1.17

17 files changed, 1495 insertions, 499 deletions

diff --git a/library/CustomGrid.cpp b/library/CustomGrid.cpp
index cf9adc6e..b8737343 100644
--- a/library/CustomGrid.cpp
+++ b/library/CustomGrid.cpp
@@ -4,6 +4,12 @@
 #include <wx/dc.h>
 #include "../algorithm.h"
 #include "resources.h"
+#include <typeinfo>
+
+#ifdef FFS_WIN
+#include <wx/icon.h>
+#include <wx/msw/wrapwin.h> //includes "windows.h"
+#endif  // FFS_WIN
 
 
 const unsigned int MIN_ROW_COUNT = 15;
@@ -93,35 +99,32 @@ public:
     //update dimensions of grid: no need for InsertRows, AppendRows, DeleteRows anymore!!!
     void updateGridSizes()
     {
-        if (gridRefUI)
-        {
-            const int currentNrRows = GetNumberRows();
+        const int currentNrRows = GetNumberRows();
 
-            if (lastNrRows < currentNrRows)
+        if (lastNrRows < currentNrRows)
+        {
+            if (GetView())
             {
-                if (GetView())
-                {
-                    wxGridTableMessage msg(this,
-                                           wxGRIDTABLE_NOTIFY_ROWS_APPENDED,
-                                           currentNrRows - lastNrRows);
+                wxGridTableMessage msg(this,
+                                       wxGRIDTABLE_NOTIFY_ROWS_APPENDED,
+                                       currentNrRows - lastNrRows);
 
-                    GetView()->ProcessTableMessage( msg );
-                }
+                GetView()->ProcessTableMessage( msg );
             }
-            else if (lastNrRows > currentNrRows)
+        }
+        else if (lastNrRows > currentNrRows)
+        {
+            if (GetView())
             {
-                if (GetView())
-                {
-                    wxGridTableMessage msg(this,
-                                           wxGRIDTABLE_NOTIFY_ROWS_DELETED,
-                                           0,
-                                           lastNrRows - currentNrRows);
+                wxGridTableMessage msg(this,
+                                       wxGRIDTABLE_NOTIFY_ROWS_DELETED,
+                                       0,
+                                       lastNrRows - currentNrRows);
 
-                    GetView()->ProcessTableMessage( msg );
-                }
+                GetView()->ProcessTableMessage( msg );
             }
-            lastNrRows = currentNrRows;
         }
+        lastNrRows = currentNrRows;
 
         const int currentNrCols = GetNumberCols();
 
@@ -203,6 +206,17 @@ public:
     }
 
 
+    const FileCompareLine* getRawData(const unsigned int row)
+    {
+        if (gridRefUI && row < gridRefUI->size())
+        {
+            const FileCompareLine& cmpLine = (*gridData)[(*gridRefUI)[row]];
+            return &cmpLine;
+        }
+        return NULL;
+    }
+
+
 protected:
     virtual const wxColour& getRowColor(int row) = 0; //rows that are filtered out are shown in different color
 
@@ -277,9 +291,9 @@ public:
                     case xmlAccess::FULL_NAME:
                         return gridLine.fileDescrLeft.fullName.c_str();
                     case xmlAccess::FILENAME: //filename
-                        return gridLine.fileDescrLeft.relativeName.AfterLast(GlobalResources::FILE_NAME_SEPARATOR).c_str();
+                        return wxString(gridLine.fileDescrLeft.relativeName.c_str()).AfterLast(GlobalResources::FILE_NAME_SEPARATOR);
                     case xmlAccess::REL_PATH: //relative path
-                        return gridLine.fileDescrLeft.relativeName.BeforeLast(GlobalResources::FILE_NAME_SEPARATOR).c_str();
+                        return wxString(gridLine.fileDescrLeft.relativeName.c_str()).BeforeLast(GlobalResources::FILE_NAME_SEPARATOR);
                     case xmlAccess::SIZE: //file size
                     {
                         wxString fileSize = gridLine.fileDescrLeft.fileSize.ToString(); //tmp string
@@ -304,6 +318,7 @@ public:
     {
         lastNrCols = 1; //ensure CustomGridTable::updateGridSizes() is working correctly
     }
+
     ~CustomGridTableMiddle() {}
 
     //virtual impl.
@@ -313,21 +328,6 @@ public:
     }
 
 
-    int selectedForSynchronization(const unsigned int row) // 0 == false, 1 == true, -1 == not defined
-    {
-        if (gridRefUI && row < gridRefUI->size())
-        {
-            const FileCompareLine cmpLine = (*gridData)[(*gridRefUI)[row]];
-
-            if (cmpLine.selectedForSynchronization)
-                return 1;
-            else
-                return 0;
-        }
-        return -1;
-    }
-
-
     virtual const wxColour& getRowColor(int row) //rows that are filtered out are shown in different color
     {
         if (gridRefUI && unsigned(row) < gridRefUI->size())
@@ -446,9 +446,9 @@ public:
                     case xmlAccess::FULL_NAME:
                         return gridLine.fileDescrRight.fullName.c_str();
                     case xmlAccess::FILENAME: //filename
-                        return gridLine.fileDescrRight.relativeName.AfterLast(GlobalResources::FILE_NAME_SEPARATOR).c_str();
+                        return wxString(gridLine.fileDescrRight.relativeName.c_str()).AfterLast(GlobalResources::FILE_NAME_SEPARATOR);
                     case xmlAccess::REL_PATH: //relative path
-                        return gridLine.fileDescrRight.relativeName.BeforeLast(GlobalResources::FILE_NAME_SEPARATOR).c_str();
+                        return wxString(gridLine.fileDescrRight.relativeName.c_str()).BeforeLast(GlobalResources::FILE_NAME_SEPARATOR);
                     case xmlAccess::SIZE: //file size
                     {
                         wxString fileSize = gridLine.fileDescrRight.fileSize.ToString(); //tmp string
@@ -478,7 +478,7 @@ CustomGrid::CustomGrid(wxWindow *parent,
         wxGrid(parent, id, pos, size, style, name),
         leadGrid(NULL),
         scrollbarsEnabled(true),
-        m_gridLeft(NULL), m_gridRight(NULL), m_gridMiddle(NULL),
+        m_gridLeft(NULL), m_gridMiddle(NULL), m_gridRight(NULL),
         gridDataTable(NULL),
         currentSortColumn(-1),
         sortMarker(NULL)
@@ -487,10 +487,24 @@ CustomGrid::CustomGrid(wxWindow *parent,
     wxColour darkBlue(40, 35, 140);
     SetSelectionBackground(darkBlue);
     SetSelectionForeground(*wxWHITE);
+
+    //enhance grid functionality; identify leading grid by keyboard input or scroll action
+    Connect(wxEVT_KEY_DOWN,               wxEventHandler(CustomGrid::onGridAccess), NULL, this);
+    Connect(wxEVT_SCROLLWIN_TOP,          wxEventHandler(CustomGrid::onGridAccess), NULL, this);
+    Connect(wxEVT_SCROLLWIN_BOTTOM,       wxEventHandler(CustomGrid::onGridAccess), NULL, this);
+    Connect(wxEVT_SCROLLWIN_LINEUP,       wxEventHandler(CustomGrid::onGridAccess), NULL, this);
+    Connect(wxEVT_SCROLLWIN_LINEDOWN,     wxEventHandler(CustomGrid::onGridAccess), NULL, this);
+    Connect(wxEVT_SCROLLWIN_PAGEUP,       wxEventHandler(CustomGrid::onGridAccess), NULL, this);
+    Connect(wxEVT_SCROLLWIN_PAGEDOWN,     wxEventHandler(CustomGrid::onGridAccess), NULL, this);
+    Connect(wxEVT_SCROLLWIN_THUMBTRACK,   wxEventHandler(CustomGrid::onGridAccess), NULL, this);
+    Connect(wxEVT_SCROLLWIN_THUMBRELEASE, wxEventHandler(CustomGrid::onGridAccess), NULL, this);
+    Connect(wxEVT_GRID_LABEL_LEFT_CLICK,  wxEventHandler(CustomGrid::onGridAccess), NULL, this);
+    GetGridWindow()->Connect(wxEVT_LEFT_DOWN, wxEventHandler(CustomGrid::onGridAccess), NULL, this);
 }
 
 
-void CustomGrid::initSettings(bool enableScrollbars,
+void CustomGrid::initSettings(const bool enableScrollbars,
+                              const bool showFileIcons,
                               CustomGrid* gridLeft,
                               CustomGrid* gridRight,
                               CustomGrid* gridMiddle,
@@ -508,6 +522,221 @@ void CustomGrid::initSettings(bool enableScrollbars,
     //set underlying grid data
     assert(gridDataTable);
     gridDataTable->setGridDataTable(gridRefUI, gridData);
+
+    this->initGridRenderer(showFileIcons);
+
+    GetGridWindow()->Connect(wxEVT_ENTER_WINDOW, wxEventHandler(CustomGrid::adjustGridHeights), NULL, this);
+}
+
+
+inline
+bool gridsShouldBeCleared(const wxEvent& event)
+{
+    try
+    {
+        const wxMouseEvent& mouseEvent = dynamic_cast<const wxMouseEvent&> (event);
+
+        if (mouseEvent.ControlDown() || mouseEvent.ShiftDown())
+            return false;
+
+        if (mouseEvent.ButtonDown(wxMOUSE_BTN_LEFT))
+            return true;
+
+        return false;
+    }
+    catch (std::bad_cast&) {}
+
+    try
+    {
+        const wxKeyEvent& keyEvent = dynamic_cast<const wxKeyEvent&> (event);
+
+        if (keyEvent.ControlDown() || keyEvent.ShiftDown())
+            return false;
+
+        switch (keyEvent.GetKeyCode())
+        {
+        case WXK_SPACE:
+        case WXK_TAB:
+        case WXK_RETURN:
+        case WXK_ESCAPE:
+        case WXK_NUMPAD_ENTER:
+        case WXK_LEFT:
+        case WXK_UP:
+        case WXK_RIGHT:
+        case WXK_DOWN:
+        case WXK_PAGEUP:
+        case WXK_PAGEDOWN:
+        case WXK_NUMPAD_PAGEUP:
+        case WXK_NUMPAD_PAGEDOWN:
+        case WXK_HOME:
+        case WXK_END:
+        case WXK_NUMPAD_HOME:
+        case WXK_NUMPAD_END:
+            return true;
+
+        default:
+            return false;
+        }
+    }
+    catch (std::bad_cast&) {}
+
+    return false;
+}
+
+
+inline
+void moveCursorWhileSelecting(const int anchor, const int oldPos, const int newPos, wxGrid* grid)
+{   //note: all positions are valid in this context!
+
+    grid->SetGridCursor(newPos, grid->GetGridCursorCol());
+    grid->MakeCellVisible(newPos, grid->GetGridCursorCol());
+
+    if (oldPos < newPos)
+    {
+        for (int i = oldPos; i < std::min(anchor, newPos); ++i)
+            grid->DeselectRow(i); //remove selection
+
+        for (int i = std::max(oldPos, anchor); i <= newPos; ++i)
+            grid->SelectRow(i, true); //add to selection
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        for (int i = std::max(newPos, anchor) + 1; i <= oldPos; ++i)
+            grid->DeselectRow(i); //remove selection
+
+        for (int i = newPos; i <= std::min(oldPos, anchor); ++i)
+            grid->SelectRow(i, true); //add to selection
+    }
+}
+
+
+inline
+void additionalGridCommands(wxEvent& event, wxGrid* grid)
+{
+    static int anchorRow = 0;
+    assert(grid->GetNumberRows() != 0);
+
+    try
+    {
+        const wxKeyEvent& keyEvent = dynamic_cast<const wxKeyEvent&> (event);
+
+        if (keyEvent.ShiftDown())
+        {
+            //ensure cursorOldPos is always a valid row!
+            const int cursorOldPos = std::max(std::min(grid->GetGridCursorRow(), grid->GetNumberRows() - 1), 0);
+
+            //support for shift + PageUp and shift + PageDown
+            switch (keyEvent.GetKeyCode())
+            {
+            case WXK_UP: //move grid cursor also
+            {
+                const int cursorNewPos = std::max(cursorOldPos - 1, 0);
+                moveCursorWhileSelecting(anchorRow, cursorOldPos, cursorNewPos, grid);
+            }
+            return; //no event.Skip()
+
+            case WXK_DOWN: //move grid cursor also
+            {
+                const int cursorNewPos = std::min(cursorOldPos + 1, grid->GetNumberRows() - 1);
+                moveCursorWhileSelecting(anchorRow, cursorOldPos, cursorNewPos, grid);
+            }
+            return; //no event.Skip()
+
+            case WXK_PAGEUP:
+            case WXK_NUMPAD_PAGEUP:
+            {
+                const int rowsPerPage  = grid->GetGridWindow()->GetSize().GetHeight() / grid->GetDefaultRowSize();
+                const int cursorNewPos = std::max(cursorOldPos - rowsPerPage, 0);
+                moveCursorWhileSelecting(anchorRow, cursorOldPos, cursorNewPos, grid);
+            }
+            return; //no event.Skip()
+
+            case WXK_PAGEDOWN:
+            case WXK_NUMPAD_PAGEDOWN:
+            {
+                const int rowsPerPage  = grid->GetGridWindow()->GetSize().GetHeight() / grid->GetDefaultRowSize();
+                const int cursorNewPos = std::min(cursorOldPos + rowsPerPage, grid->GetNumberRows() - 1);
+                moveCursorWhileSelecting(anchorRow, cursorOldPos, cursorNewPos, grid);
+            }
+            return; //no event.Skip()
+
+            case WXK_HOME:
+            case WXK_NUMPAD_HOME:
+            {
+                const int cursorNewPos = 0;
+                moveCursorWhileSelecting(anchorRow, cursorOldPos, cursorNewPos, grid);
+            }
+            return; //no event.Skip()
+
+            case WXK_END:
+            case WXK_NUMPAD_END:
+            {
+                const int cursorNewPos = grid->GetNumberRows() - 1;
+                moveCursorWhileSelecting(anchorRow, cursorOldPos, cursorNewPos, grid);
+            }
+            return; //no event.Skip()
+
+            }
+        }
+        else //button without shift is pressed
+        {
+            switch (keyEvent.GetKeyCode())
+            {
+            case WXK_HOME:
+            case WXK_NUMPAD_HOME:
+                grid->SetGridCursor(0, grid->GetGridCursorCol());
+                grid->MakeCellVisible(0, grid->GetGridCursorCol());
+                return; //no event.Skip()
+
+            case WXK_END:
+            case WXK_NUMPAD_END:
+                grid->SetGridCursor(grid->GetNumberRows() - 1, grid->GetGridCursorCol());
+                grid->MakeCellVisible(grid->GetNumberRows() - 1, grid->GetGridCursorCol());
+                return; //no event.Skip()
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    catch (std::bad_cast&) {}
+
+    anchorRow = grid->GetGridCursorRow();
+    event.Skip();
+}
+
+
+void CustomGrid::onGridAccess(wxEvent& event)
+{
+    if (leadGrid != this)
+    {
+        leadGrid = this;
+
+        //notify grids of new user focus
+        m_gridLeft->leadGrid   = this;
+        m_gridMiddle->leadGrid = this;
+        m_gridRight->leadGrid  = this;
+
+        wxGrid::SetFocus();
+    }
+
+    if (gridsShouldBeCleared(event))
+    {
+        m_gridLeft->ClearSelection();
+        m_gridRight->ClearSelection();
+    }
+
+    //support for additional short-cuts
+    additionalGridCommands(event, this); //event.Skip is handled here!
+}
+
+
+const wxGrid* CustomGrid::getLeadGrid()
+{
+    return leadGrid;
+}
+
+
+bool CustomGrid::isLeadGrid()
+{
+    return leadGrid == static_cast<const wxGrid*>(this);
 }
 
 
@@ -522,7 +751,7 @@ void CustomGrid::SetScrollbar(int orientation, int position, int thumbSize, int
 
 
 //workaround: ensure that all grids are properly aligned: add some extra window space to grids that have no horizontal scrollbar
-void CustomGrid::adjustGridHeights() //m_gridLeft, m_gridRight, m_gridMiddle are not NULL in this context
+void CustomGrid::adjustGridHeights(wxEvent& event) //m_gridLeft, m_gridRight, m_gridMiddle are not NULL in this context
 {
     int y1 = 0;
     int y2 = 0;
@@ -540,17 +769,17 @@ void CustomGrid::adjustGridHeights() //m_gridLeft, m_gridRight, m_gridMiddle are
         if (leadGrid == m_gridLeft)  //do not handle case (y1 == yMax) here!!! Avoid back coupling!
             m_gridLeft->SetMargins(0, 0);
         else if (y1 < yMax)
-            m_gridLeft->SetMargins(0, 50);
+            m_gridLeft->SetMargins(0, 30);
 
         if (leadGrid == m_gridRight)
             m_gridRight->SetMargins(0, 0);
         else if (y2 < yMax)
-            m_gridRight->SetMargins(0, 50);
+            m_gridRight->SetMargins(0, 30);
 
         if (leadGrid == m_gridMiddle)
             m_gridMiddle->SetMargins(0, 0);
         else if (y3 < yMax)
-            m_gridMiddle->SetMargins(0, 50);
+            m_gridMiddle->SetMargins(0, 30);
 
         m_gridLeft->ForceRefresh();
         m_gridRight->ForceRefresh();
@@ -559,12 +788,6 @@ void CustomGrid::adjustGridHeights() //m_gridLeft, m_gridRight, m_gridMiddle are
 }
 
 
-void CustomGrid::setLeadGrid(const wxGrid* newLead)
-{
-    leadGrid = newLead;
-}
-
-
 void CustomGrid::updateGridSizes()
 {
     assert(gridDataTable);
@@ -755,12 +978,99 @@ CustomGridLeft::CustomGridLeft(wxWindow *parent,
         CustomGrid(parent, id, pos, size, style, name) {}
 
 
+template <bool leftSide, bool showFileIcons>
+class GridCellRenderer : public wxGridCellStringRenderer
+{
+public:
+    GridCellRenderer(CustomGridTable* gridDataTable) : m_gridDataTable(gridDataTable) {};
+
+
+    virtual void Draw(wxGrid& grid,
+                      wxGridCellAttr& attr,
+                      wxDC& dc,
+                      const wxRect& rect,
+                      int row, int col,
+                      bool isSelected)
+    {
+#ifdef FFS_WIN
+        //############## show windows explorer file icons ######################
+
+        if (showFileIcons) //evaluate at compile time
+        {
+            const int ICON_SIZE = 16; //size in pixel
+
+            if (    m_gridDataTable->getTypeAtPos(col) == xmlAccess::FILENAME &&
+                    rect.GetWidth() >= ICON_SIZE)
+            {
+                //retrieve grid data
+                const FileCompareLine* rowData = m_gridDataTable->getRawData(row);
+                if (rowData) //valid row
+                {
+                    const DefaultChar* filename;
+                    if (leftSide) //evaluate at compile time
+                        filename = rowData->fileDescrLeft.fullName.c_str();
+                    else
+                        filename = rowData->fileDescrRight.fullName.c_str();
+
+                    if (*filename != 0) //test if filename is empty
+                    {
+                        // Get the file icon.
+                        SHFILEINFO fileInfo;
+                        if (SHGetFileInfo(filename,
+                                          0,
+                                          &fileInfo,
+                                          sizeof(fileInfo),
+                                          SHGFI_ICON | SHGFI_SMALLICON))
+                        {
+                            wxIcon icon;
+                            icon.SetHICON((WXHICON)fileInfo.hIcon);
+                            icon.SetSize(ICON_SIZE, ICON_SIZE);
+
+                            //clear area where icon will be placed
+                            wxRect rectShrinked(rect);
+                            rectShrinked.SetWidth(ICON_SIZE + 2); //add 2 pixel border
+
+                            dc.SetPen(*wxWHITE_PEN);
+                            dc.SetBrush(*wxWHITE_BRUSH);
+                            dc.DrawRectangle(rectShrinked);
+
+                            //draw icon
+                            dc.DrawIcon(icon, rectShrinked.GetX() + 2, rectShrinked.GetY());
+
+                            rectShrinked.SetWidth(rect.GetWidth() - ICON_SIZE - 2);
+                            rectShrinked.SetX(rect.GetX() + ICON_SIZE + 2);
+                            wxGridCellStringRenderer::Draw(grid, attr, dc, rectShrinked, row, col, isSelected);
+
+                            if (!DestroyIcon(fileInfo.hIcon))
+                                throw RuntimeException(wxString(wxT("Error deallocating Icon handle!\n\n")) + FreeFileSync::getLastErrorFormatted());
+
+                            return;
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        //default
+        wxGridCellStringRenderer::Draw(grid, attr, dc, rect, row, col, isSelected);
+
+#elif defined FFS_LINUX
+        wxGridCellStringRenderer::Draw(grid, attr, dc, rect, row, col, isSelected);
+#endif
+    }
+
+private:
+    CustomGridTable* m_gridDataTable;
+};
+
+
+
 bool CustomGridLeft::CreateGrid(int numRows, int numCols, wxGrid::wxGridSelectionModes selmode)
 {
     //use custom wxGridTableBase class for management of large sets of formatted data.
     //This is done in CreateGrid instead of SetTable method since source code is generated and wxFormbuilder invokes CreatedGrid by default.
     gridDataTable = new CustomGridTableLeft();
     SetTable(gridDataTable, true, wxGrid::wxGridSelectRows);  //give ownership to wxGrid: gridDataTable is deleted automatically in wxGrid destructor
+
     return true;
 }
 
@@ -776,11 +1086,19 @@ void CustomGridLeft::DoPrepareDC(wxDC& dc)
         GetViewStart(&x, &y);
         m_gridMiddle->Scroll(-1, y); //scroll in y-direction only
         m_gridRight->Scroll(x, y);
-        adjustGridHeights(); //keep here to ensure m_gridLeft, m_gridRight, m_gridMiddle != NULL
     }
 }
 
 
+void CustomGridLeft::initGridRenderer(const bool showFileIcons)
+{
+    if (showFileIcons)
+        SetDefaultRenderer(new GridCellRenderer<true, true>(gridDataTable)); //SetDefaultRenderer takes ownership!
+    else
+        SetDefaultRenderer(new GridCellRenderer<true, false>(gridDataTable));
+}
+
+
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 CustomGridMiddle::CustomGridMiddle(wxWindow *parent,
                                    wxWindowID id,
@@ -788,17 +1106,77 @@ CustomGridMiddle::CustomGridMiddle(wxWindow *parent,
                                    const wxSize& size,
                                    long style,
                                    const wxString& name) :
-        CustomGrid(parent, id, pos, size, style, name) {}
+        CustomGrid(parent, id, pos, size, style, name)
+{
+    const wxString header = _("Legend");
+    wxString toolTip = header + wxT("\n") +
+                       wxString().Pad(header.Len(), wxChar('-')) + wxT("\n") +
+                       _("<|	file on left side only\n") +
+                       _("|>	file on right side only\n") +
+                       _("<<	left file is newer\n") +
+                       _(">>	right file is newer\n") +
+                       _("!=	files are different\n") +
+                       _("==	files are equal\n\n");
+    GetGridWindow()->SetToolTip(toolTip);
+}
+
+
+class GridCellRendererMiddle : public wxGridCellStringRenderer
+{
+public:
+    GridCellRendererMiddle(CustomGridTable* gridDataTable) : m_gridDataTable(gridDataTable) {};
+
+
+    virtual void Draw(wxGrid& grid,
+                      wxGridCellAttr& attr,
+                      wxDC& dc,
+                      const wxRect& rect,
+                      int row, int col,
+                      bool isSelected)
+    {
+        //retrieve grid data
+        const FileCompareLine* rowData = m_gridDataTable->getRawData(row);
+        if (!rowData) //no valid row
+        {
+            wxGridCellStringRenderer::Draw(grid, attr, dc, rect, row, col, isSelected);
+            return;
+        }
+
+        const int shift = std::min(11 + 3, rect.GetWidth()); //11 is width of checkbox image
+
+        wxRect rectShrinked(rect);
+
+        //clean first block of rect that will receive image of checkbox
+        rectShrinked.SetWidth(shift);
+        dc.SetPen(*wxWHITE_PEN);
+        dc.SetBrush(*wxWHITE_BRUSH);
+        dc.DrawRectangle(rectShrinked);
+
+        //print image into first block
+        rectShrinked.SetX(1);
+        if (rowData->selectedForSynchronization)
+            dc.DrawLabel(wxEmptyString, *globalResource.bitmapCheckBoxTrue, rectShrinked, wxALIGN_LEFT | wxALIGN_CENTER_VERTICAL);
+        else
+            dc.DrawLabel(wxEmptyString, *globalResource.bitmapCheckBoxFalse, rectShrinked, wxALIGN_LEFT | wxALIGN_CENTER_VERTICAL);
+
+        //print second block (default): display compare result
+        rectShrinked.SetWidth(rect.GetWidth() - shift);
+        rectShrinked.SetX(shift);
+        wxGridCellStringRenderer::Draw(grid, attr, dc, rectShrinked, row, col, isSelected);
+    }
+
+private:
+    CustomGridTable* m_gridDataTable;
+};
 
 
 bool CustomGridMiddle::CreateGrid(int numRows, int numCols, wxGrid::wxGridSelectionModes selmode)
 {
-    CustomGridTableMiddle* newTable = new CustomGridTableMiddle();
-    gridDataTable = newTable;
+    gridDataTable = new CustomGridTableMiddle();
     SetTable(gridDataTable, true, wxGrid::wxGridSelectRows);  //give ownership to wxGrid: gridDataTable is deleted automatically in wxGrid destructor
 
     //display checkboxes (representing bool values) if row is enabled for synchronization
-    SetDefaultRenderer(new GridCellRendererAddCheckbox(newTable)); //SetDefaultRenderer takes ownership!
+    SetDefaultRenderer(new GridCellRendererMiddle(gridDataTable)); //SetDefaultRenderer takes ownership!
 
     return true;
 }
@@ -815,46 +1193,7 @@ void CustomGridMiddle::DoPrepareDC(wxDC& dc)
         GetViewStart(&x, &y);
         m_gridLeft->Scroll(-1, y);
         m_gridRight->Scroll(-1, y);
-        adjustGridHeights(); //keep here to ensure m_gridLeft, m_gridRight, m_gridMiddle != NULL
-    }
-}
-
-
-void CustomGridMiddle::GridCellRendererAddCheckbox::Draw(wxGrid& grid,
-        wxGridCellAttr& attr,
-        wxDC& dc,
-        const wxRect& rect,
-        int row, int col,
-        bool isSelected)
-{
-    const int selected = m_gridDataTable->selectedForSynchronization(row);
-    if (selected < 0) //no valid row
-    {
-        wxGridCellStringRenderer::Draw(grid, attr, dc, rect, row, col, isSelected);
-        return;
     }
-
-    const int shift = std::min(11 + 3, rect.GetWidth()); //11 is width of checkbox image
-
-    wxRect rectShrinked(rect);
-
-    //clean first block of rect that will receive image of checkbox
-    rectShrinked.SetWidth(shift);
-    dc.SetPen(*wxWHITE_PEN);
-    dc.SetBrush(*wxWHITE_BRUSH);
-    dc.DrawRectangle(rectShrinked);
-
-    //print image into first block
-    rectShrinked.SetX(1);
-    if (selected > 0)
-        dc.DrawLabel(wxEmptyString, *globalResource.bitmapCheckBoxTrue, rectShrinked, wxALIGN_LEFT | wxALIGN_CENTER_VERTICAL);
-    else //if (selected == 0) -> redundant
-        dc.DrawLabel(wxEmptyString, *globalResource.bitmapCheckBoxFalse, rectShrinked, wxALIGN_LEFT | wxALIGN_CENTER_VERTICAL);
-
-    //print second block (default): display compare result
-    rectShrinked.SetWidth(rect.GetWidth() - shift);
-    rectShrinked.SetX(shift);
-    wxGridCellStringRenderer::Draw(grid, attr, dc, rectShrinked, row, col, isSelected);
 }
 
 
@@ -872,6 +1211,7 @@ bool CustomGridRight::CreateGrid(int numRows, int numCols, wxGrid::wxGridSelecti
 {
     gridDataTable = new CustomGridTableRight();
     SetTable(gridDataTable, true, wxGrid::wxGridSelectRows);  //give ownership to wxGrid: gridDataTable is deleted automatically in wxGrid destructor
+
     return true;
 }
 
@@ -887,6 +1227,14 @@ void CustomGridRight::DoPrepareDC(wxDC& dc)
         GetViewStart(&x, &y);
         m_gridLeft->Scroll(x, y);
         m_gridMiddle->Scroll(-1, y);
-        adjustGridHeights(); //keep here to ensure m_gridLeft, m_gridRight, m_gridMiddle != NULL
     }
 }
+
+
+void CustomGridRight::initGridRenderer(const bool showFileIcons)
+{
+    if (showFileIcons)
+        SetDefaultRenderer(new GridCellRenderer<false, true>(gridDataTable)); //SetDefaultRenderer takes ownership!
+    else
+        SetDefaultRenderer(new GridCellRenderer<false, false>(gridDataTable));
+}
diff --git a/library/CustomGrid.h b/library/CustomGrid.h
index 8f392975..14d62255 100644
--- a/library/CustomGrid.h
+++ b/library/CustomGrid.h
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ using namespace FreeFileSync;
 
 
 class CustomGridTable;
-class CustomGridTableMiddle;
 //##################################################################################
 
 class CustomGrid : public wxGrid
@@ -30,13 +29,16 @@ public:
 
     virtual void DrawColLabel(wxDC& dc, int col);
 
-    void initSettings(bool enableScrollbars,
+    void initSettings(const bool enableScrollbars,
+                      const bool showFileIcons,
                       CustomGrid* gridLeft,
                       CustomGrid* gridRight,
                       CustomGrid* gridMiddle,
                       GridView* gridRefUI,
                       FileCompareResult* gridData);
 
+    virtual void initGridRenderer(const bool showFileIcons) = 0;
+
     //notify wxGrid that underlying table size has changed
     void updateGridSizes();
 
@@ -52,19 +54,20 @@ public:
 
     static wxString getTypeName(xmlAccess::ColumnTypes colType);
 
-    void setLeadGrid(const wxGrid* newLead);
+    const wxGrid* getLeadGrid();
+    bool isLeadGrid();
 
 protected:
-    //set visibility, position and width of columns
-    xmlAccess::ColumnAttributes columnSettings;
+    void onGridAccess(wxEvent& event);
+    void adjustGridHeights(wxEvent& event);
 
-    void adjustGridHeights();
+    xmlAccess::ColumnAttributes columnSettings; //set visibility, position and width of columns
 
     const wxGrid* leadGrid; //grid that has user focus
     bool scrollbarsEnabled;
     CustomGrid* m_gridLeft;
-    CustomGrid* m_gridRight;
     CustomGrid* m_gridMiddle;
+    CustomGrid* m_gridRight;
 
     CustomGridTable* gridDataTable;
 
@@ -72,6 +75,7 @@ protected:
     const wxBitmap* sortMarker;
 };
 
+//############## SPECIALIZATIONS ###################
 
 class CustomGridLeft : public CustomGrid
 {
@@ -89,6 +93,8 @@ public:
     virtual void DoPrepareDC(wxDC& dc);
 
     virtual bool CreateGrid(int numRows, int numCols, wxGrid::wxGridSelectionModes selmode = wxGrid::wxGridSelectCells);
+
+    virtual void initGridRenderer(const bool showFileIcons);
 };
 
 
@@ -109,24 +115,7 @@ public:
 
     virtual bool CreateGrid(int numRows, int numCols, wxGrid::wxGridSelectionModes selmode = wxGrid::wxGridSelectCells);
 
-private:
-
-    class GridCellRendererAddCheckbox : public wxGridCellStringRenderer
-    {
-    public:
-        GridCellRendererAddCheckbox(CustomGridTableMiddle* gridDataTable) : m_gridDataTable(gridDataTable) {};
-
-
-        virtual void Draw(wxGrid& grid,
-                          wxGridCellAttr& attr,
-                          wxDC& dc,
-                          const wxRect& rect,
-                          int row, int col,
-                          bool isSelected);
-
-    private:
-        CustomGridTableMiddle* m_gridDataTable;
-    };
+    virtual void initGridRenderer(const bool showFileIcons) {}
 };
 
 
@@ -146,6 +135,8 @@ public:
     virtual void DoPrepareDC(wxDC& dc);
 
     virtual bool CreateGrid(int numRows, int numCols, wxGrid::wxGridSelectionModes selmode = wxGrid::wxGridSelectCells);
+
+    virtual void initGridRenderer(const bool showFileIcons);
 };
 
 #endif // CUSTOMGRID_H_INCLUDED
diff --git a/library/fileHandling.cpp b/library/fileHandling.cpp
index cda81ef5..0dccdec7 100644
--- a/library/fileHandling.cpp
+++ b/library/fileHandling.cpp
@@ -6,7 +6,16 @@
 
 #ifdef FFS_WIN
 #include <wx/msw/wrapwin.h> //includes "windows.h"
-#endif  // FFS_WIN
+
+#elif defined FFS_LINUX
+#include <sys/stat.h>
+#include <time.h>
+#include <utime.h>
+#include <fstream>
+#include <unistd.h>
+#include <dirent.h>
+#include <errno.h>
+#endif
 
 
 class RecycleBin
@@ -40,7 +49,7 @@ public:
         fileOp.wFunc  = FO_DELETE;
         fileOp.pFrom  = filenameDoubleNull.c_str();
         fileOp.pTo    = NULL;
-        fileOp.fFlags = FOF_ALLOWUNDO | FOF_NOCONFIRMATION | FOF_SILENT;
+        fileOp.fFlags = FOF_ALLOWUNDO | FOF_NOCONFIRMATION | FOF_SILENT | FOF_NOERRORUI;
         fileOp.fAnyOperationsAborted = false;
         fileOp.hNameMappings         = NULL;
         fileOp.lpszProgressTitle     = NULL;
@@ -75,10 +84,35 @@ bool moveToRecycleBin(const Zstring& filename) throw(RuntimeException)
 }
 
 
-inline
+bool FreeFileSync::fileExists(const Zstring& filename)
+{ //symbolic links (broken or not) are also treated as existing files!
+#ifdef FFS_WIN
+    // we must use GetFileAttributes() instead of the ANSI C functions because
+    // it can cope with network (UNC) paths unlike them
+    const DWORD ret = ::GetFileAttributes(filename.c_str());
+
+    return (ret != INVALID_FILE_ATTRIBUTES) && !(ret & FILE_ATTRIBUTE_DIRECTORY);
+
+#elif defined FFS_LINUX
+    struct stat fileInfo;
+    return (lstat(filename.c_str(), &fileInfo) == 0 &&
+            (S_ISLNK(fileInfo.st_mode) || S_ISREG(fileInfo.st_mode)));
+#endif
+}
+
+
 void FreeFileSync::removeFile(const Zstring& filename, const bool useRecycleBin)
 {
-    if (!wxFileExists(filename.c_str())) return; //this is NOT an error situation: the manual deletion relies on it!
+    //no error situation if file is not existing! manual deletion relies on it!
+#ifdef FFS_WIN
+    if (GetFileAttributes(filename.c_str()) == INVALID_FILE_ATTRIBUTES)
+        return; //neither file nor any other object with that name existing
+
+#elif defined FFS_LINUX
+    struct stat fileInfo;
+    if (lstat(filename.c_str(), &fileInfo) != 0)
+        return; //neither file nor any other object (e.g. broken symlink) with that name existing
+#endif
 
     if (useRecycleBin)
     {
@@ -103,61 +137,218 @@ void FreeFileSync::removeFile(const Zstring& filename, const bool useRecycleBin)
         Zstring errorMessage = Zstring(_("Error deleting file:")) + wxT("\n\"") + filename + wxT("\"");
         throw FileError(errorMessage + wxT("\n\n") + FreeFileSync::getLastErrorFormatted());
     }
-#else
-    if (!wxRemoveFile(filename.c_str()))
-        throw FileError(Zstring(_("Error deleting file:")) + wxT("\n\"") + filename + wxT("\""));
+#elif defined FFS_LINUX
+    if (unlink(filename.c_str()) != 0)
+    {
+        Zstring errorMessage = Zstring(_("Error deleting file:")) + wxT("\n\"") + filename + wxT("\"");
+        throw FileError(errorMessage + wxT("\n\n") + FreeFileSync::getLastErrorFormatted());
+    }
 #endif
 }
 
 
-void FreeFileSync::removeDirectory(const Zstring& directory, const bool useRecycleBin)
+class FilesDirsOnlyTraverser : public FreeFileSync::FullDetailFileTraverser
 {
-    if (!wxDirExists(directory)) return; //this is NOT an error situation: the manual deletion relies on it!
+public:
+    FilesDirsOnlyTraverser(std::vector<Zstring>& files, std::vector<Zstring>& dirs) :
+            m_files(files),
+            m_dirs(dirs) {}
 
-    if (useRecycleBin)
+    virtual wxDirTraverseResult OnFile(const Zstring& filename, const FreeFileSync::FileInfo& details)
     {
-        if (!moveToRecycleBin(directory))
-            throw FileError(Zstring(_("Error moving to Recycle Bin:")) + wxT("\n\"") + directory + wxT("\""));
-        return;
+        m_files.push_back(filename);
+        return wxDIR_CONTINUE;
+    }
+    virtual wxDirTraverseResult OnDir(const Zstring& dirname)
+    {
+        m_dirs.push_back(dirname);
+        return wxDIR_IGNORE; //DON'T traverse into subdirs, removeDirectory works recursively!
+    }
+    virtual wxDirTraverseResult OnError(const Zstring& errorText)
+    {
+        throw FileError(errorText);
     }
 
-    std::vector<Zstring> fileList;
-    std::vector<Zstring> dirList;
+private:
+    std::vector<Zstring>& m_files;
+    std::vector<Zstring>& m_dirs;
+};
 
-    getAllFilesAndDirs(directory, fileList, dirList);
 
-    for (unsigned int j = 0; j < fileList.size(); ++j)
-        removeFile(fileList[j], false);
+void FreeFileSync::removeDirectory(const Zstring& directory, const bool useRecycleBin)
+{
+    //no error situation if directory is not existing! manual deletion relies on it!
+#ifdef FFS_WIN
+    const DWORD dirAttr = GetFileAttributes(directory.c_str()); //name of a file or directory
+    if (dirAttr == INVALID_FILE_ATTRIBUTES)
+        return; //neither directory nor any other object with that name existing
 
-    dirList.insert(dirList.begin(), directory);   //parent directory will be deleted last
+#elif defined FFS_LINUX
+    struct stat dirInfo;
+    if (lstat(directory.c_str(), &dirInfo) != 0)
+        return; //neither directory nor any other object (e.g. broken symlink) with that name existing
+#endif
 
-    for (int j = int(dirList.size()) - 1; j >= 0 ; --j)
+    if (useRecycleBin)
     {
+        if (!moveToRecycleBin(directory))
+            throw FileError(Zstring(_("Error moving to Recycle Bin:")) + wxT("\n\"") + directory + wxT("\""));
+        return;
+    }
+
+//attention: check if directory is a symlink! Do NOT traverse into it deleting contained files!!!
 #ifdef FFS_WIN
-        //initialize file attributes
-        if (!SetFileAttributes(
-                    dirList[j].c_str(),     // address of directory name
-                    FILE_ATTRIBUTE_NORMAL)) // attributes to set
+    if (dirAttr & FILE_ATTRIBUTE_REPARSE_POINT)
+    {   //remove symlink directly, support for \\?\-prefix
+        if (RemoveDirectory(directory.c_str()) == 0)
         {
-            Zstring errorMessage = Zstring(_("Error deleting directory:")) + wxT("\n\"") + dirList[j] + wxT("\"");
+            Zstring errorMessage = Zstring(_("Error deleting directory:")) + wxT("\n\"") + directory + wxT("\"");
             throw FileError(errorMessage + wxT("\n\n") + FreeFileSync::getLastErrorFormatted());
         }
+        return;
+    }
 
-        //remove directory, support for \\?\-prefix
-        if (RemoveDirectory(dirList[j].c_str()) == 0)
+#elif defined FFS_LINUX
+    if (S_ISLNK(dirInfo.st_mode))
+    {
+        if (unlink(directory.c_str()) != 0)
         {
-            Zstring errorMessage = Zstring(_("Error deleting directory:")) + wxT("\n\"") + dirList[j] + wxT("\"");
+            Zstring errorMessage = Zstring(_("Error deleting directory:")) + wxT("\n\"") + directory + wxT("\"");
             throw FileError(errorMessage + wxT("\n\n") + FreeFileSync::getLastErrorFormatted());
         }
+        return;
+    }
+#endif
+
+    std::vector<Zstring> fileList;
+    std::vector<Zstring> dirList;
+
+    //get all files and directories from current directory (WITHOUT subdirectories!)
+    FilesDirsOnlyTraverser traverser(fileList, dirList);
+    FreeFileSync::traverseInDetail(directory, false, &traverser); //don't traverse into symlinks to directories
+
+    //delete files
+    for (std::vector<Zstring>::const_iterator j = fileList.begin(); j != fileList.end(); ++j)
+        FreeFileSync::removeFile(*j, false);
+
+    //delete directories recursively
+    for (std::vector<Zstring>::const_iterator j = dirList.begin(); j != dirList.end(); ++j)
+        FreeFileSync::removeDirectory(*j, false); //call recursively to correctly handle symbolic links
+
+    //parent directory is deleted last
+#ifdef FFS_WIN
+    //initialize file attributes
+    if (!SetFileAttributes(
+                directory.c_str(),      // address of directory name
+                FILE_ATTRIBUTE_NORMAL)) // attributes to set
+    {
+        Zstring errorMessage = Zstring(_("Error deleting directory:")) + wxT("\n\"") + directory + wxT("\"");
+        throw FileError(errorMessage + wxT("\n\n") + FreeFileSync::getLastErrorFormatted());
+    }
+
+    //remove directory, support for \\?\-prefix
+    if (!RemoveDirectory(directory.c_str()))
+    {
+        Zstring errorMessage = Zstring(_("Error deleting directory:")) + wxT("\n\"") + directory + wxT("\"");
+        throw FileError(errorMessage + wxT("\n\n") + FreeFileSync::getLastErrorFormatted());
+    }
 #else
-        if (!wxRmdir(dirList[j].c_str()))
-            throw FileError(Zstring(_("Error deleting directory:")) + wxT("\n\"") + dirList[j] + wxT("\""));
+    if (rmdir(directory.c_str()) != 0)
+    {
+        Zstring errorMessage = Zstring(_("Error deleting directory:")) + wxT("\n\"") + directory + wxT("\"");
+        throw FileError(errorMessage + wxT("\n\n") + FreeFileSync::getLastErrorFormatted());
+    }
 #endif
+}
+
+
+#ifdef FFS_WIN
+class CloseHandleOnExit
+{
+public:
+    CloseHandleOnExit(HANDLE searchHandle) : m_searchHandle(searchHandle) {}
+
+    ~CloseHandleOnExit()
+    {
+        FindClose(m_searchHandle);
     }
+
+private:
+    HANDLE m_searchHandle;
+};
+
+
+typedef DWORD WINAPI (*GetFinalPath)(
+    HANDLE hFile,
+    LPTSTR lpszFilePath,
+    DWORD cchFilePath,
+    DWORD dwFlags);
+
+
+class DllHandler //dynamically load windows API functions
+{
+public:
+    DllHandler() :
+            getFinalPathNameByHandle(NULL),
+            hKernel(NULL)
+    {
+        //get a handle to the DLL module containing required functionality
+        hKernel = ::LoadLibrary(wxT("kernel32.dll"));
+        if (hKernel)
+            getFinalPathNameByHandle = (GetFinalPath)(::GetProcAddress(hKernel, "GetFinalPathNameByHandleW")); //load unicode version!
+    }
+
+    ~DllHandler()
+    {
+        if (hKernel) ::FreeLibrary(hKernel);
+    }
+
+    GetFinalPath getFinalPathNameByHandle;
+
+private:
+    HINSTANCE hKernel;
+};
+
+//global instance
+DllHandler dynamicWinApi;
+
+
+Zstring resolveDirectorySymlink(const Zstring& dirLinkName) //get full target path of symbolic link to a directory
+{
+    //open handle to target of symbolic link
+    HANDLE hDir = CreateFile(dirLinkName.c_str(),
+                             0,
+                             FILE_SHARE_READ | FILE_SHARE_WRITE | FILE_SHARE_DELETE,
+                             NULL,
+                             OPEN_EXISTING,
+                             FILE_FLAG_BACKUP_SEMANTICS,
+                             NULL);
+    if (hDir == INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE)
+        return Zstring();
+
+    CloseHandleOnExit dummy(hDir);
+
+    if (dynamicWinApi.getFinalPathNameByHandle == NULL )
+        throw FileError(Zstring(_("Error loading library function:")) + wxT("\n\"") + wxT("GetFinalPathNameByHandleW") + wxT("\""));
+
+    const unsigned BUFFER_SIZE = 10000;
+    TCHAR targetPath[BUFFER_SIZE];
+
+    const DWORD rv = dynamicWinApi.getFinalPathNameByHandle(
+                         hDir,
+                         targetPath,
+                         BUFFER_SIZE,
+                         0);
+
+    if (rv >= BUFFER_SIZE || rv == 0)
+        return Zstring();
+
+    return targetPath;
 }
+#endif
 
 
-void FreeFileSync::createDirectory(const Zstring& directory, const int level)
+void createDirectoryRecursively(const Zstring& directory, const Zstring& templateDir, const bool copyDirectorySymLinks, const int level)
 {
     if (wxDirExists(directory.c_str()))
         return;
@@ -165,193 +356,355 @@ void FreeFileSync::createDirectory(const Zstring& directory, const int level)
     if (level == 50) //catch endless recursion
         return;
 
-    //try to create directory, support for \\?\-prefix
-#ifdef FFS_WIN
-    if (CreateDirectory(
-                directory.c_str(),	// pointer to a directory path string
-                NULL               	// pointer to a security descriptor
-            ) != 0)
-        return;
-#else
-    if (wxMkdir(directory.c_str())) //wxMkDir has different signature under Linux!
-        return;
-#endif
-
-    //if not successfull try to create parent folders first
-    Zstring parentDir;
-    if (endsWithPathSeparator(directory)) //may be valid on first level of recursion at most! Usually never true!
+    //try to create parent folders first
+    const Zstring dirParent = directory.BeforeLast(GlobalResources::FILE_NAME_SEPARATOR);
+    if (!dirParent.empty() && !wxDirExists(dirParent))
     {
-        parentDir = directory.BeforeLast(GlobalResources::FILE_NAME_SEPARATOR);
-        parentDir = parentDir.BeforeLast(GlobalResources::FILE_NAME_SEPARATOR);
+        //call function recursively
+        const Zstring templateParent = templateDir.BeforeLast(GlobalResources::FILE_NAME_SEPARATOR);
+        createDirectoryRecursively(dirParent, templateParent, false, level + 1); //don't create symbolic links in recursion!
     }
-    else
-        parentDir = directory.BeforeLast(GlobalResources::FILE_NAME_SEPARATOR);
-
-    if (parentDir.empty()) return;
-
-    //call function recursively
-    createDirectory(parentDir, level + 1);
 
     //now creation should be possible
 #ifdef FFS_WIN
-    if (CreateDirectory(
-                directory.c_str(), // pointer to a directory path string
-                NULL 	           // pointer to a security descriptor
-            ) == 0)
+    const DWORD templateAttr = ::GetFileAttributes(templateDir.c_str()); //replaces wxDirExists(): also returns successful for broken symlinks
+    if (templateAttr == INVALID_FILE_ATTRIBUTES) //fallback
     {
-        if (level == 0)
+        if (CreateDirectory(
+                    directory.c_str(), // pointer to a directory path string
+                    NULL) == 0 && level == 0)
         {
-            Zstring errorMessage = Zstring(_("Error creating directory:")) + wxT("\n\"") + directory + wxT("\"");
+            const Zstring errorMessage = Zstring(_("Error creating directory:")) + wxT("\n\"") + directory + wxT("\"");
             throw FileError(errorMessage + wxT("\n\n") + FreeFileSync::getLastErrorFormatted());
         }
     }
-#else
-    if (!wxMkdir(directory.c_str())) //wxMkDir has different signature under Linux!
+    else
     {
-        if (level == 0)
-            throw FileError(Zstring(_("Error creating directory:")) + wxT("\n\"") + directory + wxT("\""));
+        //symbolic link handling
+        if (!copyDirectorySymLinks && templateAttr & FILE_ATTRIBUTE_REPARSE_POINT) //create directory based on target of symbolic link
+        {
+            //get target directory of symbolic link
+            const Zstring targetPath = resolveDirectorySymlink(templateDir);
+            if (targetPath.empty())
+            {
+                if (level == 0)
+                    throw FileError(Zstring(_("Error resolving symbolic link:")) + wxT("\n\"") + templateDir + wxT("\""));
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                if (CreateDirectoryEx(          // this function automatically copies symbolic links if encountered
+                            targetPath.c_str(), // pointer to path string of template directory
+                            directory.c_str(),	// pointer to a directory path string
+                            NULL) == 0 && level == 0)
+                {
+                    const Zstring errorMessage = Zstring(_("Error creating directory:")) + wxT("\n\"") + directory + wxT("\"");
+                    throw FileError(errorMessage + wxT("\n\n") + FreeFileSync::getLastErrorFormatted());
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        else //in all other cases
+        {
+            if (CreateDirectoryEx(           // this function automatically copies symbolic links if encountered
+                        templateDir.c_str(), // pointer to path string of template directory
+                        directory.c_str(),	 // pointer to a directory path string
+                        NULL) == 0 && level == 0)
+            {
+                const Zstring errorMessage = Zstring(_("Error creating directory:")) + wxT("\n\"") + directory + wxT("\"");
+                throw FileError(errorMessage + wxT("\n\n") + FreeFileSync::getLastErrorFormatted());
+            }
+        }
     }
-#endif
-}
-
-
-void FreeFileSync::copyFolderAttributes(const Zstring& source, const Zstring& target)
-{
-#ifdef FFS_WIN
-    DWORD attr = GetFileAttributes(source.c_str()); // address of the name of a file or directory
-    if (attr ==  0xFFFFFFFF)
+#elif defined FFS_LINUX
+    //symbolic link handling
+    if (copyDirectorySymLinks)
     {
-        Zstring errorMessage = Zstring(_("Error reading folder attributes:")) + wxT("\n\"") + source + wxT("\"");
-        throw FileError(errorMessage + wxT("\n\n") + FreeFileSync::getLastErrorFormatted());
+        //test if templateDir is a symbolic link
+        struct stat linkInfo;
+        if (lstat(templateDir.c_str(), &linkInfo) == 0 && S_ISLNK(linkInfo.st_mode))
+        {
+            //copy symbolic link
+            const int BUFFER_SIZE = 10000;
+            char buffer[BUFFER_SIZE];
+            const int bytesWritten = readlink(templateDir.c_str(), buffer, BUFFER_SIZE);
+            if (bytesWritten < 0 || bytesWritten == BUFFER_SIZE)
+            {
+                Zstring errorMessage = Zstring(_("Error resolving symbolic link:")) + wxT("\n\"") + templateDir + wxT("\"");
+                if (bytesWritten < 0) errorMessage += Zstring(wxT("\n\n")) + FreeFileSync::getLastErrorFormatted();
+                throw FileError(errorMessage);
+            }
+            //set null-terminating char
+            buffer[bytesWritten] = 0;
+
+            if (symlink(buffer, directory.c_str()) != 0)
+            {
+                Zstring errorMessage = Zstring(_("Error creating directory:")) + wxT("\n\"") + directory + wxT("\"");
+                throw FileError(errorMessage + wxT("\n\n") + FreeFileSync::getLastErrorFormatted());
+            }
+            return; //symlink created successfully
+        }
     }
 
-    if (!SetFileAttributes(
-                target.c_str(), // address of filename
-                attr))          // address of attributes to set
+    //default directory creation
+    if (mkdir(directory.c_str(), 0755) != 0 && level == 0)
     {
-        Zstring errorMessage = Zstring(_("Error writing folder attributes:")) + wxT("\n\"") + target + wxT("\"");
+        Zstring errorMessage = Zstring(_("Error creating directory:")) + wxT("\n\"") + directory + wxT("\"");
         throw FileError(errorMessage + wxT("\n\n") + FreeFileSync::getLastErrorFormatted());
     }
-#elif defined FFS_LINUX
-//Linux doesn't use attributes for files or folders
+
+//copy directory permissions: not sure if this is a good idea: if a directory is read-only copying/sync'ing of files will fail...
+    /*
+        if (templateDirExists)
+        {
+            struct stat fileInfo;
+            if (stat(templateDir.c_str(), &fileInfo) != 0) //read permissions from template directory
+                throw FileError(Zstring(_("Error reading file attributes:")) + wxT("\n\"") + templateDir + wxT("\""));
+
+            // reset the umask as we want to create the directory with exactly the same permissions as the template
+            wxCHANGE_UMASK(0);
+
+            if (mkdir(directory.c_str(), fileInfo.st_mode) != 0 && level == 0)
+                throw FileError(Zstring(_("Error creating directory:")) + wxT("\n\"") + directory + wxT("\""));
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            if (mkdir(directory.c_str(), 0777) != 0 && level == 0)
+                throw FileError(Zstring(_("Error creating directory:")) + wxT("\n\"") + directory + wxT("\""));
+        }
+    */
 #endif
 }
 
 
-class FilesDirsOnlyTraverser : public FreeFileSync::FullDetailFileTraverser
+void FreeFileSync::createDirectory(const Zstring& directory, const Zstring& templateDir, const bool copyDirectorySymLinks)
 {
-public:
-    FilesDirsOnlyTraverser(std::vector<Zstring>& files, std::vector<Zstring>& dirs) :
-            m_files(files),
-            m_dirs(dirs) {}
+    //remove trailing separator
+    Zstring dirFormatted;
+    if (FreeFileSync::endsWithPathSeparator(directory))
+        dirFormatted = directory.BeforeLast(GlobalResources::FILE_NAME_SEPARATOR);
+    else
+        dirFormatted = directory;
 
-    virtual wxDirTraverseResult OnFile(const Zstring& filename, const FreeFileSync::FileInfo& details)
-    {
-        m_files.push_back(filename);
-        return wxDIR_CONTINUE;
-    }
-    virtual wxDirTraverseResult OnDir(const Zstring& dirname)
+    Zstring templateFormatted;
+    if (FreeFileSync::endsWithPathSeparator(templateDir))
+        templateFormatted = templateDir.BeforeLast(GlobalResources::FILE_NAME_SEPARATOR);
+    else
+        templateFormatted = templateDir;
+
+    createDirectoryRecursively(dirFormatted, templateFormatted, copyDirectorySymLinks, 0);
+}
+
+
+#ifdef FFS_LINUX
+struct MemoryAllocator
+{
+    MemoryAllocator()
     {
-        m_dirs.push_back(dirname);
-        return wxDIR_CONTINUE;
+        buffer = new char[bufferSize];
     }
-    virtual wxDirTraverseResult OnError(const Zstring& errorText)
+
+    ~MemoryAllocator()
     {
-        throw FileError(errorText);
+        delete [] buffer;
     }
 
-private:
-    std::vector<Zstring>& m_files;
-    std::vector<Zstring>& m_dirs;
+    static const unsigned int bufferSize = 512 * 1024;
+    char* buffer;
 };
 
 
-void FreeFileSync::getAllFilesAndDirs(const Zstring& sourceDir, std::vector<Zstring>& files, std::vector<Zstring>& directories) throw(FileError)
+void FreeFileSync::copyFile(const Zstring& sourceFile,
+                            const Zstring& targetFile,
+                            const bool copyFileSymLinks,
+                            CopyFileCallback callback,
+                            void* data)
 {
-    files.clear();
-    directories.clear();
+    try
+    {
+        if (FreeFileSync::fileExists(targetFile.c_str()))
+            throw FileError(Zstring(_("Error copying file:")) + wxT("\n\"") + sourceFile +  wxT("\" -> \"") + targetFile + wxT("\"\n")
+                            + _("Target file already existing!"));
 
-    //get all files and directories from current directory (and subdirectories)
-    FilesDirsOnlyTraverser traverser(files, directories);
-    traverseInDetail(sourceDir, false, &traverser);
-}
+        //symbolic link handling
+        if (copyFileSymLinks)
+        {
+            //test if sourceFile is a symbolic link
+            struct stat linkInfo;
+            if (lstat(sourceFile.c_str(), &linkInfo) != 0)
+            {
+                Zstring errorMessage = Zstring(_("Error reading file attributes:")) + wxT("\n\"") + sourceFile + wxT("\"");
+                throw FileError(errorMessage + wxT("\n\n") + FreeFileSync::getLastErrorFormatted());
+            }
 
+            if (S_ISLNK(linkInfo.st_mode))
+            {
+                //copy symbolic link
+                const unsigned BUFFER_SIZE = 10000;
+                char buffer[BUFFER_SIZE];
+                const int bytesWritten = readlink(sourceFile.c_str(), buffer, BUFFER_SIZE - 1);
+                if (bytesWritten < 0)
+                {
+                    Zstring errorMessage = Zstring(_("Error resolving symbolic link:")) + wxT("\n\"") + sourceFile + wxT("\"");
+                    throw FileError(errorMessage + wxT("\n\n") + FreeFileSync::getLastErrorFormatted());
+                }
+                //set null-terminating char
+                buffer[bytesWritten] = 0;
 
-#ifdef FFS_WIN
-class CloseOnExit
-{
-public:
-    CloseOnExit(HANDLE searchHandle) : m_searchHandle(searchHandle) {}
+                if (symlink(buffer, targetFile.c_str()) != 0)
+                {
+                    Zstring errorMessage = Zstring(_("Error writing file:")) + wxT("\n\"") + targetFile + wxT("\"");
+                    throw FileError(errorMessage + wxT("\n\n") + FreeFileSync::getLastErrorFormatted());
+                }
 
-    ~CloseOnExit()
-    {
-        FindClose(m_searchHandle);
+                return; //symlink created successfully
+            }
+        }
+
+        //begin of regular file copy
+        struct stat fileInfo;
+        if (stat(sourceFile.c_str(), &fileInfo) != 0) //read file attributes from source file (resolve symlinks)
+        {
+            Zstring errorMessage = Zstring(_("Error reading file attributes:")) + wxT("\n\"") + sourceFile + wxT("\"");
+            throw FileError(errorMessage + wxT("\n\n") + FreeFileSync::getLastErrorFormatted());
+        }
+
+        //open sourceFile for reading
+        std::ifstream fileIn(sourceFile.c_str(), std::ios_base::binary);
+        if (fileIn.fail())
+            throw FileError(Zstring(_("Error opening file:")) + wxT("\n\"") + sourceFile +  wxT("\""));
+
+        //create targetFile and open it for writing
+        std::ofstream fileOut(targetFile.c_str(), std::ios_base::binary);
+        if (fileOut.fail())
+            throw FileError(Zstring(_("Error opening file:")) + wxT("\n\"") + targetFile + wxT("\""));
+
+        //copy contents of sourceFile to targetFile
+        wxULongLong totalBytesTransferred;
+        static MemoryAllocator memory;
+        while (true)
+        {
+            fileIn.read(memory.buffer, memory.bufferSize);
+            if (fileIn.eof())  //end of file? fail bit is set in this case also!
+            {
+                fileOut.write(memory.buffer, fileIn.gcount());
+                if (fileOut.bad())
+                    throw FileError(Zstring(_("Error writing file:")) + wxT("\n\"") + targetFile + wxT("\""));
+                break;
+            }
+            else if (fileIn.fail())
+                throw FileError(Zstring(_("Error reading file:")) + wxT("\n\"") + sourceFile + wxT("\""));
+
+
+            fileOut.write(memory.buffer, memory.bufferSize);
+            if (fileOut.bad())
+                throw FileError(Zstring(_("Error writing file:")) + wxT("\n\"") + targetFile + wxT("\""));
+
+            totalBytesTransferred += memory.bufferSize;
+
+            //invoke callback method to update progress indicators
+            if (callback)
+                callback(totalBytesTransferred, data);
+        }
+
+        //close streams before changing attributes
+        fileIn.close();
+        fileOut.close();
+
+        //adapt file modification time:
+        struct utimbuf newTimes;
+        time(&newTimes.actime); //set file access time to current time
+        newTimes.modtime = fileInfo.st_mtime;
+        if (utime(targetFile.c_str(), &newTimes) != 0)
+        {
+            Zstring errorMessage = Zstring(_("Error changing modification time:")) + wxT("\n\"") + targetFile + wxT("\"");
+            throw FileError(errorMessage + wxT("\n\n") + FreeFileSync::getLastErrorFormatted());
+        }
+
+        //set file access rights
+        if (chmod(targetFile.c_str(), fileInfo.st_mode) != 0)
+        {
+            Zstring errorMessage = Zstring(_("Error writing file attributes:")) + wxT("\n\"") + targetFile + wxT("\"");
+            throw FileError(errorMessage + wxT("\n\n") + FreeFileSync::getLastErrorFormatted());
+        }
     }
+    catch (...)
+    {   //try to delete target file if error occured, or exception was thrown in callback function
+        if (FreeFileSync::fileExists(targetFile.c_str()))
+            wxRemoveFile(targetFile.c_str()); //don't handle error situations!
 
-private:
-    HANDLE m_searchHandle;
-};
+        throw;
+    }
+}
+#endif
 
 
+#ifdef FFS_WIN
 inline
-void getWin32FileInformation(const WIN32_FIND_DATA& input, FreeFileSync::FileInfo& output)
+void setWin32FileInformation(const FILETIME& lastWriteTime, const DWORD fileSizeHigh, const DWORD fileSizeLow, FreeFileSync::FileInfo& output)
 {
     //convert UTC FILETIME to ANSI C format (number of seconds since Jan. 1st 1970 UTC)
-    wxULongLong writeTimeLong(input.ftLastWriteTime.dwHighDateTime, input.ftLastWriteTime.dwLowDateTime);
+    wxLongLong writeTimeLong(lastWriteTime.dwHighDateTime, lastWriteTime.dwLowDateTime);
     writeTimeLong /= 10000000;                     //reduce precision to 1 second (FILETIME has unit 10^-7 s)
-    writeTimeLong -= wxULongLong(2, 3054539008UL); //timeshift between ansi C time and FILETIME in seconds == 11644473600s
-    assert(writeTimeLong.GetHi() == 0);            //it should fit into a 32bit variable now
-    output.lastWriteTimeRaw = writeTimeLong.GetLo();
+    writeTimeLong -= wxLongLong(2, 3054539008UL); //timeshift between ansi C time and FILETIME in seconds == 11644473600s
+    output.lastWriteTimeRaw = writeTimeLong;
 
-    output.fileSize = wxULongLong(input.nFileSizeHigh, input.nFileSizeLow);
+    output.fileSize = wxULongLong(fileSizeHigh, fileSizeLow);
 }
 
-#elif defined FFS_LINUX
-class EnhancedFileTraverser : public wxDirTraverser
+inline
+bool setWin32FileInformationFromSymlink(const Zstring linkName, FreeFileSync::FileInfo& output)
 {
-public:
-    EnhancedFileTraverser(FreeFileSync::FullDetailFileTraverser* sink) : m_sink(sink) {}
+    //open handle to target of symbolic link
+    HANDLE hFile = CreateFile(linkName.c_str(),
+                              0,
+                              FILE_SHARE_READ | FILE_SHARE_WRITE | FILE_SHARE_DELETE,
+                              NULL,
+                              OPEN_EXISTING,
+                              FILE_FLAG_BACKUP_SEMANTICS,
+                              NULL);
+    if (hFile == INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE)
+        return false;
 
-    wxDirTraverseResult OnFile(const wxString& filename) //virtual impl.
-    {
-        struct stat fileInfo;
-        if (stat(filename.c_str(), &fileInfo) != 0)
-            return m_sink->OnError(Zstring(_("Could not retrieve file info for:")) + wxT("\n\"") + filename.c_str() + wxT("\""));
+    CloseHandleOnExit dummy(hFile);
 
-        FreeFileSync::FileInfo details;
-        details.lastWriteTimeRaw = fileInfo.st_mtime; //UTC time(ANSI C format); unit: 1 second
-        details.fileSize         = fileInfo.st_size;
+    BY_HANDLE_FILE_INFORMATION fileInfoByHandle;
 
-        return m_sink->OnFile(filename.c_str(), details);
-    }
+    if (!GetFileInformationByHandle(
+                hFile,
+                &fileInfoByHandle))
+        return false;
 
-    wxDirTraverseResult OnDir(const wxString& dirname) //virtual impl.
-    {
-        return m_sink->OnDir(dirname.c_str());
-    }
+    //write output
+    setWin32FileInformation(fileInfoByHandle.ftLastWriteTime, fileInfoByHandle.nFileSizeHigh, fileInfoByHandle.nFileSizeLow, output);
+
+    return true;
+}
+
+#elif defined FFS_LINUX
+class CloseDirOnExit
+{
+public:
+    CloseDirOnExit(DIR* dir) : m_dir(dir) {}
 
-    wxDirTraverseResult OnOpenError(const wxString& errorText) //virtual impl.
+    ~CloseDirOnExit()
     {
-        return m_sink->OnError(errorText.c_str());
+        closedir(m_dir); //no error handling here
     }
 
 private:
-    FreeFileSync::FullDetailFileTraverser* m_sink;
+    DIR* m_dir;
 };
 #endif
 
 
+template <bool traverseDirectorySymlinks>
 class TraverseRecursively
 {
 public:
-    TraverseRecursively(const bool traverseSymbolicLinks, FreeFileSync::FullDetailFileTraverser* sink) :
-            m_traverseSymbolicLinks(traverseSymbolicLinks),
-            m_sink(sink) {}
+    TraverseRecursively(FreeFileSync::FullDetailFileTraverser* sink) : m_sink(sink) {}
 
     bool traverse(const Zstring& directory, const int level)
     {
-#ifdef FFS_WIN
-        if (level == 50) //catch endless recursion
+        if (level == 100) //catch endless recursion
         {
             if (m_sink->OnError(Zstring(_("Error traversing directory:")) + wxT("\n\"") + directory + wxT("\"")) == wxDIR_STOP)
                 return false;
@@ -359,6 +712,7 @@ public:
                 return true;
         }
 
+#ifdef FFS_WIN
         Zstring directoryFormatted = directory;
         if (!FreeFileSync::endsWithPathSeparator(directoryFormatted))
             directoryFormatted += GlobalResources::FILE_NAME_SEPARATOR;
@@ -376,13 +730,13 @@ public:
                 return true;
 
             //else: we have a problem... report it:
-            Zstring errorMessage = Zstring(_("Error traversing directory:")) + wxT("\n\"") + directory + wxT("\" ") ;
+            Zstring errorMessage = Zstring(_("Error traversing directory:")) + wxT("\n\"") + directory + wxT("\"") ;
             if (m_sink->OnError(errorMessage + wxT("\n\n") + FreeFileSync::getLastErrorFormatted(lastError)) == wxDIR_STOP)
                 return false;
             else
                 return true;
         }
-        CloseOnExit dummy(searchHandle);
+        CloseHandleOnExit dummy(searchHandle);
 
         do
         {   //don't return "." and ".."
@@ -394,7 +748,7 @@ public:
 
             const Zstring fullName = directoryFormatted + name;
 
-            if (fileMetaData.dwFileAttributes & FILE_ATTRIBUTE_DIRECTORY) //a directory...
+            if (fileMetaData.dwFileAttributes & FILE_ATTRIBUTE_DIRECTORY) //a directory... (for directory symlinks this flag is set too!)
             {
                 switch (m_sink->OnDir(fullName))
                 {
@@ -402,7 +756,7 @@ public:
                     break;
                 case wxDIR_CONTINUE:
                     //traverse into symbolic links, junctions, etc. if requested only:
-                    if (m_traverseSymbolicLinks || (~fileMetaData.dwFileAttributes & FILE_ATTRIBUTE_REPARSE_POINT))
+                    if (traverseDirectorySymlinks || (~fileMetaData.dwFileAttributes & FILE_ATTRIBUTE_REPARSE_POINT))
                         if (!this->traverse(fullName, level + 1))
                             return false;
                     break;
@@ -410,25 +764,25 @@ public:
                     return false;
                 default:
                     assert(false);
-                    break;
                 }
             }
             else //a file...
             {
                 FreeFileSync::FileInfo details;
-                getWin32FileInformation(fileMetaData, details);
 
-                switch (m_sink->OnFile(fullName, details))
+                if (fileMetaData.dwFileAttributes & FILE_ATTRIBUTE_REPARSE_POINT) //dereference symlinks!
                 {
-                case wxDIR_IGNORE:
-                case wxDIR_CONTINUE:
-                    break;
-                case wxDIR_STOP:
-                    return false;
-                default:
-                    assert(false);
-                    break;
+                    if (!setWin32FileInformationFromSymlink(fullName, details)) //broken symlink
+                    {
+                        details.lastWriteTimeRaw = 0; //we are not interested in the modifiation time of the link
+                        details.fileSize         = 0;
+                    }
                 }
+                else
+                    setWin32FileInformation(fileMetaData.ftLastWriteTime, fileMetaData.nFileSizeHigh, fileMetaData.nFileSizeLow, details);
+
+                if (m_sink->OnFile(fullName, details) == wxDIR_STOP)
+                    return false;
             }
         }
         while (FindNextFile(searchHandle,	 // handle to search
@@ -439,42 +793,131 @@ public:
             return true; //everything okay
 
         //else: we have a problem... report it:
-        Zstring errorMessage = Zstring(_("Error traversing directory:")) + wxT("\n\"") + directory + wxT("\" ") ;
+        Zstring errorMessage = Zstring(_("Error traversing directory:")) + wxT("\n\"") + directory + wxT("\"") ;
         if (m_sink->OnError(errorMessage + wxT("\n\n") + FreeFileSync::getLastErrorFormatted(lastError)) == wxDIR_STOP)
             return false;
         else
             return true;
+
 #elif defined FFS_LINUX
+        Zstring directoryFormatted = directory;
+        if (FreeFileSync::endsWithPathSeparator(directoryFormatted))
+            directoryFormatted = directoryFormatted.BeforeLast(GlobalResources::FILE_NAME_SEPARATOR);
 
-        //use standard file traverser and enrich output with additional file information
-        //could be improved with custom traversing algorithm for optimized performance
-        EnhancedFileTraverser traverser(m_sink);
+        DIR* dirObj = opendir(directoryFormatted.c_str());
+        if (dirObj == NULL)
+        {
+            Zstring errorMessage = Zstring(_("Error traversing directory:")) + wxT("\n\"") + directoryFormatted + wxT("\"") ;
+            if (m_sink->OnError(errorMessage + wxT("\n\n") + FreeFileSync::getLastErrorFormatted()) == wxDIR_STOP)
+                return false;
+            else
+                return true;
+        }
+        CloseDirOnExit dummy(dirObj);
 
-        wxDir dir(directory.c_str());
-        if (dir.IsOpened())
-            dir.Traverse(traverser);
+        struct dirent* dirEntry;
+        while (!(errno = 0) && (dirEntry = readdir(dirObj)) != NULL) //set errno to 0 as unfortunately this isn't done when readdir() returns NULL when it is finished
+        {
+            //don't return "." and ".."
+            const wxChar* name = dirEntry->d_name;
+            if (      name[0] == wxChar('.') &&
+                      ((name[1] == wxChar('.') && name[2] == wxChar('\0')) ||
+                       name[1] == wxChar('\0')))
+                continue;
 
-        return true;
-#else
-        adapt this
+            const Zstring fullName = directoryFormatted + GlobalResources::FILE_NAME_SEPARATOR + name;
+
+            struct stat fileInfo;
+            if (lstat(fullName.c_str(), &fileInfo) != 0) //lstat() does not resolve symlinks
+            {
+                const Zstring errorMessage = Zstring(_("Error reading file attributes:")) + wxT("\n\"") + fullName + wxT("\"");
+                if (m_sink->OnError(errorMessage + wxT("\n\n") + FreeFileSync::getLastErrorFormatted()) == wxDIR_STOP)
+                    return false;
+                continue;
+            }
+
+            const bool isSymbolicLink = S_ISLNK(fileInfo.st_mode);
+            if (isSymbolicLink) //dereference symbolic links
+            {
+                if (stat(fullName.c_str(), &fileInfo) != 0) //stat() resolves symlinks
+                {
+                    //a broken symbolic link
+                    FreeFileSync::FileInfo details;
+                    details.lastWriteTimeRaw = 0; //we are not interested in the modifiation time of the link
+                    details.fileSize         = 0;
+
+                    if (m_sink->OnFile(fullName, details) == wxDIR_STOP)
+                        return false;
+                    continue;
+                }
+            }
+
+
+            if (S_ISDIR(fileInfo.st_mode)) //a directory... (note: symbolic links need to be dereferenced to test if they point to a directory!)
+            {
+                switch (m_sink->OnDir(fullName))
+                {
+                case wxDIR_IGNORE:
+                    break;
+                case wxDIR_CONTINUE:
+                    if (traverseDirectorySymlinks || !isSymbolicLink) //traverse into symbolic links if requested only
+                    {
+                        if (!this->traverse(fullName, level + 1))
+                            return false;
+                    }
+                    break;
+                case wxDIR_STOP:
+                    return false;
+                default:
+                    assert(false);
+                }
+            }
+            else //a file...
+            {
+                FreeFileSync::FileInfo details;
+                details.lastWriteTimeRaw = fileInfo.st_mtime; //UTC time(ANSI C format); unit: 1 second
+                details.fileSize         = fileInfo.st_size;
+
+                if (m_sink->OnFile(fullName, details) == wxDIR_STOP)
+                    return false;
+            }
+        }
+
+        if (errno == 0)
+            return true; //everything okay
+
+        //else: we have a problem... report it:
+        const Zstring errorMessage = Zstring(_("Error traversing directory:")) + wxT("\n\"") + directoryFormatted + wxT("\"") ;
+        if (m_sink->OnError(errorMessage + wxT("\n\n") + FreeFileSync::getLastErrorFormatted()) == wxDIR_STOP)
+            return false;
+        else
+            return true;
 #endif
     }
 
 private:
-    const bool m_traverseSymbolicLinks;
     FreeFileSync::FullDetailFileTraverser* m_sink;
 };
 
 
 void FreeFileSync::traverseInDetail(const Zstring& directory,
-                                    const bool traverseSymbolicLinks,
+                                    const bool traverseDirectorySymlinks,
                                     FullDetailFileTraverser* sink)
 {
-    TraverseRecursively filewalker(traverseSymbolicLinks, sink);
-    filewalker.traverse(directory, 0);
+    if (traverseDirectorySymlinks)
+    {
+        TraverseRecursively<true> filewalker(sink);
+        filewalker.traverse(directory, 0);
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        TraverseRecursively<false> filewalker(sink);
+        filewalker.traverse(directory, 0);
+    }
 }
 
 
+/*
 #ifdef FFS_WIN
 inline
 Zstring getDriveName(const Zstring& directoryName) //GetVolume() doesn't work under Linux!
@@ -500,3 +943,4 @@ bool FreeFileSync::isFatDrive(const Zstring& directoryName)
     return Zstring(fileSystem).StartsWith(wxT("FAT"));
 }
 #endif  //FFS_WIN
+*/
diff --git a/library/fileHandling.h b/library/fileHandling.h
index 7a1b1842..6c9a0400 100644
--- a/library/fileHandling.h
+++ b/library/fileHandling.h
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ namespace FreeFileSync
     struct FileInfo
     {
         wxULongLong fileSize;    //unit: bytes!
-        time_t lastWriteTimeRaw; //number of seconds since Jan. 1st 1970 UTC
+        wxLongLong lastWriteTimeRaw; //number of seconds since Jan. 1st 1970 UTC
     };
 
     //traverser interface
@@ -40,8 +40,9 @@ namespace FreeFileSync
     };
 
     //custom traverser with detail information about files
-    void traverseInDetail(const Zstring& directory, const bool traverseSymbolicLinks, FullDetailFileTraverser* sink);
-    void getAllFilesAndDirs(const Zstring& sourceDir, std::vector<Zstring>& files, std::vector<Zstring>& directories) throw(FileError);
+    void traverseInDetail(const Zstring& directory, const bool traverseDirectorySymlinks, FullDetailFileTraverser* sink);
+
+    bool fileExists(const Zstring& filename); //replaces wxFileExists()!
 
     //recycler
     bool recycleBinExists(); //test existence of Recycle Bin API on current system
@@ -49,12 +50,17 @@ namespace FreeFileSync
     //file handling
     void removeDirectory(const Zstring& directory, const bool useRecycleBin);
     void removeFile(const Zstring& filename, const bool useRecycleBin);
-    void createDirectory(const Zstring& directory, const int level = 0); //level is used internally only
-    void copyFolderAttributes(const Zstring& source, const Zstring& target);
+    void createDirectory(const Zstring& directory, const Zstring& templateDir, const bool copyDirectorySymLinks);
+#ifdef FFS_LINUX
+    //callback function for status updates whily copying
+    typedef void (*CopyFileCallback)(const wxULongLong& totalBytesTransferred, void* data);
 
-#ifdef FFS_WIN
-    bool isFatDrive(const Zstring& directoryName);
-#endif  //FFS_WIN
+    void copyFile(const Zstring& sourceFile,
+                  const Zstring& targetFile,
+                  const bool copyFileSymLinks,
+                  CopyFileCallback callback = NULL,
+                  void* data = NULL);
+#endif
 }
 
 
diff --git a/library/globalFunctions.cpp b/library/globalFunctions.cpp
index aeeeed45..4b387293 100644
--- a/library/globalFunctions.cpp
+++ b/library/globalFunctions.cpp
@@ -4,13 +4,6 @@
 #include <wx/file.h>
 
 
-inline
-int globalFunctions::round(const double d)
-{
-    return static_cast<int>(d<0?d-.5:d+.5);
-}
-
-
 std::string globalFunctions::numberToString(const unsigned int number)
 {
     char result[100];
@@ -88,11 +81,12 @@ double globalFunctions::wxStringToDouble(const wxString& number)
 }
 
 
-wxString& globalFunctions::includeNumberSeparator(wxString& number)
+wxString globalFunctions::includeNumberSeparator(const wxString& number)
 {
-    for (int i = number.size() - 3; i > 0; i-= 3)
-        number.insert(i, GlobalResources::THOUSANDS_SEPARATOR);
-    return number;
+    wxString output(number);
+    for (int i = output.size() - 3; i > 0; i -= 3)
+        output.insert(i, GlobalResources::THOUSANDS_SEPARATOR);
+    return output;
 }
 
 
diff --git a/library/globalFunctions.h b/library/globalFunctions.h
index b4ccba5c..98e8cd1c 100644
--- a/library/globalFunctions.h
+++ b/library/globalFunctions.h
@@ -13,12 +13,17 @@
 
 namespace globalFunctions
 {
-    int round(double d); //little rounding function
+    inline
+    int round(double d) //little rounding function
+    {
+        return static_cast<int>(d < 0 ? d - .5 : d + .5);
+    }
 
     template <class T>
-    T abs(const T& d)    //absolute value
+    inline
+    T abs(const T& d) //absolute value
     {
-        return(d<0?-d:d);
+        return(d < 0 ? -d : d);
     }
 
     std::string numberToString(const unsigned int number); //convert number to string
@@ -35,7 +40,7 @@ namespace globalFunctions
     int    wxStringToInt(   const wxString& number); //convert wxString to number
     double wxStringToDouble(const wxString& number); //convert wxString to number
 
-    wxString& includeNumberSeparator(wxString& number);
+    wxString includeNumberSeparator(const wxString& number);
 
     int readInt(std::ifstream& stream);  //read int from file stream
     void writeInt(std::ofstream& stream, const int number);  //write int to filestream
diff --git a/library/misc.cpp b/library/misc.cpp
index 0b0bf60b..0d5761d6 100644
--- a/library/misc.cpp
+++ b/library/misc.cpp
@@ -74,6 +74,9 @@ void CustomLocale::setLanguage(const int language)
     case wxLANGUAGE_GERMAN:
         languageFile = "Languages/german.lng";
         break;
+    case wxLANGUAGE_HUNGARIAN:
+        languageFile = "Languages/hungarian.lng";
+        break;
     case wxLANGUAGE_ITALIAN:
         languageFile = "Languages/italian.lng";
         break;
@@ -86,6 +89,12 @@ void CustomLocale::setLanguage(const int language)
     case wxLANGUAGE_PORTUGUESE:
         languageFile = "Languages/portuguese.lng";
         break;
+    case wxLANGUAGE_SLOVENIAN:
+        languageFile = "Languages/slovenian.lng";
+        break;
+    case wxLANGUAGE_SPANISH:
+        languageFile = "Languages/spanish.lng";
+        break;
     default:
         languageFile.clear();
         currentLanguage = wxLANGUAGE_ENGLISH;
@@ -153,7 +162,8 @@ const wxChar* CustomLocale::GetString(const wxChar* szOrigString, const wxChar*
     //look for translation in buffer table
     Translation::iterator i;
     if ((i = translationDB.find(currentLine)) != translationDB.end())
-        return (i->translation.c_str());
+        return i->translation.c_str();
+
     //fallback
-    return (szOrigString);
+    return szOrigString;
 }
diff --git a/library/multithreading.cpp b/library/multithreading.cpp
index f7f5ed04..106d1aa7 100644
--- a/library/multithreading.cpp
+++ b/library/multithreading.cpp
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ void UpdateWhileExecuting::execute(StatusHandler* statusUpdater)
 
     while (receivingResult.WaitTimeout(UI_UPDATE_INTERVAL) == wxCOND_TIMEOUT)
     {
-        statusUpdater->requestUiRefresh(true); //ATTENTION: Exception "AbortThisProcess" may be thrown here!!!
+        statusUpdater->requestUiRefresh(false); //don't allow throwing exception within this call
 
         if (workDone) //workaround for a bug in wxWidgets v2.8.9 class wxCondition: signals might get lost
             break;    //no mutex for workDone needed here: it is changed only when mainthread is in WaitTimeout()
diff --git a/library/processXml.cpp b/library/processXml.cpp
index 84783452..00737633 100644
--- a/library/processXml.cpp
+++ b/library/processXml.cpp
@@ -4,6 +4,9 @@
 #include <wx/intl.h>
 #include "globalFunctions.h"
 
+#ifdef FFS_WIN
+#include <wx/msw/wrapwin.h> //includes "windows.h"
+#endif
 
 //small helper functions
 bool readXmlElementValue(std::string& output,                  const TiXmlElement* parent, const std::string& name);
@@ -109,7 +112,7 @@ xmlAccess::XmlGuiConfig xmlAccess::readGuiConfig(const wxString& filename)
 {
     //load XML
     if (!wxFileExists(filename))
-        throw FileError(Zstring(_("The file does not exist:")) + wxT(" \"") + filename.c_str() + wxT("\""));
+        throw FileError(Zstring(_("File does not exist:")) + wxT(" \"") + filename.c_str() + wxT("\""));
 
     XmlConfigInput inputFile(filename, XML_GUI_CONFIG);
 
@@ -129,7 +132,7 @@ xmlAccess::XmlBatchConfig xmlAccess::readBatchConfig(const wxString& filename)
 {
     //load XML
     if (!wxFileExists(filename))
-        throw FileError(Zstring(_("The file does not exist:")) + wxT(" \"") + filename.c_str() + wxT("\""));
+        throw FileError(Zstring(_("File does not exist:")) + wxT(" \"") + filename.c_str() + wxT("\""));
 
     XmlConfigInput inputFile(filename, XML_BATCH_CONFIG);
 
@@ -149,7 +152,7 @@ xmlAccess::XmlGlobalSettings xmlAccess::readGlobalSettings()
 {
     //load XML
     if (!wxFileExists(FreeFileSync::GLOBAL_CONFIG_FILE))
-        throw FileError(Zstring(_("The file does not exist:")) + wxT(" \"") + FreeFileSync::GLOBAL_CONFIG_FILE.c_str() + wxT("\""));
+        throw FileError(Zstring(_("File does not exist:")) + wxT(" \"") + FreeFileSync::GLOBAL_CONFIG_FILE.c_str() + wxT("\""));
 
     XmlConfigInput inputFile(FreeFileSync::GLOBAL_CONFIG_FILE, XML_GLOBAL_SETTINGS);
 
@@ -334,6 +337,29 @@ bool readXmlElementValue(xmlAccess::OnError& output, const TiXmlElement* parent,
 }
 
 
+void readXmlElementTable(std::vector<wxString>& output, const TiXmlElement* parent, const std::string& name)
+{
+    output.clear();
+
+    if (parent)
+    {
+        //load elements
+        const TiXmlElement* element = parent->FirstChildElement(name);
+        while (element)
+        {
+            const char* text = element->GetText();
+            if (text) //may be NULL!!
+                output.push_back(wxString::FromUTF8(text));
+            else
+                break;
+            element = element->NextSiblingElement();
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+//################################################################################################################
+
+
 bool XmlConfigInput::readXmlMainConfig(MainConfiguration& mainCfg, std::vector<FolderPair>& directoryPairs)
 {
     TiXmlElement* root = doc.RootElement();
@@ -444,6 +470,11 @@ bool XmlConfigInput::readXmlBatchConfig(xmlAccess::XmlBatchConfig& outputCfg)
     if (batchConfig)
     {
         readXmlElementValue(outputCfg.silent, batchConfig, "Silent");
+
+        std::string tempString;
+        if (readXmlElementValue(tempString, batchConfig, "LogfileDirectory"))
+            outputCfg.logFileDirectory = wxString::FromUTF8(tempString.c_str());
+
         readXmlElementValue(outputCfg.handleError, batchConfig, "HandleError");
     }
 
@@ -465,13 +496,16 @@ bool XmlConfigInput::readXmlGlobalSettings(xmlAccess::XmlGlobalSettings& outputC
         //program language
         readXmlElementValue(outputCfg.shared.programLanguage, global, "Language");
 
+        //max. allowed file time deviation
+        int dummy = 0;
+        if (readXmlElementValue(dummy, global, "FileTimeTolerance"))
+            outputCfg.shared.fileTimeTolerance = dummy;
+
         //traverse into symbolic links (to folders)
-        readXmlElementValue(outputCfg.shared.traverseSymbolicLinks, global, "TraverseSymbolicLinks");
+        readXmlElementValue(outputCfg.shared.traverseDirectorySymlinks, global, "TraverseDirectorySymlinks");
 
-#ifdef FFS_WIN
-        //daylight saving time check
-        readXmlElementValue(outputCfg.shared.handleDstOnFat32, global, "HandleDaylightSavingTimeOnFAT");
-#endif
+        //copy symbolic links to files
+        readXmlElementValue(outputCfg.shared.copyFileSymlinks, global, "CopyFileSymlinks");
     }
 
     TiXmlElement* warnings = hRoot.FirstChild("Shared").FirstChild("Warnings").ToElement();
@@ -497,6 +531,7 @@ bool XmlConfigInput::readXmlGlobalSettings(xmlAccess::XmlGlobalSettings& outputC
 
         readXmlElementValue(outputCfg.gui.deleteOnBothSides, mainWindow, "ManualDeletionOnBothSides");
         readXmlElementValue(outputCfg.gui.useRecyclerForManualDeletion, mainWindow, "ManualDeletionUseRecycler");
+        readXmlElementValue(outputCfg.gui.showFileIcons, mainWindow, "ShowFileIcons");
 
 //###########################################################
         //read column attributes
@@ -547,19 +582,26 @@ bool XmlConfigInput::readXmlGlobalSettings(xmlAccess::XmlGlobalSettings& outputC
             rightColumn = rightColumn->NextSiblingElement();
             ++colType;
         }
+
+        //load folder history elements
+        const TiXmlElement* historyLeft = TiXmlHandle(mainWindow).FirstChild("FolderHistoryLeft").ToElement();
+        const TiXmlElement* historyRight = TiXmlHandle(mainWindow).FirstChild("FolderHistoryRight").ToElement();
+
+        readXmlElementTable(outputCfg.gui.folderHistoryLeft, historyLeft, "Folder");
+        readXmlElementTable(outputCfg.gui.folderHistoryRight, historyRight, "Folder");
     }
 
     TiXmlElement* gui = hRoot.FirstChild("Gui").ToElement();
     if (gui)
     {
         //commandline for file manager integration
-        std::string  tempString;
+        std::string tempString;
         if (readXmlElementValue(tempString, gui, "FileManager"))
             outputCfg.gui.commandLineFileManager = wxString::FromUTF8(tempString.c_str());
     }
 
     //load config file history
-    TiXmlElement* cfgHistory = hRoot.FirstChild("Gui").FirstChild("History").ToElement();
+    TiXmlElement* cfgHistory = hRoot.FirstChild("Gui").FirstChild("ConfigHistory").ToElement();
     if (cfgHistory)
     {
         //load max. history size
@@ -567,17 +609,8 @@ bool XmlConfigInput::readXmlGlobalSettings(xmlAccess::XmlGlobalSettings& outputC
         if (histSizeMax) //may be NULL!
             outputCfg.gui.cfgHistoryMaxItems = globalFunctions::stringToInt(histSizeMax);
 
-        //load history elements
-        TiXmlElement* cfgFile = TiXmlHandle(cfgHistory).FirstChild("File").ToElement();
-        while (cfgFile)
-        {
-            const char* fileName = cfgFile->GetText();
-            if (fileName) //may be NULL!!
-                outputCfg.gui.cfgFileHistory.push_back(wxString::FromUTF8(fileName));
-            else
-                break;
-            cfgFile = cfgFile->NextSiblingElement();
-        }
+        //load config history elements
+        readXmlElementTable(outputCfg.gui.cfgFileHistory, cfgHistory, "File");
     }
 
 
@@ -616,7 +649,7 @@ XmlConfigOutput::XmlConfigOutput(const wxString& fileName, const xmlAccess::XmlT
 bool XmlConfigOutput::writeToFile()
 {
     //workaround to get a FILE* from a unicode filename
-    wxFFile dummyFile(m_fileName, wxT("wb"));
+    wxFFile dummyFile(m_fileName, wxT("wb")); //save in binary mode for Linux portability of config files
     if (!dummyFile.IsOpened())
         return false;
 
@@ -678,6 +711,13 @@ void addXmlElement(TiXmlElement* parent, const std::string& name, const xmlAcces
 }
 
 
+void addXmlElementTable(TiXmlElement* parent, const std::string& name, const std::vector<wxString>& input)
+{
+    for (std::vector<wxString>::const_iterator i = input.begin(); i != input.end(); ++i)
+        addXmlElement(parent, name, std::string(i->ToUTF8()));
+}
+
+
 bool XmlConfigOutput::writeXmlMainConfig(const MainConfiguration& mainCfg, const std::vector<FolderPair>& directoryPairs)
 {
     TiXmlElement* root = doc.RootElement();
@@ -741,10 +781,10 @@ bool XmlConfigOutput::writeXmlMainConfig(const MainConfiguration& mainCfg, const
 }
 
 
-bool XmlConfigOutput::writeXmlGuiConfig(const xmlAccess::XmlGuiConfig& outputCfg)
+bool XmlConfigOutput::writeXmlGuiConfig(const xmlAccess::XmlGuiConfig& inputCfg)
 {
     //write main config
-    if (!writeXmlMainConfig(outputCfg.mainCfg, outputCfg.directoryPairs))
+    if (!writeXmlMainConfig(inputCfg.mainCfg, inputCfg.directoryPairs))
         return false;
 
     //write GUI specific config
@@ -760,18 +800,18 @@ bool XmlConfigOutput::writeXmlGuiConfig(const xmlAccess::XmlGuiConfig& outputCfg
     TiXmlElement* mainWindow = new TiXmlElement("Main");
     windows->LinkEndChild(mainWindow);
 
-    addXmlElement(mainWindow, "HideFiltered", outputCfg.hideFilteredElements);
+    addXmlElement(mainWindow, "HideFiltered", inputCfg.hideFilteredElements);
 
-    addXmlElement(guiConfig, "IgnoreErrors", outputCfg.ignoreErrors);
+    addXmlElement(guiConfig, "IgnoreErrors", inputCfg.ignoreErrors);
 
     return true;
 }
 
 
-bool XmlConfigOutput::writeXmlBatchConfig(const xmlAccess::XmlBatchConfig& outputCfg)
+bool XmlConfigOutput::writeXmlBatchConfig(const xmlAccess::XmlBatchConfig& inputCfg)
 {
     //write main config
-    if (!writeXmlMainConfig(outputCfg.mainCfg, outputCfg.directoryPairs))
+    if (!writeXmlMainConfig(inputCfg.mainCfg, inputCfg.directoryPairs))
         return false;
 
     //write GUI specific config
@@ -781,14 +821,15 @@ bool XmlConfigOutput::writeXmlBatchConfig(const xmlAccess::XmlBatchConfig& outpu
     TiXmlElement* batchConfig = new TiXmlElement("BatchConfig");
     root->LinkEndChild(batchConfig);
 
-    addXmlElement(batchConfig, "Silent", outputCfg.silent);
-    addXmlElement(batchConfig, "HandleError", outputCfg.handleError);
+    addXmlElement(batchConfig, "Silent", inputCfg.silent);
+    addXmlElement(batchConfig, "LogfileDirectory", std::string(inputCfg.logFileDirectory.ToUTF8()));
+    addXmlElement(batchConfig, "HandleError", inputCfg.handleError);
 
     return true;
 }
 
 
-bool XmlConfigOutput::writeXmlGlobalSettings(const xmlAccess::XmlGlobalSettings& outputCfg)
+bool XmlConfigOutput::writeXmlGlobalSettings(const xmlAccess::XmlGlobalSettings& inputCfg)
 {
     TiXmlElement* root = doc.RootElement();
     if (!root) return false;
@@ -799,25 +840,26 @@ bool XmlConfigOutput::writeXmlGlobalSettings(const xmlAccess::XmlGlobalSettings&
     root->LinkEndChild(global);
 
     //program language
-    addXmlElement(global, "Language", outputCfg.shared.programLanguage);
+    addXmlElement(global, "Language", inputCfg.shared.programLanguage);
 
-#ifdef FFS_WIN
-    //daylight saving time check
-    addXmlElement(global, "HandleDaylightSavingTimeOnFAT", outputCfg.shared.handleDstOnFat32);
-#endif
+    //max. allowed file time deviation
+    addXmlElement(global, "FileTimeTolerance", int(inputCfg.shared.fileTimeTolerance));
 
     //traverse into symbolic links (to folders)
-    addXmlElement(global, "TraverseSymbolicLinks", outputCfg.shared.traverseSymbolicLinks);
+    addXmlElement(global, "TraverseDirectorySymlinks", inputCfg.shared.traverseDirectorySymlinks);
+
+    //copy symbolic links to files
+    addXmlElement(global, "CopyFileSymlinks", inputCfg.shared.copyFileSymlinks);
 
     //warnings
     TiXmlElement* warnings = new TiXmlElement("Warnings");
     global->LinkEndChild(warnings);
 
     //warning: dependent folders
-    addXmlElement(warnings, "CheckForDependentFolders", outputCfg.shared.warningDependentFolders);
+    addXmlElement(warnings, "CheckForDependentFolders", inputCfg.shared.warningDependentFolders);
 
     //significant difference check
-    addXmlElement(warnings, "CheckForSignificantDifference", outputCfg.shared.warningSignificantDifference);
+    addXmlElement(warnings, "CheckForSignificantDifference", inputCfg.shared.warningSignificantDifference);
 
 
     //###################################################################
@@ -832,21 +874,22 @@ bool XmlConfigOutput::writeXmlGlobalSettings(const xmlAccess::XmlGlobalSettings&
     windows->LinkEndChild(mainWindow);
 
     //window size
-    addXmlElement(mainWindow, "Width", outputCfg.gui.widthNotMaximized);
-    addXmlElement(mainWindow, "Height", outputCfg.gui.heightNotMaximized);
+    addXmlElement(mainWindow, "Width", inputCfg.gui.widthNotMaximized);
+    addXmlElement(mainWindow, "Height", inputCfg.gui.heightNotMaximized);
 
     //window position
-    addXmlElement(mainWindow, "PosX", outputCfg.gui.posXNotMaximized);
-    addXmlElement(mainWindow, "PosY", outputCfg.gui.posYNotMaximized);
-    addXmlElement(mainWindow, "Maximized", outputCfg.gui.isMaximized);
+    addXmlElement(mainWindow, "PosX", inputCfg.gui.posXNotMaximized);
+    addXmlElement(mainWindow, "PosY", inputCfg.gui.posYNotMaximized);
+    addXmlElement(mainWindow, "Maximized", inputCfg.gui.isMaximized);
 
-    addXmlElement(mainWindow, "ManualDeletionOnBothSides", outputCfg.gui.deleteOnBothSides);
-    addXmlElement(mainWindow, "ManualDeletionUseRecycler", outputCfg.gui.useRecyclerForManualDeletion);
+    addXmlElement(mainWindow, "ManualDeletionOnBothSides", inputCfg.gui.deleteOnBothSides);
+    addXmlElement(mainWindow, "ManualDeletionUseRecycler", inputCfg.gui.useRecyclerForManualDeletion);
+    addXmlElement(mainWindow, "ShowFileIcons", inputCfg.gui.showFileIcons);
 
     //write column attributes
     TiXmlElement* leftColumn = new TiXmlElement("LeftColumns");
     mainWindow->LinkEndChild(leftColumn);
-    xmlAccess::ColumnAttributes columnAtrribLeftCopy = outputCfg.gui.columnAttribLeft; //can't change const vector
+    xmlAccess::ColumnAttributes columnAtrribLeftCopy = inputCfg.gui.columnAttribLeft; //can't change const vector
     sort(columnAtrribLeftCopy.begin(), columnAtrribLeftCopy.end(), xmlAccess::sortByType);
     for (unsigned int i = 0; i < columnAtrribLeftCopy.size(); ++i)
     {
@@ -862,7 +905,7 @@ bool XmlConfigOutput::writeXmlGlobalSettings(const xmlAccess::XmlGlobalSettings&
 
     TiXmlElement* rightColumn = new TiXmlElement("RightColumns");
     mainWindow->LinkEndChild(rightColumn);
-    xmlAccess::ColumnAttributes columnAtrribRightCopy = outputCfg.gui.columnAttribRight;
+    xmlAccess::ColumnAttributes columnAtrribRightCopy = inputCfg.gui.columnAttribRight;
     sort(columnAtrribRightCopy.begin(), columnAtrribRightCopy.end(), xmlAccess::sortByType);
     for (unsigned int i = 0; i < columnAtrribRightCopy.size(); ++i)
     {
@@ -876,17 +919,25 @@ bool XmlConfigOutput::writeXmlGlobalSettings(const xmlAccess::XmlGlobalSettings&
         subElement->SetAttribute("Width", colAttrib.width);
     }
 
+    //write folder history elements
+    TiXmlElement* historyLeft = new TiXmlElement("FolderHistoryLeft");
+    mainWindow->LinkEndChild(historyLeft);
+    TiXmlElement* historyRight = new TiXmlElement("FolderHistoryRight");
+    mainWindow->LinkEndChild(historyRight);
+
+    addXmlElementTable(historyLeft, "Folder", inputCfg.gui.folderHistoryLeft);
+    addXmlElementTable(historyRight, "Folder", inputCfg.gui.folderHistoryRight);
+
+
     //commandline for file manager integration
-    addXmlElement(gui, "FileManager", std::string((outputCfg.gui.commandLineFileManager).ToUTF8()));
+    addXmlElement(gui, "FileManager", std::string((inputCfg.gui.commandLineFileManager).ToUTF8()));
 
     //write config file history
-    TiXmlElement* cfgHistory = new TiXmlElement("History");
+    TiXmlElement* cfgHistory = new TiXmlElement("ConfigHistory");
     gui->LinkEndChild(cfgHistory);
 
-    cfgHistory->SetAttribute("MaximumSize", globalFunctions::numberToString(outputCfg.gui.cfgHistoryMaxItems));
-
-    for (unsigned int i = 0; i < outputCfg.gui.cfgFileHistory.size(); ++i)
-        addXmlElement(cfgHistory, "File", std::string(outputCfg.gui.cfgFileHistory[i].ToUTF8()));
+    cfgHistory->SetAttribute("MaximumSize", globalFunctions::numberToString(inputCfg.gui.cfgHistoryMaxItems));
+    addXmlElementTable(cfgHistory, "File", inputCfg.gui.cfgFileHistory);
 
     //###################################################################
     //write global batch settings
@@ -941,8 +992,33 @@ int xmlAccess::retrieveSystemLanguage()
     case wxLANGUAGE_PORTUGUESE_BRAZILIAN:
         return wxLANGUAGE_PORTUGUESE;
 
+        //variants of wxLANGUAGE_SPANISH
+    case wxLANGUAGE_SPANISH_ARGENTINA:
+    case wxLANGUAGE_SPANISH_BOLIVIA:
+    case wxLANGUAGE_SPANISH_CHILE:
+    case wxLANGUAGE_SPANISH_COLOMBIA:
+    case wxLANGUAGE_SPANISH_COSTA_RICA:
+    case wxLANGUAGE_SPANISH_DOMINICAN_REPUBLIC:
+    case wxLANGUAGE_SPANISH_ECUADOR:
+    case wxLANGUAGE_SPANISH_EL_SALVADOR:
+    case wxLANGUAGE_SPANISH_GUATEMALA:
+    case wxLANGUAGE_SPANISH_HONDURAS:
+    case wxLANGUAGE_SPANISH_MEXICAN:
+    case wxLANGUAGE_SPANISH_MODERN:
+    case wxLANGUAGE_SPANISH_NICARAGUA:
+    case wxLANGUAGE_SPANISH_PANAMA:
+    case wxLANGUAGE_SPANISH_PARAGUAY:
+    case wxLANGUAGE_SPANISH_PERU:
+    case wxLANGUAGE_SPANISH_PUERTO_RICO:
+    case wxLANGUAGE_SPANISH_URUGUAY:
+    case wxLANGUAGE_SPANISH_US:
+    case wxLANGUAGE_SPANISH_VENEZUELA:
+        return wxLANGUAGE_SPANISH;
+
         //case wxLANGUAGE_JAPANESE:
         //case wxLANGUAGE_POLISH:
+        //case wxLANGUAGE_SLOVENIAN:
+        //case wxLANGUAGE_HUNGARIAN:
 
     default:
         return lang;
@@ -950,6 +1026,24 @@ int xmlAccess::retrieveSystemLanguage()
 }
 
 
+bool xmlAccess::supportForSymbolicLinks()
+{
+#ifdef FFS_WIN
+    OSVERSIONINFO osvi;
+    ZeroMemory(&osvi, sizeof(OSVERSIONINFO));
+    osvi.dwOSVersionInfoSize = sizeof(OSVERSIONINFO);
+
+    //symbolic links are supported starting with Vista
+    if (GetVersionEx(&osvi))
+        return osvi.dwMajorVersion > 5; //XP has majorVersion == 5, minorVersion == 1, Vista majorVersion == 6
+
+    return false;
+#elif defined FFS_LINUX
+    return true;
+#endif
+}
+
+
 void xmlAccess::XmlGlobalSettings::_Shared::resetWarnings()
 {
     warningDependentFolders      = true;
diff --git a/library/processXml.h b/library/processXml.h
index 7b838958..c24ad0e7 100644
--- a/library/processXml.h
+++ b/library/processXml.h
@@ -66,10 +66,12 @@ namespace xmlAccess
         std::vector<FolderPair> directoryPairs;
 
         bool silent;
-        OnError handleError; //reaction on error situation during synchronization
+        OnError handleError;       //reaction on error situation during synchronization
+        wxString logFileDirectory; //
     };
 
     int retrieveSystemLanguage();
+    bool supportForSymbolicLinks();
 
 
     struct XmlGlobalSettings
@@ -79,19 +81,17 @@ namespace xmlAccess
         {
             _Shared() :
                     programLanguage(retrieveSystemLanguage()),
-#ifdef FFS_WIN
-                    handleDstOnFat32(true),
-#endif
-                    traverseSymbolicLinks(false)
+                    fileTimeTolerance(2),  //default 2s: FAT vs NTFS
+                    traverseDirectorySymlinks(false),
+                    copyFileSymlinks(supportForSymbolicLinks())
             {
                 resetWarnings();
             }
 
             int programLanguage;
-#ifdef FFS_WIN
-            bool handleDstOnFat32;
-#endif
-            bool traverseSymbolicLinks;
+            unsigned fileTimeTolerance; //max. allowed file time deviation
+            bool traverseDirectorySymlinks;
+            bool copyFileSymlinks; //copy symbolic link instead of target file
 
             //warnings
             void resetWarnings();
@@ -116,8 +116,8 @@ namespace xmlAccess
 #endif
                     cfgHistoryMaxItems(10),
                     deleteOnBothSides(false),
-                    useRecyclerForManualDeletion(FreeFileSync::recycleBinExists()) //enable if OS supports it; else user will have to activate first and then get an error message
-            {}
+                    useRecyclerForManualDeletion(FreeFileSync::recycleBinExists()), //enable if OS supports it; else user will have to activate first and then get an error message
+                    showFileIcons(true) {}
 
             int widthNotMaximized;
             int heightNotMaximized;
@@ -130,8 +130,11 @@ namespace xmlAccess
             wxString commandLineFileManager;
             std::vector<wxString> cfgFileHistory;
             unsigned cfgHistoryMaxItems;
+            std::vector<wxString> folderHistoryLeft;
+            std::vector<wxString> folderHistoryRight;
             bool deleteOnBothSides;
             bool useRecyclerForManualDeletion;
+            bool showFileIcons;
         } gui;
 
 //---------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/library/resources.cpp b/library/resources.cpp
index 4a9d0369..f8624ed3 100644
--- a/library/resources.cpp
+++ b/library/resources.cpp
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ GlobalResources::GlobalResources()
     bitmapResource[wxT("right delete.png")]       = (bitmapDeleteRight       = new wxBitmap(wxNullBitmap));
     bitmapResource[wxT("email.png")]              = (bitmapEmail             = new wxBitmap(wxNullBitmap));
     bitmapResource[wxT("about.png")]              = (bitmapAbout             = new wxBitmap(wxNullBitmap));
+    bitmapResource[wxT("about_small.png")]        = (bitmapAboutSmall        = new wxBitmap(wxNullBitmap));
     bitmapResource[wxT("website.png")]            = (bitmapWebsite           = new wxBitmap(wxNullBitmap));
     bitmapResource[wxT("exit.png")]               = (bitmapExit              = new wxBitmap(wxNullBitmap));
     bitmapResource[wxT("sync.png")]               = (bitmapSync              = new wxBitmap(wxNullBitmap));
@@ -102,6 +103,8 @@ GlobalResources::GlobalResources()
     bitmapResource[wxT("checkbox false.png")]     = (bitmapCheckBoxFalse     = new wxBitmap(wxNullBitmap));
     bitmapResource[wxT("settings.png")]           = (bitmapSettings          = new wxBitmap(wxNullBitmap));
     bitmapResource[wxT("settings_small.png")]     = (bitmapSettingsSmall     = new wxBitmap(wxNullBitmap));
+    bitmapResource[wxT("recycler.png")]           = (bitmapRecycler          = new wxBitmap(wxNullBitmap));
+    bitmapResource[wxT("shift.png")]              = (bitmapShift             = new wxBitmap(wxNullBitmap));
 
     //init all the other resource files
     animationMoney = new wxAnimation(wxNullAnimation);
diff --git a/library/resources.h b/library/resources.h
index 24e8d027..6bac0d86 100644
--- a/library/resources.h
+++ b/library/resources.h
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ public:
     wxBitmap* bitmapDeleteRight;
     wxBitmap* bitmapEmail;
     wxBitmap* bitmapAbout;
+    wxBitmap* bitmapAboutSmall;
     wxBitmap* bitmapWebsite;
     wxBitmap* bitmapExit;
     wxBitmap* bitmapSync;
@@ -101,6 +102,8 @@ public:
     wxBitmap* bitmapCheckBoxFalse;
     wxBitmap* bitmapSettings;
     wxBitmap* bitmapSettingsSmall;
+    wxBitmap* bitmapRecycler;
+    wxBitmap* bitmapShift;
 
     wxAnimation* animationMoney;
     wxAnimation* animationSync;
diff --git a/library/sorting.h b/library/sorting.h
index 23c219b9..171cca6d 100644
--- a/library/sorting.h
+++ b/library/sorting.h
@@ -124,11 +124,11 @@ bool sortByFileName(const FileCompareLine& a, const FileCompareLine& b)
             const wxChar* stringA = descrLineA->relativeName.c_str();
             const wxChar* stringB = descrLineB->relativeName.c_str();
 
-            size_t pos = descrLineA->relativeName.Find(GlobalResources::FILE_NAME_SEPARATOR, true); //start search beginning from end
+            size_t pos = descrLineA->relativeName.findFromEnd(GlobalResources::FILE_NAME_SEPARATOR); //start search beginning from end
             if (pos != std::string::npos)
                 stringA += pos + 1;
 
-            pos = descrLineB->relativeName.Find(GlobalResources::FILE_NAME_SEPARATOR, true); //start search beginning from end
+            pos = descrLineB->relativeName.findFromEnd(GlobalResources::FILE_NAME_SEPARATOR); //start search beginning from end
             if (pos != std::string::npos)
                 stringB += pos + 1;
 
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ bool sortByRelativeName(const FileCompareLine& a, const FileCompareLine& b)
         relLengthA  = descrLineA->relativeName.length();
     else if (descrLineA->objType == FileDescrLine::TYPE_FILE)
     {
-        relLengthA = descrLineA->relativeName.Find(GlobalResources::FILE_NAME_SEPARATOR, true); //start search beginning from end
+        relLengthA = descrLineA->relativeName.findFromEnd(GlobalResources::FILE_NAME_SEPARATOR); //start search beginning from end
         if (relLengthA == wxNOT_FOUND)
         {
             relLengthA  = 0;
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ bool sortByRelativeName(const FileCompareLine& a, const FileCompareLine& b)
         relLengthB  = descrLineB->relativeName.length();
     else if (descrLineB->objType == FileDescrLine::TYPE_FILE)
     {
-        relLengthB = descrLineB->relativeName.Find(GlobalResources::FILE_NAME_SEPARATOR, true); //start search beginning from end
+        relLengthB = descrLineB->relativeName.findFromEnd(GlobalResources::FILE_NAME_SEPARATOR); //start search beginning from end
         if (relLengthB == wxNOT_FOUND)
         {
             relLengthB  = 0;
diff --git a/library/statusHandler.h b/library/statusHandler.h
index 208a2df8..11517efb 100644
--- a/library/statusHandler.h
+++ b/library/statusHandler.h
@@ -50,19 +50,11 @@ public:
 
     //this method is triggered repeatedly by requestUiRefresh() and can be used to refresh the ui by dispatching pending events
     virtual void forceUiRefresh() = 0;
-    void requestUiRefresh(bool asyncProcessActive = false)
-    {
-        if (updateUiIsAllowed())  //test if specific time span between ui updates is over
-            forceUiRefresh();
 
-        if (abortRequested && !asyncProcessActive)
-            abortThisProcess();  //abort can be triggered by requestAbortion()
-    }
+    void requestUiRefresh(bool allowAbort = true); //opportunity to abort must be implemented in a frequently executed method like requestUiRefresh()
+    void requestAbortion();  //does NOT call abortThisProcess immediately, but when appropriate (e.g. async. processes finished)
+    bool abortIsRequested();
 
-    void requestAbortion() //opportunity to abort must be implemented in a frequently executed method like requestUiRefresh()
-    {                      //currently used by the UI status information screen, when button "Abort is pressed"
-        abortRequested = true;
-    }
 
     //error handling:
     virtual ErrorHandler::Response reportError(const Zstring& errorMessage) = 0; //recoverable error situation
@@ -76,4 +68,31 @@ protected:
 };
 
 
+
+//##############################################################################
+inline
+void StatusHandler::requestUiRefresh(bool allowAbort)
+{
+    if (updateUiIsAllowed())  //test if specific time span between ui updates is over
+        forceUiRefresh();
+
+    if (abortRequested && allowAbort)
+        abortThisProcess();  //abort can be triggered by requestAbortion()
+}
+
+
+inline
+void StatusHandler::requestAbortion()
+{
+    abortRequested = true;
+}
+
+
+inline
+bool StatusHandler::abortIsRequested()
+{
+    return abortRequested;
+}
+
+
 #endif // STATUSHANDLER_H_INCLUDED
diff --git a/library/tinyxml/tinyxmlparser.cpp b/library/tinyxml/tinyxmlparser.cpp
index 2f6c0bc1..539f72cf 100644
--- a/library/tinyxml/tinyxmlparser.cpp
+++ b/library/tinyxml/tinyxmlparser.cpp
@@ -368,7 +368,7 @@ const char* TiXmlBase::SkipWhiteSpace( const char* p, TiXmlEncoding encoding )
     }
     else
     {
-        while ( *p && IsWhiteSpace( *p ) || *p == '\n' || *p =='\r' )
+        while ( (*p && IsWhiteSpace( *p )) || *p == '\n' || *p =='\r' )
             ++p;
     }
 
diff --git a/library/zstring.cpp b/library/zstring.cpp
index 27633392..d704e741 100644
--- a/library/zstring.cpp
+++ b/library/zstring.cpp
@@ -104,7 +104,6 @@ bool matchesHelper(const DefaultChar* string, const DefaultChar* mask)
                 ++string;
             }
             return false;
-            break;
 
         default:
             if (*string != ch)
@@ -141,8 +140,11 @@ Zstring& Zstring::Trim(bool fromRight)
         {
             if (descr->refCount > 1) //allocate new string
                 *this = Zstring(data, newLength);
-            else //overwrite this string
-                descr->length = newLength;
+            else //overwrite this strin
+            {
+                descr->length   = newLength;
+                data[newLength] = DefaultChar(0);
+            }
         }
     }
     else
@@ -180,8 +182,7 @@ Zstring& Zstring::MakeLower()
     {
         StringDescriptor* newDescr;
         DefaultChar*      newData;
-        const size_t newCapacity = getCapacityToAllocate(thisLen);
-        allocate(1, thisLen, newCapacity, newDescr, newData);
+        allocate(thisLen, newDescr, newData);
 
         for (unsigned int i = 0; i < thisLen; ++i)
             newData[i] = defaultToLower(data[i]);
@@ -244,47 +245,41 @@ Zstring& Zstring::replace(size_t pos1, size_t n1, const DefaultChar* str, size_t
     assert(str < c_str() || c_str() + length() < str); //str mustn't point to data in this string
     assert(n1 <= length() - pos1);
 
-    if (n2 != 0)
+    const size_t oldLen = length();
+    if (oldLen == 0)
     {
-        const size_t oldLen = length();
-        if (oldLen == 0)
-        {
-            assert(n1 == 0);
-            return *this = Zstring(str, n2);
-        }
+        assert(pos1 == 0 && n1 == 0);
+        return *this = Zstring(str, n2);
+    }
 
-        const size_t newLen = oldLen - n1 + n2;
-        if (n1 < n2 || descr->refCount > 1)
-        {   //allocate a new string
-            const size_t newCapacity = getCapacityToAllocate(newLen);
-
-            StringDescriptor* newDescr;
-            DefaultChar* newData;
-            allocate(1, newLen, newCapacity, newDescr, newData);
-            //StringDescriptor* newDescr = new StringDescriptor(1, newLen, newCapacity);
-            //DefaultChar* newData = new DefaultChar[newCapacity + 1];
-
-            //assemble new string with replacement
-            memcpy(newData, data, pos1 * sizeof(DefaultChar));
-            memcpy(newData + pos1, str, n2 * sizeof(DefaultChar));
-            memcpy(newData + pos1 + n2, data + pos1 + n1, (oldLen - pos1 - n1) * sizeof(DefaultChar));
-            newData[newLen] = 0;
-
-            decRef();
-            data = newData;
-            descr = newDescr;
-        }
-        else
-        {   //overwrite current string
-            memcpy(data + pos1, str, n2 * sizeof(DefaultChar));
-            if (n1 > n2)
-            {
-                memmove(data + pos1 + n2, data + pos1 + n1, (oldLen - pos1 - n1) * sizeof(DefaultChar));
-                data[newLen] = 0;
-                descr->length = newLen;
-            }
+    const size_t newLen = oldLen - n1 + n2;
+    if (n1 < n2 || descr->refCount > 1)
+    {   //allocate a new string
+        StringDescriptor* newDescr;
+        DefaultChar* newData;
+        allocate(newLen, newDescr, newData);
+
+        //assemble new string with replacement
+        memcpy(newData, data, pos1 * sizeof(DefaultChar));
+        memcpy(newData + pos1, str, n2 * sizeof(DefaultChar));
+        memcpy(newData + pos1 + n2, data + pos1 + n1, (oldLen - pos1 - n1) * sizeof(DefaultChar));
+        newData[newLen] = 0;
+
+        decRef();
+        data  = newData;
+        descr = newDescr;
+    }
+    else  //overwrite current string: case "n2 == 0" is handled implicitly
+    {
+        memcpy(data + pos1, str, n2 * sizeof(DefaultChar));
+        if (n1 > n2)
+        {
+            memmove(data + pos1 + n2, data + pos1 + n1, (oldLen - pos1 - n1) * sizeof(DefaultChar));
+            data[newLen]  = 0;
+            descr->length = newLen;
         }
     }
+
     return *this;
 }
 
@@ -358,16 +353,16 @@ void Zstring::copyBeforeWrite(const size_t capacityNeeded)
 
     if (descr->refCount > 1)
     {   //allocate a new string
-        const size_t oldLength   = length();
-        const size_t newCapacity = getCapacityToAllocate(capacityNeeded);
+        const size_t oldLength = length();
+        assert(oldLength <= getCapacityToAllocate(capacityNeeded));
 
         StringDescriptor* newDescr;
-        DefaultChar* newData;
-        allocate(1, oldLength, newCapacity, newDescr, newData);
+        DefaultChar*      newData;
+        allocate(capacityNeeded, newDescr, newData);
+        newDescr->length = oldLength;
 
         if (oldLength)
         {
-            assert(oldLength <= newCapacity);
             memcpy(newData, data, oldLength * sizeof(DefaultChar));
             newData[oldLength] = 0;
         }
diff --git a/library/zstring.h b/library/zstring.h
index 60ba464c..2a10efa9 100644
--- a/library/zstring.h
+++ b/library/zstring.h
@@ -7,7 +7,11 @@
 #ifndef ZSTRING_H_INCLUDED
 #define ZSTRING_H_INCLUDED
 
-#include <string>
+#include <cstring>
+#include <cctype>
+#include <assert.h>
+#include <new>
+#include <cstdlib>
 
 
 namespace FreeFileSync
@@ -33,6 +37,7 @@ typedef char DefaultChar;
 typedef wchar_t DefaultChar;
 #endif
 
+class Zsubstr;
 
 class Zstring
 {
@@ -67,7 +72,8 @@ public:
     //std::string functions
     size_t length() const;
     const DefaultChar* c_str() const;
-    Zstring substr(size_t pos = 0, size_t len = npos) const;
+    Zstring substr(size_t pos = 0, size_t len = npos) const; //allocate new string
+    Zsubstr zsubstr(size_t pos = 0) const;                   //use ref-counting!
     bool empty() const;
     int compare(const DefaultChar* other) const;
     int compare(const Zstring& other) const;
@@ -106,18 +112,35 @@ private:
 
     struct StringDescriptor
     {
-        StringDescriptor(const unsigned int refC, const size_t len, const size_t cap) : refCount(refC), length(len), capacity(cap) {}
         mutable unsigned int refCount;
-        size_t       length;
-        size_t       capacity; //allocated length without null-termination
+        size_t               length;
+        size_t               capacity; //allocated length without null-termination
     };
-    static void allocate(const unsigned int newRefCount, const size_t newLength, const size_t newCapacity, Zstring::StringDescriptor*& newDescr, DefaultChar*& newData);
+    static void allocate(const size_t newLength, Zstring::StringDescriptor*& newDescr, DefaultChar*& newData);
 
     StringDescriptor* descr;
     DefaultChar*      data;
 };
 
 
+class Zsubstr //ref-counted substring of a Zstring
+{
+public:
+    Zsubstr();
+    Zsubstr(const Zstring& ref, const size_t pos);
+
+    const DefaultChar* c_str() const;
+    size_t length() const;
+    bool StartsWith(const Zstring& begin) const;
+    size_t findFromEnd(const DefaultChar ch) const;
+
+private:
+    Zstring m_ref;
+    const DefaultChar* m_data;
+    size_t m_length;
+};
+
+
 //#######################################################################################
 //begin of implementation
 
@@ -218,28 +241,26 @@ void testZstringForMemoryLeak();
 
 
 inline
-void Zstring::allocate(const unsigned int newRefCount,
-                       const size_t       newLength,
-                       const size_t       newCapacity,
+size_t getCapacityToAllocate(const size_t length)
+{
+    return (length + (19 - length % 16)); //allocate some additional length to speed up concatenation
+}
+
+
+inline
+void Zstring::allocate(const size_t       newLength,
                        StringDescriptor*& newDescr,
                        DefaultChar*&      newData)
 {   //allocate and set data for new string
-    if (newCapacity)
-    {
-        newDescr = (StringDescriptor*) malloc( sizeof(StringDescriptor) + (newCapacity + 1) * sizeof(DefaultChar));
-        if (newDescr == NULL)
-            throw std::bad_alloc();
-        newData = (DefaultChar*)(newDescr + 1);
-    }
-    else
-    {
-        newDescr = (StringDescriptor*) malloc( sizeof(StringDescriptor));
-        if (newDescr == NULL)
-            throw std::bad_alloc();
-        newData = NULL;
-    }
+    const size_t newCapacity = getCapacityToAllocate(newLength);
+    assert(newCapacity);
+
+    newDescr = (StringDescriptor*) malloc( sizeof(StringDescriptor) + (newCapacity + 1) * sizeof(DefaultChar));
+    if (newDescr == NULL)
+        throw std::bad_alloc();
+    newData = (DefaultChar*)(newDescr + 1);
 
-    newDescr->refCount = newRefCount;
+    newDescr->refCount = 1;
     newDescr->length   = newLength;
     newDescr->capacity = newCapacity;
 
@@ -259,7 +280,16 @@ void Zstring::allocate(const unsigned int newRefCount,
 inline
 Zstring::Zstring()
 {
-    allocate(1, 0, 0, descr, data);
+    //static (dummy) empty Zstring
+#ifdef ZSTRING_CHAR
+    static Zstring emptyString("");
+#elif defined ZSTRING_WIDE_CHAR
+    static Zstring emptyString(L"");
+#endif
+
+    emptyString.incRef(); //implicitly handle case "this == &source" and avoid this check
+    descr = emptyString.descr;
+    data  = emptyString.data;
 }
 
 
@@ -281,7 +311,7 @@ inline
 Zstring::Zstring(const Zstring& source)
 {
     descr = source.descr;
-    data = source.data;
+    data  = source.data;
     incRef(); //reference counting!
 }
 
@@ -294,17 +324,9 @@ Zstring::~Zstring()
 
 
 inline
-size_t getCapacityToAllocate(const size_t length)
-{
-    return (length + (19 - length % 16)); //allocate some additional length to speed up concatenation
-}
-
-
-inline
 void Zstring::initAndCopy(const DefaultChar* source, size_t length)
 {
-    const size_t newCapacity = getCapacityToAllocate(length);
-    allocate(1, length, newCapacity, descr, data);
+    allocate(length, descr, data);
     memcpy(data, source, length * sizeof(DefaultChar));
     data[length] = 0;
 }
@@ -548,21 +570,14 @@ size_t Zstring::size() const
 inline
 const DefaultChar* Zstring::c_str() const
 {
-    if (length())
-        return data;
-    else
-#ifdef ZSTRING_CHAR
-        return "";
-#elif defined ZSTRING_WIDE_CHAR
-        return L"";
-#endif
+    return data;
 }
 
 
 inline
 bool Zstring::empty() const
 {
-    return length() == 0;
+    return descr->length == 0;
 }
 
 
@@ -594,5 +609,71 @@ Zstring Zstring::operator+(const DefaultChar ch) const
     return Zstring(*this)+=ch;
 }
 
+//##################### Zsubstr #############################
+inline
+Zsubstr Zstring::zsubstr(size_t pos) const
+{
+    assert(pos <= length());
+    return Zsubstr(*this, pos); //return reference counted string
+}
+
+
+inline
+Zsubstr::Zsubstr()
+{
+    m_data   = m_ref.c_str();
+    m_length = 0;
+}
+
+
+inline
+Zsubstr::Zsubstr(const Zstring& ref, const size_t pos) :
+        m_ref(ref),
+        m_data(ref.c_str() + pos),
+        m_length(ref.length() - pos) {}
+
+
+inline
+const DefaultChar* Zsubstr::c_str() const
+{
+    return m_data;
+}
+
+
+inline
+size_t Zsubstr::length() const
+{
+    return m_length;
+}
+
+
+inline
+bool Zsubstr::StartsWith(const Zstring& begin) const
+{
+    const size_t beginLength = begin.length();
+    if (length() < beginLength)
+        return false;
+
+    return defaultCompare(m_data, begin.c_str(), beginLength) == 0;
+}
+
+
+inline
+size_t Zsubstr::findFromEnd(const DefaultChar ch) const
+{
+    if (length() == 0)
+        return Zstring::npos;
+
+    size_t pos = length() - 1;
+    do //pos points to last char of the string
+    {
+        if (m_data[pos] == ch)
+            return pos;
+    }
+    while (--pos != static_cast<size_t>(-1));
+    return Zstring::npos;
+}
+
+
 
 #endif // ZSTRING_H_INCLUDED