Filter Files and Folders

Inclusion and exclusion filters allow you to specify which files and folders to synchronize.

Inclusion filters

Only the files and folders that match at least one of these filters are synchronized by the job. If no inclusion filters are specified, all files and folders are included.

Exclusion filters

• Files and folders that match at least one of these filters are not synchronized by the job.
• You can create filters in either basic or advanced mode. In basic mode, you specify a file-path pattern. In advanced mode you can build a file filter that includes additional criteria including size, creation date and file status.

How to add a filter

Step 1: In the Options window, navigate to and select the Profile Settings > [Job name] > Inclusion and Exclusion Filters menu item.

Step 2: Click on the Add New button at the bottom of either the inclusion or exclusion filter list.

Step 3: Type a file name or a file-path pattern in the line named File Name Filter and press the Enter keyboard button.

Step 4 (optional) Press the Advanced button to switch to the advanced-mode filter dialog and complete the filter specification.

Finish You've added one file filter. To collapse the filter body click on the minus sign to the left of the filter (It will be turned to plus sign). Add another filter, or press the Apply button at the bottom of the Options window.

How to edit a filter

Click on the plus sign to the left of the filter. You can then change the filter specification. To collapse the filter body click on the minus sign to the left of the filter

How to delete a filter

Press the Delete Filter button to the right of the filter.

How do filters work?

A file is synchronized only if it matches at least one file inclusion filter and does not match any file exclusion filter. Folders are treated very much like files--a folder is synchronized (that is, the folder itself is propagated) only if it matches at least one folder inclusion filter and does not match any folder exclusion filter. If a folder is synchronized, its contents (the files and folders it contains) are then considered for synchronization, based on how those items match, or don't match, the job's filters. Items contained in excluded folders are not considered for synchronization.

Correct specification of file-path patterns in a filter

All file and folder names in filters are paths inside the synchronization root. The term synchronization root (sync root) refers to a top-level folder specified as the synchronized folder on any side of a synchronization job. For example, if you want to synchronize "c:\My Documents\Books\" with "d:\My Favourite Books\" these two folders are the synchronization roots.

A filter file-path pattern beginning with "\" applies only at the synchronization root and does not apply to its subfolders. Filter file-path patterns that are not tied to the synchronization root apply at the sync-root level and at all lower levels.

When you create an advanced filter, you can specify how file-path patterns are applied to the path of a given file or folder. Four choices are available:

If you select File only or Folder only, the file-path pattern you specify is compared only with the file or folder part of the path under consideration. If you select Files and folders, the file-path pattern you specify is compared with both the file and folder part of the path under consideration, and considered a match if either the file or folder matches.

• File only
  The file-path pattern is compared only against the file portion of the path under consideration.
• Folder only
  The file-path pattern is compared only against the folder portion of the path under consideration.
  
• Files and folders
  The file-path pattern is compared independently against both the file and folder portions of the path under consideration. The filter matches if either comparison matches.
• File mask in subfolders
  The file-path pattern is compared against the folder and file names combined as a single entity.