Sync tool cant sync when %foo% in a dir name

[MVV]

I've tried to sync a folder with a folder named %ProgramFiles%, and Sync tool can't compare, it says that path is invalid. I suppose it tries to expand envvar and fails, but it shouldn't in this case because %foo% sequences are valid in directory names.

[petermad]

Well, Windows does the same if you use cd c:\%Programfiles% in a command prompt - it reports back:

The filename, directory name, or volume label syntax is incorrect.

[poothtaste]

It's probably unwise to name a folder after an environment variable in Windows but if you insist, you'll have to escape the %'s using a ^ (caret).

I can't speak to the Sync tool specifically but lets say you've created a folder called "c:\%ProgramFiles%". In order to "cd" into it using a command prompt, you're going to have to use the following:

cd c:\^%ProgramFiles^%

You can obtain a list of other environment variables in Windows that'll need escaping by using a command prompt and issuing the folloing command:

set

[ghisler(Author)]

This behaviour is intentional and will not be changed. It is very useful to be able to use environment variables in places like the multi-rename tool or on a button with the "cd" command. Total Commander will not touch the path if there is no environment variable with that name. It will also only change it when the path appears in the left or right directory field. You could start sync one level higher and select the directory you want to sync.

One idea would be to not replace environment variables if the resulting path would be invalid, e.g. when %ProgramFiles% is replaced with a path starting with a drive letter, and is present in the middle of a path. Another idea would be to first check whether a path exists before replacing environment variables.

[ghisler(Author)]

In RC4, I have now implemented the partial solution that when an environment variable contains a path, it will not be replaced in the middle of a directory. So far this is limited to the synchronize dirs tool only.

05.02.25 Fixed: Synchronize dirs: Do not replace environment variables like %ProgramFiles% which resolve to a directory in the middle of a path (32/64)

This doesn't solve the problem for variables containing other things than paths, though.

[ghisler(Author)]

Since this is a partial fix only, and I don't want to break anything, I'm moving this to will not be changed.

Moderator message from: ghisler(Author) » 2025-02-10, 09:27 UTC

Moved to will not be changed