The development of technology has led to the fact that in every home there are several computers. In this case, we are talking not only about a stationary PC, but also about laptops, netbooks, tablets, smartphones, etc. If you often work with all these devices, then most likely you need folder synchronization. We’ll talk about her.
What is it?
So, to understand what it is, you need to turn to computer science. There are several interpretations of the concept of synchronization in this area. It may be about harmonizing processes, data, or transfer.
Process synchronization - these are special actions that help to preserve the integrity of documents, files, data and other things while using them. Such a mechanism is usually activated by several processes or threads that occur in random order.
If we talk about synchronizing folders or, generally, data, then this is more of an action that helps get rid of differences in copies of data. That is, if you transferred a document with text from one PC to another, and after you corrected a couple of letters, then synchronization will do the same on the second PC with this document.
Ways
The issue of synchronization methods is quite controversial. It clearly depends on some additional assumptions. But there is such a problem that those changes that have been made may be incompatible. Then a "conflict of edits" arises. What to do specifically in this case is still unknown.
And yet there are some speculations that shed light on the methods that are applicable in different situations. As a result, there are suggestions that edits were made to one of the options, and the second was simply overwritten by its contents. This method is used by many programs to synchronize files and folders. Since all edits in this case will be considered irreversible, then you need to choose which document of the two will be the main one.
There is another way this process can go. If in this case the files are represented by independent entries, such as a phone book, then this whole thing is combined into a multitude. If continuous synchronization occurs in this case, it is easy to enter additional information into such data sets. This option is similar to how Outlook folder synchronization does.
The last way is to handle editing errors. It happens automatically or manually. This option is accepted in version control systems. If such software notices an error, then it either fixes it on its own or gives the user the opportunity to do it.
What for?
Why is this process generally needed? There can be many options for its use. It all depends on what you use synchronization for. Perhaps you need to periodically update documents and deliver them to another office or to a neighboring computer. This can be done in several ways.
Suppose you work both at home and at work. In this case, you need data synchronization to create copies of folders. This can be done, for example, from a computer to an external drive, over a local network or through a remote server.
It is the action that occurs periodically in this case that is called folder synchronization. It is important that the first and second folders have the same content, are in the same place and are named the same.
Program
Utilities that do this are widespread. There are many of them, and therefore finding a convenient and beloved is not difficult. We will consider a couple of options, they could help implement the plan.
Exiland backup
This program refers to backup software. It is easy to use, it can create several backup options at once, one of them is synchronization. It works according to a simple principle: a copy of the file appears in one of the folders, for a certain period of time the program mirrors the source documents by adding them to the destination folder. There is an update option via FTP.
Exiland Backup is a folder synchronization program that uses the one-way copy method. Updating is carried out every minute. It works quickly and correctly, verifies all content and changes that have occurred. There may be more than one source folder. That is, several projects can be synchronized conditionally.
The utility has received many additional options. Conducts sequentially a journal with changes. You can adjust the process schedule. The synchronization starts automatically when the PC enters the system. You can activate the command line.
Configure Exiland Backup
In general, any “New task” is easy to start on your own. The setup wizard is intuitive and easily describes all your steps. First you need to give a name to the task, so as not to get confused in many projects. As mentioned earlier, there are four types of backups, the last of which is just synchronization.
After you need to specify the address of the source folder. We do not need compression in this case, so we skip it. After that you need to specify the final folder where documents will go. After that you can configure the synchronization process itself. Depending on when you need the data to update.
The final step is to set up notifications. Here individually. You can just leave everything as default. If we are talking about synchronization via FTP, you will need to select this option in the destination folder.
Outlook
This is not a specialized synchronization program. This is a utility that plays the role of a manager and easily works as an email client. But in addition to writing letters, the program can work with a calendar, schedule tasks, use a notebook, contact manager. There is also work with documents.
When you add an IMAP account to the program, you can configure the synchronization of folders with the subscription. What it is? Subscribed folders are displayed in the list because they are regularly synchronized with the mail server. If there are those that you rarely use, you can unsubscribe from them. This is necessary so that the update process is faster.
In general, this program is universal. It allows you to synchronize all kinds of data. You can update letters from one mailbox to another. You can use Outlook contacts on your smartphone. You can forward data from the calendar, scheduler and much more.
Services
In addition to the classic utilities that we described earlier, you can use all sorts of services. Such file and folder synchronization programs will save you if you work with a computer and smartphone.
For example, the business version of Yandex.Disk turned out to be a good one. Free user access to 10 GB. The business version is slightly better than the usual version thanks to special protection and security protocols. This already familiar cloud storage allows you to not only send data to the cloud, but also synchronize them between different devices.
Zocalo is a similar service. It works thanks to Amazon, which released it in 2014. A user needs to pay $ 5 per month. At the same time, 200 GB of virtual memory is available to him. The mechanism of work is the same as that of Yandex.Disk.
iCloud Drive has also, relatively recently, been able to synchronize Windows folders. The early version of iCloud did not even appeal to the owners of "apple" gadgets. It only synchronized internal files, it cost as much as $ 20 for 20 GB and only functioned with Apple devices. Now the cloud has become like the familiar Dropbox service. It synchronizes any folders and documents. Windows users have been added to supported Mac and iOS clients.
conclusions
Syncing folders and files can be useful to every computer user. Even if you are not seriously engaged in some kind of paperwork, even for studies or personal matters, you will sooner or later come to such programs. Conveniently, their number seems unlimited. There are both free and paid options.
Now it is cloud storage that has become universal, which allows you to work with synchronization. Of course, their main drawback is the inability to work offline. In this case, you will have to get a desktop program that would work with updates every minute.