Copying Folder Structure

The following instructions will copy a folder structure from left to right (or right to left) without copying any of the files in the folders.

BC4 logo BC version 4 and later

This technique uses the Show None command, which by default is not included in the menu.  To show it in the View menu:

  1. Select Tools | Options (Windows, Linux) or Beyond Compare | Settings (macOS).
  2. Go to the Toolbars, etc. section.
  3. Set the Select view dropdown to Folder Compare.
  4. Select the Show None command.
  5. Check Menu and Toolbar.
  6. Click OK.

To copy folders after you've enabled the Show None command:

  1. Load folders in a Folder Compare session.
  2. Select View | Show None.
  3. Select View | Always Show Folders.
  4. Select and copy folders.

BC3 logo BC version 3

This technique uses the Show None command, which by default is not included in the menu.  To show it in the View menu:

  1. Select Tools | Customize Commands.
  2. Select the Show None command.
  3. Check Menu and Toolbar.
  4. Click OK.

To copy folders after you've enabled the Show None command:

  1. Load folders in a Folder Compare session.
  2. Select View | Show None.
  3. Select View | Always Show Folders.
  4. Select and copy folders.

BC2 logo BC version 2

  1. Load folders in the Folder Viewer.
  2. In the Filters field on the toolbar, enter -*.* to remove all files from the display.
  3. Select Actions | Synchronize Folders | Custom Sync from the menu.
  4. In the Custom Sync dialog, under Selection, only check Create empty folders.
  5. Select Update Target on Right or Update Target on Left as the Type of Sync.
  6. Click Next to see a preview of the folders to be copied.
  7. Click Start to copy the folder structure.