Autosync software

mikejf · 22 Jul 2014 at 08:49

Hi,

I have Google drive set up and backup files to it every now and again.

I'm looking for an autosync piece of software that can either automatically backup a file to Google drive each time its updated or have an option to sync just prior to shutdown. I don't want to schedule a backup as that would mean leaving my PC on at a particular time. If it can just backup any files that have changed rather than the whole folder, this would be useful as I have quite a few files.

I don't want to work on files solely on Google Drive, but work on files locally and backup later.

Anyone use or know of any good programs?

Many Thanks

Mike

this_is_gav · 22 Jul 2014 at 09:24

I'm surprised you can't do it on Google Drive to be honest?

Dropbox does this. Install on PC, work within the Dropbox folder and just work on it as normal. When files are saved, they get uploaded to the cloud, but it's just a normal folder.

To my knowledge you can't include folders outside of the Dropbox folder (I've not really looked though), but you can have the Dropbox folder anywhere you want.

mikejf · 22 Jul 2014 at 09:35

Yes the dropbox or Google drive is visible as a normal folder in windows explorer but this is a separate folder to your local folder/files and they are not linked. I want to keep all my files local rather than work off files on the cloud.

Example...

File saved - C:/docs/mike.xls

This is also saved on the cloud under ../dropbox/docs.mike.xls

If I update the C drive version, this won't automatically update the dropbox version. I have to physically copy it up to dropbox.

Unless I'm mistaken?

Mike

this_is_gav · 22 Jul 2014 at 10:03

Ah right. You could do it manually with symlinks, but...

satyadeepk.in/dropbox-folder-sync/

Dropbox Folder Sync is a simple app for Dropbox that allows you to seamlessly sync folders outside the Dropbox folder. Pretty handy for syncing Firefox profiles, saved games, music library, Outlook data files etc., to Dropbox directly from their locations. Sync and Unsync to Dropbox just by using the right click menu on the folder. It actually works by moving the folder into Dropbox and then putting a symlink in its place.

Might get messy if you have lots of individual folders you want synced though.

File system rethink?

That's the first link taken from here: www.dropboxwiki.com/tips-and-tricks/sync-other-folders. Perhaps another method might be suit you more.

Personally I just moved folders I wanted at work and home into the Dropbox folder, using a flat link to get me there, but I understand that's not ideal for everyone.

Confused · 22 Jul 2014 at 10:06

You have to save the file *within* the Dropbox folder locally for it to automatically sync.

So, you'd save your imaginary file to:

C:\Dropbox\Docs\mike.xls

And any changes you make to it, will then automatically be synchronised to Dropbox.

I have thousands of files within my Dropbox folder, and it's lovely to just not have to worry about copying stuff, and it's then accessible on my multiple machines almost instantly, I don't have to worry about whether I've got the latest copy of a file on my desktop or my laptop, I know that as long as I have an internet connection, I have the latest version.