Schedule a batch job

  1. Create a new batch job via FreeFileSync's main dialog: Menu → Program → Save as batch job...
     

  2. If the batch job shall run without user interaction or as part of an unattended batch script, make sure that no popup dialog stops the progress:
    Disable checkbox Show progress dialog to avoid blocking while showing the result after synchronization. Alternatively you can select the "On completion" action Close progress dialog located in synchronization settings.
    Note: Even if the progress dialog is not shown at the beginning, a user can make it visible during synchronization by double-clicking the FreeFileSync systray icon.

     

  3. In order to prevent error or warning popup messages from stopping progress, set Error handling to either Ignore or Exit.

     

  4. Setup your operating system's scheduler

    1. Windows 7 Task Scheduler:

      • Go to Start and run taskschd.msc.

      • Create a new basic task and follow the wizard.

      • Make Program/script point to the location of FreeFileSync.exe and insert the *.ffs_batch file into Add arguments.

      • Use quotation marks to protect spaces in path names, e.g.: "D:\Backup Projects.ffs_batch"

    Note
    Beginning with Windows Vista the "Program/script" always needs point to an executable file like "FreeFileSync.exe" even if ffs_batch file associations have been set!     If a ffs_batch file were entered instead the task would return with error code 0xC1, "%1 is not a valid Win32 application".


     

    1. Windows XP Scheduled Tasks:

      • Go to Start → Control Panel → Scheduled Tasks and select Add Scheduled Task.

      • Follow the wizard and select FreeFileSync.exe as program to run.

      • Fill input field Run: as: <FreeFileSync installation folder>\FreeFileSync.exe <job name>.ffs_batch

         

    2. Ubuntu Linux Gnome-schedule:

      • Install Gnome-schedule, if necessary: sudo apt-get install gnome-schedule

      • Go to System → Preferences → Scheduled tasks

      • Enter the command as: <FreeFileSync installation folder>/FreeFileSync <job name>.ffs_batch