What's New in qFileSync 3.0?

qFileSync 3.0 was written from scratch, using almost none of the code from version 2.0. It has a new user interface and new synchronization system. New features include:

• Smart synchronization; conflict system; new way of looking at files
• Ability to use creation date when it seems appropriate
• An option allows qFileSync to create a base folder if it doesn't exist
• If you have three folders or more to synchronize, you can disable folders or choose to skip certain folders if they are inaccessible.
• Control over overwriting/deleting read/only and system files
• Improved interactive synchronization
  • You can now select multiple files and select an action for all of them
  • Information arranged in columns
  • Option to only show files that match certain criteria
  • Statistics shown below file list
• Interactive sync dialog now appears when conflicts arise
• Now uses Windows API functions instead of VB functions for most purposes. In particular, this speeds up file copying.
• Faster folder scanning, especially on large folders (no more "merging" step)

One feature was taken out: the ability to rename files. If there's much demand for it, I might put it back in.

Known issues

• qFileSync cannot set the creation date after copying a read-only file. The work-around for this requires an uncomfortable number of steps; I wish I could customize the behaviour of the CopyFile API.
• If an error occurs copying a file, the CopyFile API which I use to copy files returns that there was an error, but the error code is 0 (which actually means "success"). I fear I may need to copy the file manually to get around this.
• I think there is a bug in Windows itself, because similar behaviour can be observed in Explorer (Win 98). If you start to rename an item in the "Folders to synchronize" list, then immediately click the Sync Set name box, the cursor will not appear (although you can still type in the box).

Revision History: Older versions

New in qFileSync v2.0 Build 65

• OH NO! That little bug fix in 2.0 "final" caused a much larger problem: if a folder was selected when you started a synchronization, that folder's mode would be changed to "mirror".  This is caused by a quirk in VB which I have encountered before, but forgot when I did the "bug fix".
• Some people have had a problem when the file systems differed between the folders to be synchronized.  This is probably caused by a difference in time resolution between the file systems, and I've fixed it by calling two dates within one second of each other to be equal.  I have tested the new code in the usual way (by synchronizing my personal files) but remember, I am free of liability!

New in qFileSync v2.0 Final

• May 3, 2001: Fixed a tiny little bug; changed version from Beta 4 to Final
• August 11, 2000: Fixed case sensitivity problem
• June 14, 2000: Fixed fatal minimization bug
• Can resize main window horizontally when log is showing
• Changed to Confirm dialog box to show, in the list box, which directory has the most up-to-date file.

New in v2.0 Beta 3

• Spaces at beginning of filename allowed
• "Sync all sets" works
• Sorting algorithm bug fixed
• Made the the help option do something (namely, show this file)

New in v2.0:

• Name has been changed from FileSync to qFileSync. Why? A certain company complained to me that my program's name conflicted with theirs. I could have just squealed "Screw You" and scampered away, but I didn't. But if anybody wants another name change... well, forget it.
• Interactive synchronization dialog box. This allows you to verify and change the program's actions before they are taken. This is the most major new addition.
• Mirroring feature: you can now mirror a directory tree, in addition to backing up and synchronizing.
• Folder name filters: you can now specify filters on subfolder names.
• New user interface
• Simulated (fake) synchronization
• About box

New in v1.5:

• New command-line switches: /Q, /A, /L, /LR, /?
• Command-line switches can be referred to with a dash now: -S, -ST

New in v1.45:

• I have added a "Date Warning" feature, which warns you before transferring a file that has a date in the future. I added this feature after I lost about 20 hours of work when my laptop's system clock messed up.
• The current date is now shown in the title bar. Don't worry, it's Y2K compliant. It'll be about 2021 before it actually fails. ;^)

New in v1.4:

• I have added an "exclusion filter" box, where you can add filters you don't want copied. This overrides the desired filters, so for instance you could use:

  Name filters desired: *.*
  Exclusion filters: *.dat;*.dll;unwanted.*
  This would copy everything except files of type .dat and .dll, and files named "unwanted".

• All filters are processed in one pass. This speeds up synchronization when you have several file specs, especially when working over a slow connection such as direct cable connection.
• Bug fixed where AutoCreate reverts to "Ask Me".

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