Contents


Profile Settings - Main Settings

The Main Settings define the basic behavior of your sync job. Please choose the copying directions carefully. The Sync Operation Mode will determine Syncovery's sync logic - for example, whether to copy files only or also synchronize file deletions.

The Main Settings ask you to:
  • choose the copying direction
  • choose subfolders and files
  • specify the Sync Operation Mode

    Copying Directions: Left To Right / Right To Left
    It is very important to select the correct direction(s) for the synchronization. You may want to allow the synchronization to copy files in both directions, so that the newest version of either location is selected for each file. On the other hand, especially for backup purposes, you may already know that only one copying direction will be needed. Somer other settings are also dependent on the copying directions: some checkboxes will be disabled when only one direction is chosen, while others are only available when both directions are checked.

    Include Subfolders
    Specify if no, all, or selected subfolders on both sides are to be included in the synchronization process.

    Choose Folders and Files...
    This option will enable you to select files and directories from the main left/right folders. A new dialog window will come up. This dialog will show the folder trees of both synchronization sides. Please note that in most cases, you should only select files on one side in this dialog, because all folders selected on one side will automatically also be considered on the other.

    Sync Operation Mode
    The operation modes are also explained briefly on the dialog when you choose them.

    Standard Copying
    Standard copying will compare the files and folders present on each side, using the filenames, the "Last Modified" timestamps as well as the file sizes for comparison. Newer files and files that only exist on one side will be copied over to the other side. No files are deleted (except in a rare, not recommended case: if you choose Real Time Synchronization with Individual Events mode and allow deletions on the Real Time settings dialog).

    SmartTracking
    SmartTracking uses a local database in order to track changes that have been made between the various invocations of the profile. That way, the software will know whether a file has been moved on the left side, or on the right side. It can also detect whether a file has been deleted on one side, or whether the file has actually been added on the other. SmartTracking should always be used whenever you want to keep two locations in sync, both of which are being used for work. SmartTracking is not needed when you do a backup or mirror, or any other case where you synchronize in one direction only. SmartTracking has various additional features which you will see in the SmartTracking dialog box (click on the Configure button).

    Exact Mirror
    This option is available when copying in one direction only. The purpose is to create an exact mirror of the source path. This may even include deleting files, or overwriting newer files with older ones. Therefore, the option should be used with caution. However, before overwriting newer files or deleting files, confirmation will be demanded from the user - unless the process is running unattended or scheduled, and the Unattended options allow these actions to be carried out without user confirmation.

    WARNING: if you want to run the profile in unattended or scheduled mode, be sure to go to the Unattended tab sheet and make the appropriate checkmarks there so that the software will indeed delete files etc. - if you want that to happen.

    You can click the Configure... button to fine-tune the Exact Mirror behavior. In particular, you can specify a delay for deletions, and you can choose that excluded files are removed from the destination even if they exist on the source side.

    Move Files To Destionation
    This option will move the files from the source to the destination. The files will be deleted from the source side. You can also move files to two destinations at the same time: one is specified as the Right-Hand Side, and the other one is specified under Files->Deletions: Move Deleted Files Into A Specified Folder.