please help.. app to synchronize files and folders?

[tm0000]

Hi everyone

I have a rMBP (2014) that has a lot of photo's/video's and documents. I would like to sync everything onto an external hard drive. I tried the free "synctwofolders" app, but I keep getting errors. For some reason, there are a few folders it just won't copy. I have the synchronization mode set to "source completes target"

I would really appreciate suggestions for some other app that works better? Even it is a paid app.

Thank you very much!

 

[CoastalOR]

I have had very good experiences with Carbon Copy Cloner and ChronSync.

 

[Farond]

You can try SyncMate. IMP it works very well. Generally it is worth $39.95. But now it is available for free at this giveaway page. you can get the license code by inputting an email address. only 10 free copies per day. Wish you are the lucky dog.

 

[skinned66]

I would just use rsync. Tried, tested and true.

 

[tm0000]

So, I downloaded the trial for Carbon Copy Cloner, but I can't figure out how to sync folders with it. I only see an option for clone and nothing asking me what to do with the previous data in the folder.. (like update the older files or delete them). I checked preferences and settings, I just can't figure it out!

Please help!

 

[superscape]

Hi,

Do you really mean 'synchronise'? That implies that replication goes two ways. That's to say, if you add a file to your external drive that doesn't exist on your Mac then it should be copied to your Mac. Also If you add a file to your Mac that doesn't exist on your Mac then it should be copied to your external drive. Is that what you mean? If so, then you might want to take a look at Unison: http://www.cis.upenn.edu/~bcpierce/unison/index.html

If you're just copying one way (from your Mac to your external drive) then the suggestion to use rsync is a good one. Something like this in the Terminal:

rsync -avz '/path/to/your/mac/folder' '/path/to/your/external/drive/folder'

...you may want to tweak rsync's options to suit your usage.

You could roll the rsync command into an Automator action or AppleScript to make it easier to trigger if you like.

Hope that's of some help!

 

[swiftaw]

Chronosync

 

[Weaselboy]

So, I downloaded the trial for Carbon Copy Cloner, but I can't figure out how to sync folders with it. I only see an option for clone and nothing asking me what to do with the previous data in the folder.. (like update the older files or delete them). I checked preferences and settings, I just can't figure it out!

Please help!

CCC is really more of a one way affair, and not really setup to do a two way sync if that is what you want. If you want two way sync, Chronosync would be better.

But if you want to go just one way, setup CCC like you did, then if you want to maintain the old versions of data like you mentioned turn on the SafetyNet feature shown here in CCC.

 

[tm0000]

Thank you very much for your help! I really appreciate it!

So, what I would like to do is... files in my source folder to be copied to the detination folder, and if any files have been updated in the source, I would like them to be replaced in the destination. I saw a you tube video showing the synchronization features of CCC and I did see these options, but when I downloaded the app, I did not find any such options! Here is a link to the video...

And this is what I see

Does CCC not offer these features anymore? A previous poster suggested rsync.. typing in the terminal and all... I just cannot figure that out. I am not computer savvy at all! Please help!

 

[CoastalOR]

Click on the gray box in the Schedule section (to the right of Destination) then pick the schedule you want then click Done.

Here is a link to CCC 4 User Manual, see page 93:
http://ae06f32475c7e9beef85-9203f41...ault/files/bulk_pdf/ccc4-documentation-en.pdf

 

[tm0000]

CCC is really more of a one way affair, and not really setup to do a two way sync if that is what you want. If you want two way sync, Chronosync would be better.

But if you want to go just one way, setup CCC like you did, then if you want to maintain the old versions of data like you mentioned turn on the SafetyNet feature shown here in CCC.

View attachment 588072

I would like to set it up to just go one way. Files in my source folder to be copied to the destination folder, and if any files have been updated in the source, I would like them to be replaced in the destination.
How can I set it up to do that?
Thanks

 

[Weaselboy]

I would like to set it up to just go one way. Files in my source folder to be copied to the destination folder, and if any files have been updated in the source, I would like them to be replaced in the destination.
How can I set it up to do that?
Thanks

That screenshot you posted in post #9 is exactly what you want. That will copy anything new from the route over to the destination as well as save old versions.

That video you posted is from an older version 3 of CCC is what things look different.

 

[CoastalOR]

I would like to set it up to just go one way. Files in my source folder to be copied to the destination folder, and if any files have been updated in the source, I would like them to be replaced in the destination. How can I set it up to do that?
Thanks

CCC is just one way, Source to Destination per Task setting. It will only copy changed files after the initial backup is done. The changed files will replace the old files on the destination if SafetyNet is turned off. Try checking out the User Manual post #10.

Unless you want to launch CCC and press the Clone button every time you want to backup, then set up a schedule to automatically sync the source to the destination. Again, see my post #10.