Synchronize Dialog

This is the main dialog of the WS_FTP Synchronize utility. When you use this dialog, you are creating a control file (.ctl) that will be used to perform the synchronization between the locations you identify.

Note: You cannot use OpenPGP mode when transferring files using the Synchronize Utility. You can transfer files that have already been OpenPGP-encrypted.

The following are the dialog features:

Toolbar buttons - The buttons control the various functions of the utility.

  • New - Click this button to start a new control file.
  • Open - Click this button to open a control file.
  • Save - Click this button to save your current settings as a control file.
  • Execute - Click this button to execute the synchronize job. If the Visual compare only (no action performed) option is selected, the Compare dialog shows the actions that will occur, but no transfers are made.
  • Schedule - Click this button to schedule the synchronize job through WS_FTP Scheduler.
  • Location1 and Location2 - The locations section is where you identify the directories that you want to synchronize. Click the Browse button to choose the directory for Location 1 and Location 2. Locations can be either a local or a remote site.
  • Modes - Select the mode you want Synchronize to operate in.
    • Synchronize Location 1 --> Location 2 - This mode updates Location 2 so that it includes all the files and subfolders of Location 1.
    • Synchronize Location 1 <-- Location 2 - This mode updates Location 1 so that it includes all the files and subfolders of Location 2.
    • Synchronize both Location 1 <--> Location 2 - This mode makes each location match the other by copying the newest version of Location 1 files to the Location 2 and by copying the newest version of Location 2 files to Location 1.
    • Customized - Lets you set the actions you want the utility to perform when files are found with a specific status.
  • Status and Actions - Use these options when you have chosen Customized mode. The Status is the current state of the comparison, and the Action is what WS_FTP Synchronize will do when it finds an item with that status.
    • Only on Loc1 - The file is only found in Location 1.
    • Newer on Loc1 - The file found in Location 1 is newer than the file found in Location 2.
    • Same on both - The file found is the same in both locations.
    • Newer on Loc2 - The file found is newer on Location 2.
    • Only on Loc2 - The file is only found in Location 2.
  • Options. Select the options you want Sync to use.
    • Top level only. Select this option to have the locations synchronized on the top level only. All subdirectories will be ignored.
    • Show files/folders that won't be transferred. Select this option to have Sync display files with the No Action action code in the Compare dialog.
    • Visual compare only (no transfer). Select this option to have Sync populate the Compare dialog without executing the synchronize job. Once you are on the Compare dialog, you can make changes to what tasks the job will perform.
    • Show FTP conversation in log. Select this option to show the FTP conversation in the generated log file, as well as the log pane on the Compare dialog.
    • Perform case-insensitive comparisons. Select this option to have Synchronize ignore differences in upper and lower case filenames.
    • Skip unmodified files. Select this option to have Synchronize compare files between the sites. The content is compared using the user selected File Integrity algorithm settings, click Help for more information. If the files are the same, no transfer occurs. If the files are not the same, they are updated to the target site(s).
      Note: This option compares files before transferring them and therefore may reduce the transfer speed.
      Note: If ASCII Transfer Mode, OpenPGP, Compression Mode, or Append Mode transfer options are used, then the Skip unmodified files option is ignored.
  • Post Transfer Actions. See Post Transfer Actions.
  • Exclusions. See Exclusions.
  • Inclusions. See Inclusion Examples.