REQ: Folder Sync/Compare - Tweak to allow files to be listed before folders

[jezzer]

I've been testing out another sync tool which shows files before folders (ie. files appear immediately below the parent folder, with sub-folders appearing below that), instead of the BC/Explorer way of showing folders first, and it can be very useful in easily seeing which files are in which folder when you have multiple sub folders which are expanded, since the files in the parent folder are pushed to the bottom below a (sometimes large) hierarchy.

It makes it far more obvious which is the parent folder of files IMO.

Please can you add a tweak to get this behaviour in BC.

[jezzer]

Another few requests related to Folder Sync/Compare:

- Instead of always using a Yellow arrow indicating direction of sync, use the legend colours to determine arrow colour. eg. red to indicate a newer file/folder will be copied, blue for orphan file will be copied (ie. exists at source but not at dest), grey for older file etc.

This has the advantage of being able to scan a narrow area of screen space to quickly see what will happen, instead of having to scan both left and right panes meaning the eyes have to flick back left/right. Also, when a folder is collapsed, it allows you to show what types of files/folders will be copied in the sync, which is not currently possible.

- tweak to allow the column widths to be resized independently. Currently, when you resize the column width in one pane, it's automatically resized in the other pane.

[jezzer]

- Full Refresh and Refresh toolbar buttons would also be useful.

[jezzer]

posted without checking

[Aaron]

Thanks for the feedback/suggestions. Which other sync tool has this view? Does it allow the user to switch back and forth?

In BC4, the Folder View can be switched to Only Compare Files, which, when combined with file filters, would remove 'empty' folders from view. We also have the Collapse All/Expand All, and selection based Expand/Collapse to alter the view.

[Aaron]

The arrow would need the same coloring as the folders in order to work as a previewable area. Currently, we show up to two colors per folder, but this does not always indicate every type of coloring within a folder (such as, Red and Blue for Newer and Orphan, but might also include equal). The center column shows the action that will take place on the specific item, but expanding the contents and reviewing the individual items is important for understanding the entire sync procedure.

If you would like to perform partial syncs, I might recommend using the Folder Compare. This way, you can change the display filters to show only the criteria of files you need (with Compare Only Files, it would also remove any folders with only items that are excluded). Then, Edit -> Expand All, Edit -> Select All Files, and Shift+Arrow Keys would leave you with a selection of only a specific subset, which you can then Sync in a direction, Copy to a third location, etc.

[jezzer]

Which other sync tool has this view? Does it allow the user to switch back and forth?

AJC Sync.

In BC4, the Folder View can be switched to Only Compare Files, which, when combined with file filters, would remove 'empty' folders from view. We also have the Collapse All/Expand All, and selection based Expand/Collapse to alter the view.

I know a similar thing can be achieved at the moment, but I would sometimes prefer the option to list files before folders without having to change the rest of the view.