FoldersSynchronizer 3.6.3 (March 26th, 2008)
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 Remarks

• Please keep in mind FoldersSynchronizer cannot revert the process!
We suggest strongly to perform a trial on two just-created folders containing some just-created Text files.
After you have understood well how FS works, go synchronize your real folders...
And if you are using a beta version, please use the utmost care with your files.
• Please read carefully this document, the Licence terms at the end of this document, and the PDF user's manual.
  More than the use of the program itself, the PDF explains the basic concepts on backup and synchronization.
• A detailed documentation on the latest version is available at: http://www.softobe.com/products/flsy/snst/snst01.html
• FS registered copies have no limits regarding the amount of files and folders or the total byte size.
• In no way is allowed to downgrade to minor or cheaper versions.
• We don't deliver our products via mail. The only way to get our product is by downloading from our web site.

• Please note that, because of a bug on MacOS X Jaguar (bug ID #3164257), the "Conflicts" feature could not work with files/folder placed on remote machines (the conflict "Backup 2" always works). This Apple's bug have already been fixed in the MacOS X Panther.

	FoldersSynchronizer 3.6.3 Full	FoldersSynchronizer 3.5.4 Lite	FoldersSynchronizer 2.2.1	FoldersSynchronizer 1.9.6
Release Date	March 26th, 2008	September 12th, 2005	October 30th, 2001	November 21st, 2000
Platform	Mac-Intel and PowerMacintosh	PowerMacintosh	PowerMacintosh	PowerMacintosh
Application Kind	Universal Binary - Cocoa	Cocoa	Carbon	Classic
MacOS	MacOS X 10.4, 10.5 or higher	MacOS X 10.3, 10.4, 10.5	MacOS 9 or higher *	MacOS 7.0.1 to 8
Free RAM	-	-	5 MB	8 MB
Size on disk	1.7 MB	1.5 MB	1.3 MB	1.9 MB
Copying rate (average)	2.5 MB/Sec	2.5 MB/Sec	1 MB/Sec	0.5 MB/Sec
Drag And Drop	•	•	•
Background	•	•	•
Document Save/Open	•	•	•
Check Backup Date	•		•
Preview List	•	•	•
Resolve Aliases	•	•	•
Resolve Sym Links	•	•
Exact Sync	•	•
Exact Backup	•	•	•	•
Multiple Sessions	•
Execute All Sessions	•
Run AppleScript	•
Timers	•		•
Multiple Folders	•		•
Filters	•		•
Exclude List	•		•
Conflicts	•
Automount Volumes	•
Send Log via Email	•
Sync & Quit	•		•
Sync & Shut Down	•
Long File Names	•	•
Unix Permissions	•	•
Run with root privileges	•	•
Multiple Forks > 2GB	•	•
Unicode Strings	•	•
Download (Sit)
Download (Hqx)
PDF User's Manual	Use the 2.2 manual	Use the 2.2 manual
Help	Help on line and Overview	Help on line and Overview
Price	$40	$20	$30	$20
Upgrade Prices	v.2 to v.3: $10 v.1 to v.3: $20 Lite v.3 to Full v.3: $20		v.1 to v.2: $10

What's new in the 3.6.3 (March 26th 2008) Download this version

• As requested, we have added the "Sort Sessions" feature. Call the menu item "Sort Sessions" from the pop-up menu "Sessions" on the toolbar and you will be shown a list of the available Sessions. Drag the rows of the list to change the sort order of the Sessions. Additionally you can remove the sessions from the list.
  
  

What's new in the 3.6.2 (October 4th 2007) Download this version

• Successfully tested on MacOS X 10.5 Leopard.
• As requested, we have added the check-box "Treat file packages as folders" to the Settings panel. This feature is useful to sync/backup filePackages (as the new iPhoto8 library file package). With this option on, FS will inspect the contents of the filePackage (a filePakage is a folder containing several folders and files and looking like a file in the Finder) and will sync/backup only those files which really need. This results in a faster task because FS could not need to copy the whole filePackage (which could contain GB of data as several files). This feature doesn't affect the files with the extension "app" (the applications, which are file packages too). To inspect manually the contents of a filePackage in the Finder, click on the filePackage icon holding down the Control key the choose the menu item "Show Package Contents".
• This version runs 20% faster than the previous one.
• Fixed a bug when dismissing the "Replace File" dialog. This dialog comes out only in case the user has specified to "Ask the user" on the Conflicts panel and a conflict occured.
  
  

What's new in the 3.6.1 (October 9th 2006)

• Fixed a bug when copying files larger than 2GB to remote AFP disks. Now FS doesn't say longer that the destination disk has not enough free space, when there is enough free space indeed. Please note that when replacing existing files, FS firstly copies the source file to the destination folder using a temporary file name. If the copy goes well, FS deletes the old destination file, then renames the new file just copied to the right file name. This requires more free space on the destination disk, but it's safe.
  
  

What's new in the 3.6.0 (June 2nd 2006)

• Compiled as Universal Binary, this free upgrade runs on both PowerPC and Mac-Intel machines.
  
  

What's new in the 3.5.4 (12th September 2005)

• Fixed a bug at Automounting Volumes began with Tiger. When opening FS files saved by older versions, this version will delete any Automount Volume list. In order to restore the automount volume list you have to redefine the source and destination folders on the FS console panel or on the Multiple List panel. FS will automatically put these folders in the automount volume list.
  
  

What's new in the 3.5.2 (23th May 2005)

• Fixed a problem when the current user is different than the one who installed the application.
• Fixed a bug when copying locked files.
  
• Tested on Tiger 10.4.1 successfully.
  
• Other minor internal improvements.
  
  

What's new in the 3.5.1 (12th May 2005)

• As requested, we have restored the "Run as root" check-box in the Preference panel. You can mark this check-box again as the previous versions, in order to run FS with the root's privileges without the need to log-out and re-log-in as root user. However, since the flag “Run As Root” cannot be stored within the application itself, you have to mark this check-box at any launch, if you need to run as root. This will prevent other users profit of an application already set with the root privileges and copy files illegally.
  
• Fixed a bug at opening ".fsy" files.
  
• Fixed a bug at launching a SyncAndQuit task.
  
• Fixed a bug when running with an expired evaluation license.
  
• When backing up a whole volume this version no longer copies the Spotlight's file "/.Spotlight-V100".
  
  

What's new in the 3.5.0 (25th April 2005)

• This version runs on MacOS X 10.4 Tiger and on MacOS X 10.3 too. Version 3 registered users can download and upgrade to this version for free.
• Since the latest Mac OS X versions and the latest Apple Security Updates, it's now forbidden to set the "Run As Root" flag within the application itself. That old way, in fact, an unauthorized user could have used that privilege "unproperly". Thus, in this version, the check-box "Run as root" in the Preferences/Log panel has been dismissed. In order to sync and backup with the root's privileges (e.g. to backup your boot volume) now you have to logout then login on your computer as user "root".
• As requested, now the "Set Volume" window in the Automount panel grants the check-box "Password". This way, in case of remote volumes, the user can mark this check-box if he wants FS to use the password to automatically mount the volume. In case the volume doesn't require a password this check-box should be marked and the field password should be empty.
• Fixed a bug at replacing filenames longer than 30 characters on a MacOS 9 file system.
• The drawer "Show file name when copying" has been enlarged from 3 rows to 6 rows to show longer file paths.
• As requested, now the "Show file name when copying" drawer will be opened automatically at launch, if left open at the last quit.
• Added the menu "Open Recent".
  
  

What's new in the 3.4.9 (24th May 2004)

• As requested, we implemented the "Show file name when copying" feature. Click on the triangle at the left-bottom corner of the console in order to open the info drawer. When open, during the copy phase, you will find there the info about the item currently being processed. The drawer shows the source file path, the destination file path and file size.
• As requested we added the "Filter by Owner nick name" and "Filter by Owner ID" to the "Set Filter" panel.
• Fixed a minor but annoying bug at automounting volumes when the check-box "Ask confirmation" in the Preferences panel was on. In such a case, the previous versions were not able to mount the volumes because they checked for the folders validity before mounting the volumes. This version can mount the volumes even with that check-box on.
  
  

What's new in the 3.4.8 (21st April 2004)

• The feature "Shut down the machine after the sync/backup" (check-box of the Preferences panel) has been reactivated again. It works only for non root users.
• Fixed some minor bug at the Filter panel user interface. Now when the check-boxes Creation Date and Modification Date are off, the Month, Day and Year steppers will be deactivated as well. Also, when the selected items of the pop-up menu are "Today" or "Yesterday", since they are dynamic dates, the steppers will be deactivated too.
• Added a control when trying to back-up the boot volume to a volume which cannot manage ownership (because the check-box "Ignore ownership on this volume" in Get Info panel in the Finder is marked). The user will be shown a dialog explaining this is not correct and how to perform the backup of the boot disk properly.
  
  

What's new in the 3.4.7 (1st March 2004)

• As requested, now FS at the end of a backup of the whole boot disk, will bless the destination backup disk. This way, just after the backup, the user will be able to restart the machine, and holding down the option key, he will be able to select the backup disk as boot disk, without the need to select that disk in the System Preferences as boot disk. Hovever, he can always select the boot disk in the System Preferences in order to "bless" the backup boot disk.
• As requested, now the Preview window shows the whole pathnames of the selected files.
• On the Preview window we added 4 buttons to reveal the selected files in the Finder and to open the files with their applications.
• As requested, we added a control on the Set Filter window, so now the user cannot set an End time/date earlier than the Start date.
• Added the option "Delete the last Log files" to the Preferences:Log panel. The user can choose to delete all the Log files older than a given number of days, or to leave in the Log folder a given number of files (e.g. the last 3 Log files).
• Other minor improvements at the objects tooltips.
  
  

What's new in the 3.4.6 (12th December 2003)

• Added the "Switch Copy Direction" feature on both the Preview window and the Ask Replace panel.
  You can change the direction of the copy of each pair of files when all of the following conditions are true:
  a) The task is a Synchronization or an Exact Synchronization.
  b) Source and destination are both files (no folders).
  c) Both the files exist (thus it's a “replacement”).
  To change the Copy Direction on the Preview window, simply click on the central icon holding down the Option key.
  To change the Copy Direction on the Ask Replace panel, simply click on the arrow (violet or orange) button. Please note that the Ask Replace panel allowing you to change the Copy Direction comes out only if you marked the check-box "Ask" in the Conflict panel at the section "Sync and Exact Sync" and in case the conflict there mentioned is true (that is, both the files have been modified after the last sync).
  
• Added more accuracy at compiling AppleScripts. Now when applying AppleScript code containing error, FS notifys the kind of error and select the string containing the error on the text window.
  
• The shortcuts to the Option commands changed from Control+Key to Command+Alt+Key because of a "probable" bug at managing the Control modifier by MacOS X.
  
• Added more accuracy at automounting some kind of remote smb volume.
  
• Fixed a bug at resolving aliases, introduced by the last version.
• Fixed a minor bug on the procedure activated when the check-box "Before Sync:Ask Confirmation" of the Preferences panel is on.
  
• Minor improvements at the graphic objects of the Preview window.
  
• Reduced the file-size memory of the application file itself.
  
  

What's new in the 3.4.3 (9th December 2003)

• Added the Option "AppleScript" so now you can define, for each session, two AppleScripts which FS will execute separately before and after the session. You can use this feature, for example, to quit all the applications before starting a sync (do not close FS itself...), or to log out at the end of the sync... It's up to you. We always suggest to test your AppleScript with "Script Editor" then to copy them to FS. FS can locate AS errors in the AS text code, but Script Editor is more accurate.
  
• Added the menu Edit, with Copy, Cut, Paste and Delete commands. So you can paste the AppleScript code to FS.
  
• Splitted the "Backup" conflicts #1 and #2 in two different cases. In the previous versions the "Backup" conflict cases:
  1) If both the files have been modified after the last backup.
  2) If a destination file has a most recent modification date than its related source file.
  were grouped in one case only. So the user was not able to set, e.g., "Replace destination" for the first conflict and "Skip" for the second conflict.
  Now the use can set the choise separately for each case.
  Please note that the default value of second conflict is "Skip". So as default, during a backup or an exact backup, FS doesn't replace destination files if they have the most recent modification date.
  The Lite version doesn't manage conflicts thus behaves as described by the full version default values. To know the default values, please run the full version and create a new FS document.
  
• Fixed a minor bug at automounting some kind of remote smb volume. Now FS can mount even those kinds of smb volumes..
  
  

What's new in the 3.4.1 (3rd November 2003)

• Fixed a minor bug when saving FS documents files on Panther.
• Minor adjustement to the Preference Log panel interface.
  
  

What's new in the 3.4.0 (28th October 2003)

• Tuned up to run on MacOS X 10.3 (Panther). When moving to Panther, if you need to mantain your indexes file of the Exact Synchronizations, please copy the folder (Home)/Library/Application Support/Softobe/ to your Panther boot disk.
  FS 3.4.0 has been tested successfully at backing up the whole Panther boot disk.
  
• Improved the speed of the scanning task. Now the scanning phase runs 30% faster.
  
• As requested, in the Scheduling Window, you can double click on a timer done row to open the Log file (if any) related to the session done. This is useful if you want to quickly inspect the Log file of a sync/backup executed by a timer. You have to activate the check-box "Save Log File" in the Preferences panel in order to make FS write log files at the end of each session.
  
• As requested, now you can put the RegistrationFile.txt wherever you want. Then put in the FoldersSynchronizer folder an alias pointing to the RegistrationFile.txt. FS will resolve the alias. This way while upgrading you will not risk to lose your original RegistrationFile.txt.
  
• Starting from this version FS will not resolve aliases whose target file has a different file name than the alias name because this could cause conflicts at copying and replacing existing files and could cause unuseful copy back of the files.
  
• Fixed a minor bug about Timers of "the day after the launch".
  
• Fixed a minor bug at settings permissions when copying some special System's SymLink.
  
  

What's new in the 3.3.3 (18th July 2003)

• Fixed a minor bug on the Modification Delta Seconds feature in the Preferences panel ("Copy Mode" sub-panel). Now it works properly even with big values.
  
• The Log Window now has a toolbar with two new buttons for searching the error lines. If the log reports some error, click on the "Next" button in order to locate quickly the next error line in the log text. Click on the "Previous" button in order to locate quickly the previous error line in the log text.
  
• The header of the Log Window now reports the MacOS X Built version too.
  
  

What's new in the 3.3.2 (8th July 2003)

• As requested, we added the feature "Shut Down after Sync". Go to the FS Preference panel (sub-panel "General") and mark the check-box "Shut Down" to make FS automatically quit and shut down the computer after the sync/backup without requesting for any confirmation. Of course, if other applications block the shut down procedure (because of some open and unsaved document), the machine will not shut down.
  If used together with the "Sync and Quit" feature, FS, at launch, will execute the current session (sync/backup) then will quit and shut down the computer.
  
• As requested we added a feature that shows the pathnames of the Excluded items. The user can click on the cell of the Exclude list holding down the Command key, in order to see the pop-up menu listing the pathname of the item set in the cell. The user can tell the Finder to open one of the folders in the path, choosing the same item name from the pop-up menu.
  
• Redesigned the FS Preferences window in order to better organize the tab-view layouts and panes.
  
• Minor improvements to the Log text.
  
  

What's new in the 3.3.1 (28th May 2003)

• As requested, we added support to automount webdav volumes too. This means that FS now can even automount your Mac iDisk volumes automatically. Please ask to info@softobe.com if you want FS automount other kinds of volume.
• The automounting volume feature now lets you change the User Name in order to mount remote afp and webdav (iDisk) volumes using different user names and passwords.
• The dialog "Set Volume" now shows the different volume icon related to the volume chosen (local, remote, iDisk or custom icon).
• FS now requires MacOS X 10.2.2 or higher.
  
  

What's new in the 3.3 (22nd May 2003)

• Added the most requested feature: Auto-Mount Volumes (Option menu).
  Now, whenever you define, either in the console panel or in the multiple list, a source or destination folder, FS will add its related volume to the "Automount Volumes List" in order to remount the volume later. At present time FS supports the automount feature on afp and smb remote volumes, local volumes and disk image volumes.
  Please let us know other kinds of volume you would like FS manage as well. We will add them.
  You can go to the "Automount Volumes" panel choosing the same command from the "Options" menu. Here, if you mark the check-box "Automount Volumes On" then press Apply, FS will mount all the volumes in the "Automount Volumes List" before executing each single session.
  You cannot edit an empty row of the list. In order to add a volume to the list, simply go to the Console panel or the Multiple List panel and define a source or destination folder. FS will update the Volume List automatically.
  In order to delete a single row of the list, click on the cell holding down the ALT key.
  You can edit each single volume information clicking on each non-empty row of the list.
  In case of remote volumes, if you complete the informations adding the password, you will not be asked to fill with the password in order to mount the remote volume later. This option is useful when the sync/backup has to be launched by a timer.
  Volumes rows of remote volumes without password will be shown with orange color.
  If you defined some password, FS will encrypt and store the passwords in the FS document, and will set its permissions to rw-------, such a way nobody else but you will be able to open/copy/delete that document.
  If you mark the check-box "Unmount after Sync/Backup Session", FS will unmount the single volume at the end of each single session.
  FS, as default, when adding a new volume to the list, unmarks this check-box for local volumes, and marks it in case of remote and disk image volumes.
  
• Now the modal dialogs like the window "About" or "Preview",... don't keep the CPU so busy anymore.
  
• The Open File command now lets the user choose alias files too.
  
• In the previous versions, clicking on the source or destination folder labels in the console panel or in the cells of the Multiple list or in the Preview window holding down the Control key, told the Finder to open the item's parent folder. In this version FS tells the Finder to select and show the item's icon too inside its parent folder.
  
• Added the short cut "Command-," to the menu item Preferences.
  
• Fixed an interface bug when closing an unsaved FS document and then pressing Cancel.
  
• This version has been tested successfully on MacOS X 10.2.6.
  
  

What's new in the 3.2.2 (14th April 2003)

• As requested, at launch FS will copy the RegistrationFile.txt (if any) to
  (Home)/Library/Application Support/Softobe/FoldersSynchronizer 3/RegistrationFile.txt
  creating the folders if necessary. So even if while upgrading to a new version you forget to copy the RegistrationFile.txt, FS will find it anyway.
  Remember to delete this file too when you want FS unregistered.
• The FS folder containing the Exact Indexes
  (Home)/Library/Preferences/FoldersSynchronizer 3.0 ExactSync Indexes
  has been moved to
  (Home)/Library/Application Support/Softobe/FoldersSynchronizer 3/ExactSync Indexes
  So please keep in mind that coming back and using prior FS versions after having used this version, could cause the Exact Sync won't work on the folders you are used to Exact Sync.
• Tested on MacOS X 10.2.5.
  
  

What's new in the 3.2.1 (31st March 2003)

• Now FS can run even if the System Font is different than Lucida Grande. Anyway, in order to run, the font Lucida Grande must be installed in your system.
• Added a feature that shows the pathnames of the multiple items. The user can click on the cell of the Multiple list holding down the Command key, in order to see the pop-up menu showing the pathname of the item set in the cell. The user can tell the Finder to open one of the folders in the path, choosing the same item name from the pop-up menu.
• The tool-tip of the button Y in the console now reports the proper string "Go to the Conflicts panel". Rollover the button Y to see it.
• All the version 3 registered users can download and run this version and all the next 3.X.X version for free. Simply move the file RegistrationFile.txt from the old version FS folder to the new one.
• In order to prevent the Finder launchs older versions located on your disks when double clicking on a FS document, please put the latest version of FS inside the folder /Applications or delete or stuff the older FS versions.
  
  

• Exact Sync:
  --------------------------
  Now the Exact Sync works with renaming and moving the files too. It behaves this way:
  a - If you rename a source item (file or folder), FS will rename the destination item too.
  b - If you rename a destination item, FS will rename the source item too.
  c - If you move a source item from a folder to a subfolder or a parent folder, FS will move the destination item too.
  d - If you move a destination item from a folder to a subfolder or a parent folder, FS will move the source item too.
  e - If you delete a source item, FS will delete the destination item too.
  f - If you delete a destination item, FS will delete the source item too.
  g - If you skip, in the Preview Window, an item FS is going to delete, at the next Exact Sync, FS will propose to delete this item again.
  
  
  
• Conflicts:
  --------------------------
  Added a new feature "Conflicts" to the menu Options. With this feature the user can tell FS how to behave in case of conflicts.
  A conflict can occur when FS is going to delete or replace a file which has something new since the last sync/backup. "Something new" means that the file FS is going to delete/replace has been modified or it has just been created "after" the last sync/backup.
  The conflicts are the following:
  a - Backup:
  1: if a destination file has a more recent modification date than its related source file.
  2: if both the files have been modified after the last backup.
  User's choises: skip, replace destination (ask or not).
  b - Exact Backup:
  1: if after the last exact backup a destination file has been modified, and its related source file has been deleted.
  2: if after the last exact backup an item has been added to a destination folder, and its related source parent folder has been deleted.
  User's choises: skip, delete destination (ask or not).
  c - Sync:
  1: if both the files have been modified after the last synchronization.
  User's choises: skip, copy the most recent (ask or not).
  d - Exact Sync:
  1: if after the last exact sync a file has been modified, and its specular file has been deleted.
  2: if after the last exact sync a file has been added to a folder, and its specular parent folder has been deleted.
  User's choises: copy back the file, delete the file (ask or not).
  
  In any of these 7 cases (grouped in four) the first choise makes FS behave such a way to preserve the files in case of conflicts.
  Also, if you mark the check-box "Ask", you will be asked by a dialog window for choosing the proper behaviour for any conflict met. With this dialog you will be able to see the pathnames of the two files, their modification and backup dates, you will be able to open the files with their application and inspect their content, to open their parent folders in the Finder, and last but not least, you will be able to make your choise (skip, copy, delete, stop). If the Sync/Backup had been launched by a timer (or by the Sync&Quit timer), FS would not display the dialog for asking, but it will behave as you specified in the Conflicts panel. We kindly invite you to read the following sample.
  
  Conflict sample: a sample about the Exact Sync (case "d2" above): let's suppose you have a subfolder "A" either in the main source folder and in the main destination folder. Both the folders "A" contain the files "y" and "z". You have already "exact synchronized" earlier the main folders. Now, if you delete the subfolder "A" (and its content) from the main source folder, and your colleague adds a file "x" to the destination subfolder "A" (or modifies here an existing file), FS at the next "Exact Sync" shouldn't know what to do.
  Since it's an Exact Sync it could decide to delete the destination folder "A" too. Many sync software use to do that. If so, you should lose the file "x" that your colleague created inside the destination folder "A". Forever.
  Other hand, if instead of deleting the destination folder "A" (and its content), FS copied the whole destination folder "A" back to the source folder (with the files "x", "y" and "z"), you could not agree, because you want the file "y" and "z" deleted from your disks.
  Thus FS asks to you. You have two choises.
  • Copy the file: If you choosed to "Copy the file", FS will create back the source folder "A", then it will copy back only the file "x" from the destination to the source folder "A", then it will delete the file "y" and "z" from the destination folder "A". The result is that both the main source and destination folders now contain the folder "A" containing the file "x" only. Thus FS behaves adding "your" action to "your colleague's" action. Clever & Safe!
  • Delete the file: If you choosed to "Delete the file", FS will delete the whole destination folder "A" (with the files "x", "y" and "z").
  • Also, if you mark the check-box "Ask", and the Sync/Backup has not been launched by a timer, you will be asked, during the Sync/Backup, for choosing the proper behaviour for any conflict met .
  
  
  
• Timers:
  --------------------------
  The Timer feature has been completely redesigned. The previous version users should redefine all of their timers. Now, you can define the timers for each Session, then select the pop menu "All Sessions" in the console, and FS will execute all the timers defined for each Sessions (see the new Scheduling Timer Window topic, later).
  The window "Set Timer" now presents these fields:
  • Start Hour/Minutes: it specifys the time the timer will start (e.g. 9:00).
  • Start Day: it specifys the day the timer will start (e.g. Jan, 1st, 2003).
  • Repeating Interval check-box: if you don't mark this check-box, the timer will be executed at the start date/time and not long. If you mark this check-box the timer will be executed again at each interval time you set (e.g. each 2 hours) and starting from the start time and start date. If you defined:
  "start time" = 9:00
  "start date" = 1 January 2003
  "interval hours" = 2
  FS, starting from 1 Jan 2003, everyday will execute the timer every 2 hours starting from the 9:00 to midnight.
  Thus everyday FS will execute the timer at 9:00 a.m., at 11:00, at 13:00, ...23:00 (the lastone).
  If you want FS executes the timer every 2 hours for all day long, you have to set:
  "start time" = 00:00
  "start date" = 1 January 2003
  "interval hour" = 2
  • End Time check-box: if you don't mark this check-box, and the check-box "Repeating Interval" is on, the timer will be executed forever.
  Instead, if you mark this check-box, FS everyday will stop the timer at the time you specified in the fields "End Hours" and "End Minutes". If you defined:
  "start time" = 9:00
  "start date" = 1 January 2003
  "interval hour" = 2
  "end time" = 18:00
  FS everyday will execute the timer every 2 hours starting from the 9:00 and ending at 18:00.
  Thus everyday FS will execute the timer at 9:00 a.m., at 11:00, at 13:00, 15:00, 17:00 (the lastone).
  • End Date check-box: if you don't mark this check-box, the timer will be executed forever. Instead, if you mark this check-box, FS will stop the timer at the date you specified in the fields "End Date". After this date, the time will never work longer.
  • Execute On: if you want FS executes the timer on certain days of the week, simply mark only the check-boxes related to those days. For example, if you want FS executes the timer defined above, only from Monday to Friday, simply mark the check-boxes "Mon", "Tue", "Wed", "Thu" and "Fri" and unmark the check-boxes "Sat" and "Sun".
  
  
  
• Timer Scheduling:
  --------------------------
  For better checking what FS is going to do with timers, we added a window called "Timer Scheduling" listing all the the timers defined for all the sessions. You can open this window from the menu item "Timer Scheduling" in the (new) menu "Window". Each row of the scheduling list contains the following fields:
  
  • Start: the date/time that timer will be executed.
  • Session: the session that will be executed on the date/time.
  • State: Wait, Run, or Done.
  • Errors: the amount of the errors (only for timers already done).
  
  You can delete only a timer "Done". Simple select the row you want to delete and press the key "Delete". You can extend the selection using the shift and/or the command keys.
  Every time you press "Apply" in the Timer list panel (menu Option:Timers), FS will delete the timers "Done" from the "Scheduling Timer" window and it will build the timer list starting from the first executable timer.
  The same, every time you launch the application, FS will build the timer list starting from the first executable timer.
  Every time you change session from the popUp menu in the console, FS will update the "Wait" timers but will not delete the timers "Done".
  When a timer is running, the timer row text color changes to red and the "State" field reports "Run".
  
  
  
• Other improvements:
  --------------------------
  • We rewrote the copy engine following the latest Apple Guidelines.
  • Now FS can copy files that the previous versions didn't copy, as some Photoshop plug-in file.
  • FS can copy/replace/delete locked files properly, even if running as root.
  • FS can copy items through any kind of remote connection.
  • Fixed a bug on the Conflicts feature. No more crashes when managing a conflict.
  • Fixed a bug about the folders' modification date. Now FS updates the folders' modification date properly.
  • The Preview List now applys the level-indentation to the "Destination" column too.
  • Fixed a minor bug on the Preview window. Now FS shows the fileSize of SymLinks properly.
  • Other minor improvements to the Preview List.
  • Added a control when editing the option lists (Timer, Multiple, Filter, Exclude). In order to edit the list (e.g. Multiple), you first have to mark the check-box "On" (e.g. "Multiple On").
  • Redefined the way the Options lists show the inactive rows.
  • The Multiple list now highlights the single cell while dragging an item.
  • The Multiple list and the Exclude list now accept drag and drop even if FS is not the front most application. In order to drag an item on the list, the check-boxes "Multiple On" or "Exclude On" have to be marked. To delete an item from the list simply click on the cell holding down the ALT key.
  • Before applying any list, FS now checks the validity of the list. If the check-box "List On" is marked, empty lists will not be allowed.
  • FS can resolve main source and destination alias-folders even if the target is located on remote volumes; if the connection is on and the remote volume is unmounted, you will be asked to fill with username and password in order to connect to the server. FS always resolves main source and destination folders, so you don't need to mark the check-box "Resolve Alias" in the Settings panel. This check-box makes FS resolve aliases "nested" within the main folders.
  • Added a control before executing a sync/backup. Now the user cannot sync/backup the MacOS X boot volume with "Resolve Alias" or "Resolve Sym Link" options on.
  • Fixed other minor bugs about the user's interface.
  • This version has been restructured for a better performance.
  • No more lack of memory when copying a huge amount of files. Now, at the end of the task, FS doesn't keep the CPU busy longer.
  • When backing up the whole MacOS X disk, now FS skips unuseful folders created by the System at startup.
  • Fixed a minor bug when executing a sync/backup with "Not defined Folders".
  • Changed the default values in the Conflicts panel. Now they are "No Skip" and "No Ask" for all of the cases.
  • A detailed documentation on the latest version is available at: http://www.softobe.com/products/flsy/snst/snst01.html
  • Tested on MacOS X 10.2.3 and 10.2.4
  
  

• Recompiled to run on Jaguar. This version requires MacOS X 10.2 (Jaguar) or higher.
• Fixed a bug about setting the attributes to the files.
• FS now can copy files larger than 1GB.
• Fixed some minor bug about the Filters.
• Fixed a minor bug on the Preview window. Now FS updates the "File Info" fields related to the selected row, even if the user changes the selection by the keybord.
• Fixed a minor bug on the Preview window. Now FS shows the fileSize of filePackages properly.
• Fixed a bug replacing files whose file name contains a slash "/".
• Added the check-box "Skip Empty Folders" to the Settings panel. When marked, FS doesn't copy the empty folders, but if it needs to delete an empty folder (think about an Exact Backup) it can do. FS will consider a folder empty, even if it contains the hidden file ".DS_Store".
• Added the "Filter by Kind" feature in the "Set Filter" window. Now the user can even apply each filter to "Files Only" or "Folders Only". Of course if you skip a folder, FS will even skip the content of that folder.
• Added the option "Errors only" to the Radio Buttons "Log Kind" in the "Preferences:Log" panel. When marked, FS saves the summary and the errors only to the log file. Useful for sending light Log files through email.
• Added the "Modification Delta Seconds" check-box and field to the "Preferences:Copy Mode" panel. When the check-box is on, if the difference (in seconds) of the modification dates of the source and destination files is less or equal to the value contained in the field "Modification Delta Seconds", FS will not replace these files. For example, say you set the "Modification Delta Seconds" value to 10 seconds. If the modification date of the source file is 15 October 2002, 14:55:28, and the modification date of the destination file is 15 October 2002, 14:55:20, when backing up, FS will not replace the destination file because the difference between the modification dates is 8 seconds, that is less (and not equal) than 10 seconds. This is useful when, copying files to a remote server, they keep a different modification date (usually few seconds more or less).
• This release requires the registration for the versions 3.X.X. Registered version 2 users thus should upgrade to the version 3. We would like to remind that we allowed the version 2 registered users run the version 3.0 for free, because it was the first Cocoa version and MacOS X was still not so stable. But this special gift is valid for the version 3.0 only (not higher). Starting from the version 3.0.1 (that is after 18 months the first version 2 has been released) the version 2 users should upgrade to the versions 3.X.X for 10$ at http://order.kagi.com/?U3S . Please note this upgrade is not from the version 3.0 to 3.0.1, but it is from version 2.X.X to version 3.X.X. As we are used to apply, this license will be valid for all the next 3.X.X versions.
  
  

• Entirely rewritten in Cocoa. This release thus runs on MacOS X only.
• FS works properly on long file name, Unix permissions, Multiple Forks, Forks > 2GBytes, SYM links, GMT dates, Unicode strings.
• FS can execute Exact Synchronizations. This means that, if you marked the check-box "Exact Sync", after the first sync, if you delete a folder/file from a folder and sync again, its related file/folder will be deleted too. This option doesn't work yet on renamed files (see next versions). So, using this version, if you renamed a source file, e.g. from "oldName" to "newName", the destination file "oldName" will be deleted, and the source file "newName" will be deleted too. Use this option with the utmost care. Also we suggest to mark the check-box "Preview" in the Preferences panel, such a way you can inspect on what FS is going to do.
  
• FS can run with root user's permissions (marking the check-box "Run As Root" in the Preference panel), even if you logged in as simple user (FS asks for the root password).
• Running as simple user instead, the FS behaviour on the files/folders reflects the current user's permissions. If the user owns the ReadOnly permissions on a certain file, FS can read that file and copy that to a destination folder (if the current user owns the Write permissions on that folder), but it can't replace/delete that file. If the current user owns "none" permission on a certain file/folder, FS will skip that file/folder.
  Running as simple user, each file/folder copied will get as owner the current user (as the Finder used to do). Thus, to perform an exact copy of the files/folders (same owner), you have to log in as root or mark the check-box "Run As Root" in the FS Preference panel.
• FS now allows to set multiple Sessions for each FS document. The Console presents a new ToolBar (which you can show or hide) with a new PopUp-Menu "Session" from which you can choose the Session to execute/edit. Each session defines a synchronization or a backup task between two or more folders, and defines all the options which will operate on that task. Thus, each session has its own source and destination folder, filters, multiple list, timers, settings (backup or sync), and so forth. You can create, duplicate, rename and remove sessions.
  Also, you can choose the "All Sessions" menu item and execute all the sessions defined in the popUp Menu, in one click only.
  When you select the "All Session" menu, in this version (see next versions) the Timer doesn't work. We'll do that in the next versions.
• FS saves one only Log file for each global task done. Thus, if you executed an "Execute All Sessions" command and/or a single Session with Multiple List, FS will save one only Log file.
• The user can specify the Log Folder pathname, the Log file format (RTF or TXT) and its content (short or detailed).
• The user can specify when saving the Log file ("only if an error occurred" or "always").
• FS can send an email containing the Log to a custom address.
• The user can specify when sending the Email ("only if an error occurred" or "always").
• The Timer List grants some option more (timer by the 1th and the last day of the month).
• The Filter List grants some option more (filter by file name contains, starts, ends, is, is not, doesn't contain..., the creation or modification date is, is not, is greater or less than the date you specify or is dinamically "today" or "yesterday").
• The Preview List now works either together with the Multiple Folders option and with "Execute All" (sessions) option.
• On the Console, clicking on the pathname fields holding down the Control key, will tell the Finder to open the Folders.
• Rollovering the button Timer on the console, if the Timer on check-box is marked, you will see the next timer FS is going to execute.
• Since Cocoa works with pathnames, you should never have disks with same disk-name on your desktop. If you have two disks with same disk-name, FS (as the MacOS X behaviour) will add to the second disk name the postfix "- 1".
• All the text are managed by Quarz thus they are antialiased.
• The version 3 User Manual will be available as soon as possible (for now, please use the version 2.0 user manual).
  
  

• Fixed a bug when sync/backup to an empty folder.
• FoldersSynchronizer 2.2.1 on MacOS X (very important)
  Since the version 2 is a Carbon version, it runs on MacOS X too. However it doesn't manage long filenames, unix permissions, multiple forks. Thus it's not indicated to work with the new file formats introduced by MacOS X (like files placed into the MacOS X system folder or files coming from Unix file systems). It runs properly with files you use on MacOS Classic. For running on MacOS X, we suggest the version 3.0 or higher which works well with long file names, unix permissions, multiple forks, forks > 2 GBytes, Sym Links and GMT modification dates. Moreover, the 3.0 version has some features more, like multiple sessions, running with root's privileges, filters by filenames (starts, ends, contains, is, is not, doesn't contain), timers for 1th and last day of each month, send Log via email, and more.
  
  

• Fixed a bug on the "Exact Backup".
  This beta release was been updated/rebuilt entirely for better running on MacOS X 10.1.
• Fixed a bug about the "Replacing File Dialog". Now FS replaces the destination file properly if the user press the button "Replace".
• As requested, FS now can show the "items to be copied" Preview List. To inspect and modify the "Preview List", go to the "Settings" panel and check the check-box "Preview", then press Apply. Before FS executes the sync/backup, the user will be shown a "Finder Styled" window which lists the way each file and each folder will be copied, replaced or deleted. Here he can decide to skip/include each single item clicking on the icons placed in the central column.
  The "Preview List" option doesn't work together with the "Multiple" Sync/Backup nor with the Sync/Backup started by Timers.
• The "Scanning Folders" task is much faster than the previous version one (about x4 times). During the Scanning Folder task FS always builds an internal "items who really need to be copied" list (that you can inspect as "Preview List" - see above).
• After the scanning folders task, FS only iterates through (may be few) the items who really need to be copied (the Preview List), thus the "Copying Items" task could work faster than the previous version.
  !!! For example, the previous FS 2.1.3 version takes about 3 minutes to execute a null synchronization on two equal folders (already synchronized) each one containing 10,000 items. FS 2.2 takes 8 seconds!
• Fixed a bug in the Filter List: now FS applies the filters to the files only (not Folders). So FS will include in the Filter List all the files who match the filters even if nested within a folder who doesn't match the filters.
• FS now, even if the check-box "Resolve Alias" is marked, never long resolves aliases if nested within their target parent folder themselves because this would cause an infinite loop.
• Fixed a bug occurred when reading Session Files coming from the version 2.0.
• The check-box "Check Backup Date" is now unmarked by default.
  
• Read the ReadMe file to know more about this new release.
  
  

• Some improvement for better running on MacOS 9.2.1.
  
  

• As requested, FS now can control if since the last sync/backup both the source and destination files have been modified. To activate this control, go to the Settings area and mark the new chek-box "Check Backup Date". If checked, FS will consider this case as an error. Thus it will behave as specified by the radio button "If an error occurred".
  1) If "Ask", the user will be shown the "Replace File" dialog. He will be able to Stop, Skip or Execute the replacement. On Classic environment, he also will be able to launch and inspect the files with their application, and to open their parent folders in the Finder.
  2) If "Skip" FS will not replace the destination file and will continue to execute the current synchronization or backup.
  3) If "Stop" FS will stop the whole current synchronization or backup.
  If the check-box "Check Backup Date" is unmarked, FS will never check the last Backup Date, thus if the source file has the most recent modification date, it will always replace the destination file.
  The check-box "Check Backup Date" is marked by default.
• As requested, The ShortLog window and the LogFile now report the "Deleted Folders" and "Deleted Files" counters.
• The "Sync and Quit" feature works properly again.
• Some other minor improvements.
  
  

• It runs on MacOS X and Classic environments. FS is now a Carbon application.
• The preference file on MacOS X is in the folder "(Home):Library:Preferences:FoldersSync 2.0 Prefs".
  Thus there is a different preference file for each user.
• The "Session" files saved on MacOS X have a 128x128 icon. Drag these files onto the Dock to better see that icon. Also you will be able to launch and configure FS clicking on the icon in the Dock.
• If a fileName/folderName conflict occurred while copying, and the fileName contains a dot "." (e.g. "MyFile.rtf"), FS will rename that file to "MyFile.1.rtf" and not longer "MyFile.rtf.1" so to prevent the link to the right application on MacOS X.
  
  

• Allows to define aliases (file and folders) as main source and destination.
• The Short Log window is not long modal.
• To open the Short Log window use the menu command only. This is temporaneous. We are developing the MacOS X compliant version, so there are a lot of changes in working...
• Bit changes in the Splash Screen window.
• The MacOS X version is ready and works fine (we are testing it and we'll release it as soon as possible).
  
  

• The Excluding area allows to exclude files. Hold down both the Command and Option keys and click the cell to select a file, or drag the file onto the cell.
• All the "Choose File" Navigation Services dialogs, now show "All Documents" items by default.
• Holding down the Option key and clicking the "folder" icons on the console will erase the source or destination folder.
• Fixed a minor bug about selecting files/folders in the Multiple List.
• Fixed a minor bug about updating menus after a Timed-Task.
• Fixed a minor bug about saving the changes of the current Session File before choosing the "New" command.
  
  

What's new in the 2.0.3