Believe it or not, some programs do not allow you to specify where you want the documents you create saved. Many will place your work in the "My Documents" folder. That's not a problem because My Documents is a "system folder" (from Win98 and later), a place where programs simply asks Windows to store the document, not knowing for itself where it is exactly. You can tell Windows where the My Documents folder should be located. On my system, it's on a small drive, with very little else, that I backup frequently.
Other programs insist on storing data files within their own sub-directory or the "Application Data" folder. For example, a program I use to weed out SPAM keeps its filter sets in Application Data. That's a problem when I restore from a backup image. (I keep separate the System, Applications, and Documents drives.)
I needed a program that would monitor several folders and automatically make copies somewhere else. Initially, I wanted the copies immediately after the files were created. After thinking about it some, I decided that perhaps once a day would suffice. After all, I could manually trigger a sync when needed.
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| The SynchroMagic Pro Control Panel. |
| Click the thumbnail for full image. (14K) |
Synchromagic Pro is a program that assures you have an alternate folder containing the most up-to-date versions of selected files located elsewhere on your system or LAN. That is Synchromagic's basic function but it can do so much more. Synchromagic Pro 3.0 accomplishes the following: Multiple tasks in multiple lists, sync or backup/restore, multiple destination folders per task, one switch to swap source/destination, network and FTP destinations with zip compression, inclusion/exclusion list, integrates with the Task Scheduler, send a net message or e-mail on task completion, execute an external program before/after task start/finish, and system auto-shutdown.
There are many programs that will automatically synchronize two distinct folders- whether on the same machine, across a network, via FTP, or to a floppy, zip, or a properly setup CD-RW disk. The problem with many of them is that only one pair of folders can be linked, the sync-up only happens on demand or is automatic at only one trigger event (such as shut-down). There may be no control or flexibility in the mirroring options, etc. Synchromagic's comparison and transfer criteria are extremely flexible.
Synchromagic is very affordable. A 30-day trial lets you experiment with this program's versatility and, if you decide to keep it, it's only $30 ($20 for the Home version).
The installation is quick and painless, and puts two DLL files in the system directory for the express purpose of ZIP archive capability.
A couple of points asked of the author:
- In an unattended session, a task will copy files to another computer on the LAN. Obviously, the destination folder must be "shared." In the case of password protected share-level access, how does Synchromagic handle the issuance of the password to the destination system? In my current experiments, a message is placed in the log file that says, "Error while investigating target directory." Gelosoft's response was: "Synchromagic takes rights from the system it is started from; rights are not taken from the target computer." Which means, I presume, that the user on the source computer will need to have previously accessed the password protected folder in order to have a valid "connected user" on the remote system.
- In a scheduled transfer, say every 60 minutes, is there a minimum indication of progress that might be in the system tray? The minimal indicator would be similar to ZoneAlarm's LAN traffic indicator, or Norton's "Your virus defs have been updated" flag, or RealPlayer's flashing blue balloon (indicating an update is available). Realize that Synchromagic uses Windows' Task Scheduler (or some other scheduling agent) to launch any particular task set. If the scheduling agent gives no indication of the task being executed, then it's up to Synchromagic to flash a clue on the desktop. As it is now, one can "OK" a preview of an impending transfer and/or show a status window. A "silent" mode gives no indication of anything happening. Gelosoft's response was: "We will take your suggestion about the minimum indication and incorporate it into the next version of Synchromagic."
Gelosoft's Web site gives an excellent overview of Synchromagic's capabilities. However, its flexibility means you need to fully understand its many command settings. My initial experiments at trying for a completely hidden scheduled sync backup took four attempts. Each attempt I discovered a previously unnoticed setting that eliminated one more of Synchromagic's verification dialogs. Its help file is barely adequate at explaining how to control the program.
I did run across a repeatable scenario that would crash Synchromagic. When the author was notified, their answer was to perform a different task (not at all what I wanted). It's as if they didn't understand the task that I was trying to do.
Syncromagic can keep logs of its activities but they are not formatted for hardcopy.
Even so, aside from the problems, I believe Synchromagic is an excellent solution to my particular needs.
Synchromagic Pro 3.0
Gelosoft, Inc.
