Automated Synchronization

RealtimeSync is a small tool which executes a command line each time it detects changes in one of the monitored directories or a directory becomes available (e. g. insert of a USB-stick). Usually this command line will simply trigger a FreeFileSync batch job.

Example: Real time synchronization - in combination with FreeFileSync

Start RealtimeSync.exe located in FreeFileSync's installation directory. Then specify all folders that shall be monitored. Instead of doing this manually you can import a *.ffs_batch file via Menu → Program → Open. This not only extracts all directories relevant for synchronization but also sets up the command line to execute the *.ffs_batch file each time changes are detected. Now press Start to begin monitoring.

Note

• The command should not block progress. Make sure the FreeFileSync batch job does not show any popup dialogs. See notes in Batch Scripting.
   

• The settings dialog can be skipped by passing a RealtimeSync configuration file (*.ffs_real) or a FreeFileSync batch file (*.ffs_batch) as first command line argument to RealtimeSync.exe. This can be integrated into the operating system's auto start facility:
        "C:\Program Files\FreeFileSync\RealtimeSync.exe" "C:\SyncJob.ffs_real"
        "C:\Program Files\FreeFileSync\RealtimeSync.exe" "C:\SyncJob.ffs_batch"
   

• Using RealtimeSync is not restricted to starting FreeFileSync. It can also be used in other scenarios, like sending an email whenever a certain directory is modified.

Example: Automatic synchronization when USB stick is inserted

Save a ffs_batch configuration into the USB stick's root directory and have it called when the stick is mounted. Then configure RealtimeSync as shown in the following:

Whenever directory "H:\Data" becomes available, the command line executes and starts the batch job on the stick. Additionally it also starts the batch job each time files are modified in "H:\Data".

Note
The full path of the last changed file and the action that triggered the change notification (create, update or delete) are written to the environment variables %change_path% and %change_action%.

Example: Show names of changed files or directories. (Windows)

Show which file or directory has triggered a change. Enter command line:
    cmd /c echo %change_action% "%change_path%" & pause

Write a list of all changes to a logfile:
    cmd /c echo %change_action% "%change_path%" >> c:\log.txt

Note
During execution of a Windows Batch file (*.bat/*.cmd) a black console window is shown. You can hide it using the Visual Basic script "HideConsole.vbs" located in FreeFileSync's installation directory:

wscript "C:\Program files\FreeFileSync\HideConsole.vbs" C:\MyBatchFile.cmd

Limitations:

• If multiple changes happen at the same time, only the name of the first file is written to variable "changed_file".

• While RealtimeSync is executing the command line, monitoring is inactive and changes occurring during this time are lost.