Move & rename feature

[brahman]

Hi Igor,

sometimes in a synch operations two additional features would come in very handy:

1.) The possibility to move a file or folder.

You have backup, synch, update, duplicate but no way to MOVE a file or folder to another destination.

I have missed this feature on numerous occasions.

2.) The possibility to rename a file or folder.

F.e.: A lot of people clean up a folder by renaming large files or folders to more memorable names or renaming photos to show the motif.

If this file exists already on the target, in a backup it will be deleted and the new file copied, though it would be much more efficient if SI could somehow handle this simple rename via date and size comparison (or at least a manual rename would be possible for the user).

Especially in the case of big files, this feature could save a lot of time.

Thank you.

Kind Regards,

Brahman

[grigsoft]

In fact I have never considered such operations to be useful in Synchronize It! - there are special tools for this purpose. But I will probably add them - you are not the only one asking for this feature.

[Spitfire_ch]

Right, I also asked for it It would be especially useful if you are synchronizing two computers by using packages (and have only a limited amount of mobile memory). Special tools such as NoClone can indeed identify duplicates based on content rather than filename, but they don't allow synchronization - let alone the use of packages (which was a genious idea of yours!).

Ow, and Happy New Year, by the way! Keep the good work up!

[brahman]

Hi Igor,

that is very kind of you!

So I want to expand a little bit more what would be usefull in my case:

I often rename video etc. files and then still have the unrenamed files on my backup drive.

After my renaming, SI wants to copy the entire file and delete the same unrenamed file on the backup volume, because it cannot detect that I renamed the file. This can be very lengthy on gigabyte sized files.

I like to be able to tell SI: compare these two folders, the first folder is source, the second target, files have different names but same time and size (so no need to do lengthy byte by byte or checksum compare) and rename all same files from target name to source name.

In addition manual renames of individual files AND ENTIRE FOLDERS of ONLY source or target (because sometimes one just renames a folder to a better name but leaves the files alone) would be extremely valuable.

Thank you very much for wanting to add these features to your already great and excellent product.

Absolutely wonderful!

Kind Regards,

Brahman

[grigsoft]

I'm going to add rename\move detection anyway, but I was planning to use at least minimal CRC checking for large files, like 1Mb at the beginning, middle and at end of files.

[brahman]

Yes, that's probably even better.

How will you add it?

I was thinking a global option would be best, since in the middle of a big project - when you need this feature - you don't want to fiddle and go back to individual jobs to switch it on.

It would also be nice to be able to switch it on from by right clicking a folder for that folder only and then also have the option from that same menu to do a refresh for that folder only too - something which will also come in handy in many other situations.

An additional synch action (instead of backup or synch) would be too limiting for the user, so an additional option would be best IMHO.

For the manual rename method, I think it would be cool if one could drag a file to a file on the other side and then SI would rename that file automatically to the source file name.

But I know you will do a god job with your implementation as you always do.

Kind Regards,

Brahman

[grigsoft]

Yes, this would be option, of course. Ability to invoke search for folder afterwards is nice, just as rescan for folder, thank you! I will add these too.

[Spitfire_ch]

Just wanted to reactivate this thread to move it upwards in the forum list and hopefully also in your planned features list.

I think this would be an extremely useful feature to add, since moving and renaming files/folders is something that occurs on a daily basis and makes synchronization difficult. Especially when you use the package function on a USB-stick, you soon don't have enough space for this function when a couple of folders have been moved (it will always delete and copy the entire folders).

Please consider adding such features

Thank you very much!

- spitfire

[brahman]

I know it is probably a good deal of work to add such a function, but I would like to agree with spitfire and second his request.

I have seen some other software automatically figure out the moved files and adjust the target accordingly in their preview and I must say: "This is a really cool feature!"

It would be a great addition to SI.

Regards,

Brahman

[Spitfire_ch]

To keep it warm and to keep begging for it:

please consider adding such a feature. I would even buy Synchronize it a second time if you incorporated "movement detection". An example to illustrate how useful it would be:

Let's assume you have your fotos on your computer and a backup at a different location (friend, family or whatever). It is much more convenient to use an USB-stick for synchronization instead of an external hard drive, for which you have invented the awesome and unique package feature. However, there are limitations to it:

Let's assume, your sticks capacity is 2GB, and you have have 10 picture folders, each of it contains 1 GB.

Synchronize it can perfectly deal with it, as long as you only add individual files or folder to your computer. They will simply be added to the package on the stick, no problem. However, if you just rename 3 of your folders, it will remove three folder entries from the package, and try to add 3x1GB to it, which doesn't fit on your stick. Result: you can't synchronize your pictures using your USB-stick.

If synchronize it would simply recognize that the content of the missing and the "new" folder are nearly identical and suggest to rename the folder accordingly, the problem would be solved. You could easily synchronize the two computers using your USB-stick.

Basically, the package feature can be used to its full advantage only if moved or renamed folders are recognized.

Adding it, would make your great piece of software even more unbeatable!

So, please please please consider it. I know it's probably a lot of work, but it would greatly add to your program.

Thank you very much

- spit