Issues backing up a folder with aliases from a MacOS

[trewa]

Hi, I'm trying to back up some folders from my 2017 iMac (Catalina 10.15.7) Desktop folder that includes aliases within those folders.

I've used Chronosync to back up folders (that also include aliases) between 2 different external drives (WD & Samsung) and this works fine and it's able to redirect the Volumes on the aliases' path - no problems.

However, when I try and back up folders from iMac (Macintosh HD/Users/name/Desktop/music/) to Samsung HDD (/Volumes/samsung/Desktop/music/) the alias folder links within the 'music' folder are broken.
All drives are formatted to APFS.

A few questions:
- If anyone has experience with Chronosync, is there a particular setting that I should be enabling? I've tried changing the settings to include alias folders but this just copies across all of the original files to
- Is there another application that is better at syncing files from MacOS to and external HDD than Chronosync?
- Once I back up all of the folders to the external HDD is there a script/terminal that you can run to redirect the volume path to the external drive?
- Any other suggestions

Also, not sure if there are any other places that are able to help with this kind of question, but if there are please let me know.
TYIA

 

[gilby101]

I've used Chronosync to back up folders (that also include aliases) between 2 different external drives (WD & Samsung) and this works fine and it's able to redirect the Volumes on the aliases' path - no problems.

I created a test folder with a folder and a file inside. I then created aliases for both the file and folder and put them inside the test folder. I then copied the test folder to a different disk in two ways: 1) a Finder 'copy and paste' and, 2) a CS backup. In both cases the aliases are copied and in the new location the aliases point to the file and folder in in the new location. That is, both do what you want out of the box. As (I think) you have found with CS.

However, when I try and back up folders from iMac (Macintosh HD/Users/name/Desktop/music/) to Samsung HDD (/Volumes/samsung/Desktop/music/) the alias folder links within the 'music' folder are broken.

So, what is different:

What is inside the music folder?

Are you sure you have created aliases and not symbolic links?

 

[trewa]

I created a test folder with a folder and a file inside. I then created aliases for both the file and folder and put them inside the test folder. I then copied the test folder to a different disk in two ways: 1) a Finder 'copy and paste' and, 2) a CS backup. In both cases the aliases are copied and in the new location the aliases point to the file and folder in in the new location. That is, both do what you want out of the box. As (I think) you have found with CS.


So, what is different:

What is inside the music folder?

Are you sure you have created aliases and not symbolic links?

Thanks for your response @gilby101 Can I ask what OS you're on? Maybe they've changed how aliases work in newer OS's. I'm not sure how to tell the difference between an alias and symbolic link but I create my links through Finder > File > Make Alias

I've also created test folders with aliases on the iMac desktop and the WD My Passport HDD and I have the same issue. For example I ran the test below:

This CS backup works (Original folder path is - /Volumes/WD My Passport/Desktop/music/Hip Hop)
/Volumes/WD My Passport/Desktop/music/90s/Hip Hop alias
/Volumes/samsung/Desktop/music/90s/Hip Hop alias

This CS backup isn't working (Original folder path is - Macintosh HD/Users/name/Desktop/music/Hip Hop)
Macintosh HD/Users/name/Desktop/music/90s/Hip Hop alias
/Volumes/samsung/Desktop/music/90s/Hip Hop alias

When I try to back up between external HDDs it changes the volume, when I try to back up from iMac desktop to external HDD the links still point back to Macintosh HD/Users/name/Desktop and can't be viewed on another computer. I have a really complex folder system of work and linked aliases on the WD My Passport and backed up onto a SanDisk with no problems so I thought it would be straightforward process backing up from the iMac desktop too.
Any other suggestions please let me know