Pathsync: synchronize two directories with ease
Pathsync is an open source drive or directory synchronization tool that can compare two paths and provides a number of options for copying files back and forth across the two. It offers a number of useful options such as filtering by user-defined filename mask or extension and user-defined buffer size for the copying operation.
There are many scenarios where you will find this tool useful: if you need to synchronize files between a laptop and your main computer, if you backup files on a network or external drive. However it has to be noted that its purpose is synchronization; if you are looking for a backup tool that can schedule automated backups there are many freeware options such as Karen’s Replicator, Cobian Backup, Jaback, or SyncBack.
This program is as straightforward as can be, but offers some good options as follows:
- Sync directions: bidirectional, single direction (left to right or right to left), or single direction without deleting missing files or folders. These relate to whether the user wants to give primacy over one directory over the other, and whether there was activity to be updated on one of the directories or both.
- Filename masks: you can specify which file extensions Pathsync should consider or alternately which ones not to be considered. Examples: *.mp3;*jpg;*avi will only sync mp3s, jpeg images, and avi videos. !*.mp3;* will include everything except mp3 files, !music’;* will include everything except the directory named "music", and *proj_A* will only sync files that have "proj_A" in the filename.
- Preview actions: once you set your paths and filename masks Pathsync will analyze your directories and display a list of actions. You can review these and right click on any one of them to change it if you so desire.
- Ignore list: you can set Pathsync to ignore file sizes, file dates, missing local files, or missing remote files when performing its analysis.
Throttling file copying: this is one of my favorite features. Once copying begins, Pathsync allows you to manually adjust the memory buffer used for copying, which can significantly increase the copying speed.- Performance: worth mentioning is the impressive speed by which Pathsync performed the analysis of the two directories.
Wish list:
- The ability to define batch jobs or a list of jobs under the same settings. Currently you can only compare two paths at a time, which forces you to put everything that you want to synchronize in one root directory.
The verdict: wonderful program for quick, ad-hoc directory synchronizations. I recently moved some 40 gigs of stuff from one laptop to another on the network, for which I used this program extensively and found it to be a delight. I will again mention that it is not designed for automated or scheduled backups and does not offer such options as encrypted or zipped backups. However, what I like is the simplicity of it as a straightforward tool that does a fantastic job.
Version Tested: 0.35
Compatibility: WinAll.
Go to the program home page to download the latest version (approx 123K).
I frequently use the excellent (but somewhat dated) Treecomp.
http://www.xs4all.nl/~lploeger/TreeComp3.htm
Sounds very similar, but Treecomp can also compare a local directory to an FTP server or a .ZIP file (though the ZIP has been a bit unstable in my experience). I see that Treecomp has been updated since the version I have, and now support RAR files as well, so I’ll check out the newer version.
In any case, thanks for the post! I’ll try Pathsync as well.
SyncExp http://syncexp.com/ works great for me. It totally slaughtered half a dozen sync tools (including Pathsync) when I was choosing new one to replace Microsoft SyncToy I grew out of.
I am always synchronizing files, and currently use Opus which is a brilliant app but not free and certainly not for the faint hearted.
I will give Pathsync a try.
Regards and thanks.
that SyncExp works really well, I can have delete empty folder (that I miss in pathsync). Thanks for the that.
>that SyncExp works really well, I can have delete empty folder (that I miss in pathsync)
Yep, really great feature that most of sync tools don’t think\bother to implement.
One of the main reasons I dropped MS SyncToy was that I had to clean up bunch of empty folders after it.
I happily use MS SyncToy. The new version also syncs deletions, moves, renames, etc. Only drawback, IMHO, is the .NET framework requirement.
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@ samer
Nice find, as always, thanks!
@ Rarst
I tried ‘SyncExp’, and I’ve gotta say it ‘Feels Right’ to me, plus the fact that it’s Portable is always a winner – Thank YOU, also!
I like PathSync, and I’ll probably use it from time to time, ‘SyncExp’ just feels more natural to me, works like my brain does, so I’ll keep kicking it around!
I had tried SyncExp for couple days, but seems that:
- If I would make a copy a whole structure for the first time, it doesnt work (I had to copy that manually first).
- some files seems not get sync. When SyncExp said it’s sync, I found using pathsync they are some files were not.
I had check all configuration and seems alright.
DSynchronize is also a neat sync freeware. One straightforward user panel, multiple source and destination path and a timer for automatic sync.
http://dimio.altervista.org/eng/
so, I guess, no one has ever heard of ViceVersa by TGRMN?
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Side by side visual comparison of files or directories (including sub-directories) between floppy drives, hard drives, CD-ROM drives, zip drives and network drives.
Comparison types and filters.
Copy and Delete for manual Synchronization.
Links to external program to visualize text differences between files (txt, cpp, h, etc.)
FREE!
P.S. Check this entry:
http://www.tgrmn.com/free/?from=vvfree
It is their v1.04 re-branded in 2008.
I’m still running the FREE 2001 v1.03, does its job without error(s).
I didn’t find the following to handle file names that use certain characters (e.g. Japanese or Korean):
Pathsync
Treecomp
SyncExp
DSynchronize
Two free things that seemed to work better in my tests included:
JFileSync (http://jfilesync.sourceforge.net/)
DirSync Pro (http://directorysync.sourceforge.net/)
May be there are better alternatives
I have been using DirSync Pro for a while and I’m very happy about it. It syncs fast and it is easy to use. Plus good support! I did once for a feature request. And yes, it was included in the following version!
DirSync Pro rulez!!!