'don't replace' vs 'keep both files'

Don't know about using finder to sync files, but a more efficient (albeit expensive) way is to use Chronosync. Used it all through SL and now in Lion, and works great.

Unfortunately, Lion isn't worth that one aggravation at present. I used "don't replace" to move large data sets around all day long without replacing existing / already copied sets. This is a standard power-user modality for the Finder in 10.6 and earlier.

Using Time Machine to revert back to 10.6.x until Apple figures out how dumb this change really is!

I agree - this was a totally backward step in Lion. Why take away functionality? Why Apple Why?

Or use rsync (already on Lion)

I'm not sure rsync or Chronosync are the solutions. Like the original poster, I am syncing between devices. In this case, I copy files from my Mac HD to two external drives - I just want to copy the new files, not replace all the thousands of files that might already exist.

If a file was updated on you Mac HD, why wouldn't you want to update it on the Exernal Drive?

In addition to copying new files:

Rsync finds files that need to be transferred using a "quick check" algorithm (by default) that looks for files that have changed in size or in last-modified time. Any changes in the other preserved attributes (as requested by options) are made on the destination file directly when the quick check indicates that the file's data does not need to be updated.

Here is what I started doing in Lion, and it's working effortlessly and wonderfully for me...

I used to be a chronosync user till I discovered http://www.superflexible.com/. This tool rocks! I set my entire documents dir to sync with other machines on the LAN, and with no intervention whatsoever (or client app sitting on the clients) it will mount drives and keep everything in sync, at any time interval required. So when I am working hard I set the time to 30 minutes and when the machine is idle, I set the time for longer. Now I never have to worry about having different versions of document files on all my machines...they are always the same, no matter what seat I am working in. The sync jobs run with no notable performance hit, and it just works. Happy as a clam so far with this solution. Cheers, coocoo.

I don't have any suggestions to add here - was looking for an answer, but I have to add to the discussion so that Apple realizes this is an important issue for many. I'm a photographer and I often update files to my external drive - I need the "don't replace" option so that only new files are added. Big mess up here. And no explanation for why...

SuperDuper has a smart copy feature that only syncs files that have changed or are new.

We use it for all our backups to external disk arrays. It's been robust and error-free for years and years.

I don't have an answer, just want to express agreement with the OP. All I want to do is drag and drop a mess of files to copy them between machines on a network. Some of the files are duplicates and I don't want those copied. Surely the OP and I are not the only ones who ever do that sort of thing. I am not downloading new software to do it or using the command line and rsync - those are both idiotic solutions.

AJLynn2 wrote:

I am not downloading new software to do it or using the command line and rsync - those are both idiotic solutions.

So, what is your bright plan? To wait for Apple to cede to your wishes before you copy duplicate files (or any files at all)?

No, it's to complain and then find some workaround. Though "cede to your wishes" has a negative tone that's just so not productive - I'm not in competition with Apple, I'm the customer.

But, stop and think for a minute how silly this is - the box asks "Do you want to replace the files?" That's a yes or no question. And "No" is not one of the options.

AJLynn2 wrote:

No, it's to complain and then find some workaround. Though "cede to your wishes" has a negative tone that's just so not productive - I'm not in competition with Apple, I'm the customer.

This is a user forum, you're complaining in the wrong place.

Please direct your comments to http://www.apple.com/feedback/macosx.html

And as far as a 'negitive' tone, what would you call your use of "idiotic solutions" when given the workarounds that you say that you came here for?

Tony

Hi Everyone, I had posted about this in regards to being a photographer with limited CF card space, so I often bring my laptops to upload cards on-the-go. In this fashion it's easy to sometimes shoot on cards that have been partially uploaded or uploaded and then not reformatted and had additional files added. This is a big reason the "don't replace" was of value to me, as I am always worried about accidentally deleting work. (No judgements on my work-flow or style, I just upgraded to a markii so at the largest RAW even a 16GB o ly holds about 400 files and I usually shoot 2500 for an avg 4-6 hour event)

I did NOTICE recently that a days ted a shoot when I was transferring the last cards, when the finder popped up where it would normally list "don't replace" there were the same options as always, but this time it listed information about a duplicate file that was found. Has anyone else seen this in Lion OS?

I'm guessing this was the intention, why I didn't see it on other transfers I've done I don't know. But regardless, it only listed ONE file - which given how I shoot, would imply there are many more. So I think of I had hit "skip" it would have gone on to show me the next duplicate. This is still a big error of Lion, because it's just common sense that if this is the updated version of "don't replace" then it should list all the files that are duicates at one time.

I plan on writing Apple today about the issue, as was directed in one of the preceding posts. I also an on listing a link to this discussion - it would be GREAT if everyone else grappling with this did likewise, as I'm sure it's likely to have more of an impact.

i could sure use the don't replace function myself. btw, i'm not trying to keep a bqckup or sync drives. i just want to be able to select 30+ files & drag it into a folder with existing files that don't need to be replaced. sure i can hit command & select or deselct to get the files i only need, but that is too inefficient considiering that the tools was there previously. only to be replaced by a less worthy of a task "keep both". think of the likley hood of using "keep both" vs "don't replace".

talk about keeping mulitple copies of the same file, wait!, wasn't this exactly what Lion was not supposed to do???