Alternate Data Streams


Alternate Data Streams may contain additional information about a file, such as additional file properties. They they were a new
feature introduced with the NTFS file system. In many cases, their existence is little known to the user and their content is
very important. However, some users and some software may store important information in Alternative Data Streams. In
such cases, you may want to make sure that they are preserved in your backups.


  • Copying Alternate Data Streams
  • Special Handles of Mackintosh Shares

Alternate Data Streams are copied along with the files by default, if possible. They can be copied between local folders and
network folders, but they cannot be copied via FTP or other Internet Protocols.

In most cases, you will want to keep the checkmark below chosen for the best behavior. However, in some cases you may opt
to have the alternate data streams be removed during the copy, for example to gain speed or to remove additional file
properties shown in Windows Explorer.


Copy Alternate Data Streams( if possible )

This option can be useful if you still have an old (now absolete) Macintosh file share on Windows NTFS volume. Such file
systems store Macintosh resource forks and Finder Info in alternate data streams. Using the checkmark below, you can make
Syncovery split the metadata into separate AppleDouble files whem copying form "left to right", and merge the data when copying
"right to left".


Split and Reassemble Macintosh Resource Forks To AppleDouble Files