Automator to Sync Folders/Files

Question

Automator to Sync Folders/Files

I've been thinking about using diving into my first use of Automator, and thought it would be nice to set a workflow that would sync certain files between my desktop and my laptop. For example, Safari bookmarks, mail, Address Book, etc.

But, now that I've actually opened up Automator to begin figuring this out, it seems that it can't be done. Am I missing something? How might I do this?

Posted on Aug 30, 2005 11:45 AM

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Answer 1

Aug 30, 2005 1:32 PM in response to Timothy Killian

I just tried to do this too... I want to use Automator to make backups to my external hard drive. No luck...

Someone posted an AppleScript Automator Action called "Back Me Up" on the OS X downloads recently, and I took a look. It isn't very configurable (in fact it doesn't make use of Automator at all to select files or destinations or anything), and uses a command called "rsync". If you want to use it I suggest very carefully looking at the man pages for rsync (a UNIX command) since it has a number of options you may or may NOT want. I've also heard bad things about the current version of rsync, so I'm holding off for now.

I'm a bit annoyed actually that automator CAN'T do this. It seems like a perfect task, but the finder actions are too limited. 😟 Oh well, maybe someday....

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Answer 2

Aug 30, 2005 1:48 PM in response to PhysicsChick

Yeah, I agree, that this should be a basic Automator action: syncing a folder or a file.

BUT...permit me to rant a bit.

My guess is, if this can't be done, it lies in the fact that Apple wants us to pay for this functionality through .mac. Which really upsets me. Why?

Say I chose to use a Palm device as my mobile device of choice; I get this functionality, essentially, for free through iSync. But, since I've chosen a 12" Powerbook as my mobile device of choice, and actually paid Apple a significant chunk of change to buy it, they reward me by making me pay for a .mac subscription in order to sync my devices. Arghhhh!

OK...back to the thread. Anyone else? Any luck trying to "sync" files and/or folders using Automator?

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Answer 3

Aug 30, 2005 6:47 PM in response to Timothy Killian

LOL, I couldn't agree more. Apple provides a utility to Sync files, contacts, etc... but only if you buy .Mac, and then only through .Mac. This should come standard on every Mac, period. All I want to do is sync my laptop hard drive to an external as a backup just in case someday (like happened to my iBook) something fails catastrophically. For all the sophistication of OS X, it's such a basic thing to have missing.

Just to continue the ranting a bit... I remember the good 'ol days when "iTools", .Mac's predecessor was FREE... yes FREE! Email account, webspace, and iDisk space, all just for being such a wonderful, loyal Mac customer... man, where have those days gone...

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Answer 4

Aug 31, 2005 10:43 AM in response to Timothy Killian

Well...I'd been holding out for Automator to do this, but apparently it can't.

So, I found a third-party solution that seems to be pretty good: Chronosync by Econ Technologies.

http://www.econtechnologies.com

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Answer 5

Aug 31, 2005 11:33 AM in response to Timothy Killian

I likewise found some shareware to do the job:

http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/7842

It's called Synk, and from what I can tell is similar to ChronoSync. I chose it mainly because it looked easy to use, and has free student/educational licensing (it's a bit cheaper for non-students). I used it last night to backup to my external HD, and it seemed to work pretty well.

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Answer 6

pdr

Level 3

645 points

Sep 2, 2005 10:22 AM in response to Timothy Killian

I have evaluated both of these products, as well as others. For me, though, nothing beats Syncronize Pro X.

It is an incredibly reliable and useful tool. I use it for everything from backups to synchronising my two Macs, even for version control on large projects with lots of files.

Comes highly recommended.

Regards
Peter

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Answer 7

Sep 2, 2005 10:33 AM in response to Timothy Killian

What the??? lol your not kidding.. I CANNOT believe there is no way to sync with um.. Automator?? I just upgraded to my bluetooth phone and can use isync to sync all my phone and address entrys.. and thought OF COURSE!! I can automate this with AUTOMATOR!! GREAT!! since this is the BASIC foundation of what Automator would more likely be used for... IMO .. anyway... guess what! you cannot use Automator either ith iSync! anyone know more about this?? wow!

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Answer 8

Sep 5, 2005 4:22 PM in response to PhysicsChick

PChick

I chose to buy into You Synchronize v2.1.1 and it works just fine for moi. However, is there a repository of 3rd party actions anywhere? Similar pages to www.dashboardwidgets.com where they keep track of all the widgets old and new.

* Guy

Bien le bonjour de Vaudreuil

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Answer 9

Sep 12, 2005 8:28 AM in response to Guy Parrot

Hi Guy,

Sorry to be so late getting back to you (I come and go from the forums as my grad career permits).

Besides the OS X downloads page for 3rd party apps (including automator actions), I recently found a website called "AutomatorWorld" ( http://www.automatorworld.com/). It seems to have a wide variety of scripts for doing stuff with automator... still didn't find anything to help with backups though.

Hope that helps!

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