Softobe’s US$30 FoldersSynchronizer (now up to version 5.1.6 and compatible with macOS 10.13 and higher) is a stalwart Mac app provides a number of handy options such as automatic services, the sync timer and AppleScripts support.
FoldersSynchronizer lets you sync and backup files, folders, disks and boot disks. It provides options like Timers, Multiple Folders, Filters, Exclude Items, Auto-Mount local and remote volumes, the ability to launch your own AppleScripts, the ability to set how to resolve conflicts, the ability to execute an incremental or an exact copy, the ability to include locked files, a preview panel, log files, and more.
Why do you need it? Time Machine backups can help you recover from various disasters, though sometimes just archiving your Mac’s files isn’t enough . That’s where FoldersSynchronizer come in. It allows you to easily create custom data transfers (called “sessions”) by selecting a source and destination drive.
Sessions can be backups, where changes move one-way from source to destination, or syncs, where changes are mirrored in either direction. Either session type can be archival (never deleting files) or exact (deleting data as necessary).
On the Exclude panel in FoldersSynchronizer you can now click on a row of the list and choose an hidden file or an hidden folder. This will let you exclude folders.
When backing up with FoldersSynchronization, the destination folder will be upgraded with the newest files, the new files (new entries) and the new Folders (new entries) coming from the source folder. The source folder will be left untouched. FoldersSynchronizer can execute incremental or exact backups.
The incremental backup (default) never deletes items. The exact backup deletes from the destination folder, all the items no longer existing in the source folder, and it never deletes items from the source folder.
When synchronizing, the old files will be replaced with the newest files in both directions. The new files (new entries) will be copied in both directions, as well as new Folders. The old Folders will not be replaced entirely by the newer ones, as the Finder used to do, but their content will be updated with the most recent files, the new files (new entries) and new Folders (new entries). FoldersSynchronizer can execute incremental or exact synchronizations.
The incremental synchronization (default) never deletes items from the folders. The exact synchronization deletes from a folder, all the items no longer existing in the mirror folder.
Any complaints? The user interface could use some polishing. It took me awhile to get the hang of using it. Also, it’s not been optimized for Apple Silicon/M1 Macs, which would be useful and is hopefully coming soon.
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