File Sync Software Create Synchronicity
Create Synchronicity is a portable and lightweight file sync software for the Windows operating system.
Sync and backup programs have several things in common, but also differences. While both copy data from one location to another, syncing usually involves copying data to the exact same location each time jobs are run, while backups usually are stored in separate chunks even if they are incremental.
The file synchronization program can be started after downloading and unpacking the program files as it does not need to be installed.
The program uses profiles that define a specific synchronization job that you can run manually or on schedule.
The configuration of a new job is relatively easy: It begins by selecting the source and target directories at the top.
You may click on refresh after selecting directories to display their folder structure on the left and right side panes under the subdirectories heading.
It is then up to you to select the full directory, including all its folders and files, for synchronization, or just some of the folders.
Create Synchronicity
Create Synchronicity supports three different file synchronization methods, namely left to right mirror or incremental, or two way incremental.
- Left to right mirror: An exact copy of the folders and files on the left side are copied to the right side (read source and target directory). New and modified files are copied over, and files that have been deleted are deleted on the right as well.
- Left to right incremental: Uses the same method as the left to right mirror synchronization with the exception that no files are deleted in the target folder.
- Two way incremental: Copies files from left to right and vice verse without deleting any files.
The first option creates an exact copy of the source folder at the destination location, while the two other methods ensure that files get synchronized one-way or both ways, but without touching existing files or folders of the destination folder.
Additional options are provided at the bottom. You may use include and exclude filters to allow or block certain files from being synchronized.
Other options include computing hashes before copying the files, replicating empty directories, using strict file comparison, and strict mirror creation which will revert files that were modified on the right side.
Create Synchronicity supports command line parameters to run the program without graphical user interface. The command "create synchronicity.exe" /all /silent will run all sync profile jobs silently in the background without displaying anything on the computer desktop.
The program supports several advanced features such as syncing to network drives (by using UNC paths).
Verdict
Create Synchronicity is a comfortable file sync software. The only thing missing seems to be a scheduler configurable in the application.
It can however be added to the Windows Task Scheduler quite easily since it supports command line parameters. The file synchronization works with network drives as well and a preview function is build in to display the changes that will be made if the synchronization is executed.
Update: Create Synchronicity has not been updated since 2012. While that suggests that the program is abandoned, it is still working fine on all recent versions of the Microsoft Windows operating system.
