Synchronize

This window is displayed when you choose the Synchronize command from the Command menu. You can use this window to synchronize the contents of the folder shown in the passive panel (the outdated folder) with the contents of the folder shown in the active panel (the up-to-date folder). This window contains the following areas:

Active folder

Displays the path to the folder currently opened in the active panel. This folder is supposed to contain the updated set of files.

Passive folder

Displays the path of the folder currently opened in the passive panel. This folder is supposed to contain the outdated set of files.

Copy newer files from Active to Passive folder

If selected, this option makes AB Commander copy the updated (including the newly created) files from the active to the passive folder. If the passive folder contains older versions of the files from the active folder, they will be replaced with their newer versions from the active folder.

Delete orphan files from Passive folder

If selected, this option makes AB Commander delete those files from the passive folder, which do not exist in the active folder (the orphan files).

Note: This option is enabled and used only if you are synchronizing all object of the active panel. To prevent accidental deletion of the files, this option is disabled and not used if not all objects are selected in the active panel.

Ignore Daylight Savings time differences

If selected, this option causes AB Commander to ignore the difference of exactly 3600 seconds (1 hour) in the last modification time of the files that have the same name and size and treat such files as if they have been modified at the same time. You may want to select this option if your computer is configured to adjust its clock automatically when entering and leaving the Daylight Savings time period.

Ignore time differences less than...

If selected, this option causes AB Commander to ignore the specified difference in the last modification time of the files that have the same name and size and treat such files as if they have been modified at the same time. You may want to use this option if you are storing the copies of the files on a server, and the server for some reason changes the last modification time of the files by a few seconds or a fraction of a second (servers do that in some cases, they probably have good reasons for that).

Include subfolders

If selected, this option makes AB Commander synchronize the appropriate subfolders of the active and passive folders. If not selected, only files in the displayed active and passive folders are synchronized.

Delete orphan objects from subfolders

If selected, this option makes AB Commander delete those objects from the subfolders of the passive folder, which do not exist in the appropriate subfolders of the active folder (the orphan objects).

Note: this option is disabled and not used if the Include subfolders option (see above) is not checked.

Skip preview always

If selected, this option makes AB Commander synchronize the folders without displaying the proposed changes in a separate window for your review and approval. Use this option only when you are absolutely sure about the synchronization results! Note that AB Commander remembers the selection you make for this option and uses it the next time you use the Synchronize command; please always check the status of this selection, to make sure it's what you want!

Skip preview this time only

If selected, this option makes AB Commander synchronize the folders without displaying the proposed changes in a separate window for your review and approval. However, the next time you use the Synchronize command this option reverts to the unselected state, to prevent you from accidentally skipping preview next time. Use this option only when you are absolutely sure about the synchronization results!

If neither the Skip preview always nor Skip preview this time only option is not selected, then when you press the Preview button, AB Commander will compare the folders displayed in the active and passive folders (no files will be copied or deleted during this phase!) and present you with the list of changes it is about to make. Only after you have confirmed the operation, AB Commander will actually perform the synchronization of folders.