board/viewtopic.php?p=173362#p173362):

Add to usercmd.ini:

Code: Select all

[em_FastCopy]
cmd=%COMMANDER_PATH%\addons\FastCopy\FastCopy64.exe /no_exec /verify /open_window /cmd=noexist_only /estimate
param=%P%S /to="%T"
button=%COMMANDER_PATH%\addons\FastCopy\FastCopy64.exe
menu="copy folders or files using FastCopy"

Add to wincmd.ini in the section [Shortcuts]:

Code: Select all

C+F5=em_FastCopy

[Horst.Epp]

This is my version of [em_FastCopy]

A few notes:

1. The exe file of fastcopy is Fastcopy.exe for the x64 version
if you use the extract function of the installer in an x64 OS.

2. I use the /cmd=update function which also updates files in the target if they are older than the source
but prevents overwriting newer files in the target.

3. Using %WL for the source files allows large lists of files or dirs to be selected
not restricted compared to using %S.

Code: Select all

[em_FastCopy]
cmd=C:\tools\FastCopy\FastCopy.exe
param=/cmd=update /balloon=FALSE /log=FALSE /auto_close /srcfile_w="%WL" /to="%T"
button=%COMMANDER_PATH%\addons\FastCopy\FastCopy.exe
menu="Copy folders or files using FastCopy"

[AntonyD]

But if I understood it correctly - FastCopy - will NOT ask me about each possible overwriting case? Like TC does?
We know that special dialog is apperaing in this case - where I can click an appropriate command - like copy only
newer, compare both, skip one, skip all and etc.... So I can literally confirm each such case!