Symbolic link handling (Windows since Vista and Linux)

FreeFileSync offers three advanced options to configure processing of Symbolic Links (also called Symlinks or Soft Links). They can be configured directly within a *.ffs_gui/ffs_batch file via a text editor. Only the first option is presented on GUI:

<IncludeSymlinks>          false          </IncludeSymlinks>
<TraverseDirectorySymlinks>true </TraverseDirectorySymlinks>
<CopyFileSymlinks>         false         </CopyFileSymlinks>

• Enable "Include Symbolic Links" in order to process Symbolic Links at all, i.e. add them to the file and directory listing.
   

• "Traverse Directory Links" specifies handling of Symbolic Links to directories:
  If this option is enabled, they are traversed like ordinary directories during comparison. When synchronizing, the target of the Symbolic Link will be copied. If disabled, Symbolic Links are not traversed. During synchronization, copying them results in a copy of the Symbolic Link.
   

• "Copy File Links" defines the behavior for copying Symbolic Links pointing to files:
  If checked, the Symbolic Link itself will be copied. If unchecked, the target of the Link will be copied instead.

On GUI only the first option is available for configuration, while "Traverse Directory Links" is implicitly enabled and "Copy File Links" disabled.

Note:

• In the Windows build the options described above always apply to "Reparse Points". Reparse Points are a more general concept including for example Symbolic Links, Junctions and Mount Points. The term "Symbolic Link" has been retained nevertheless for harmonization with Linux.

• Creating or copying Symbolic Links requires the application to be started with Administrator rights.