GUI overhaul

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fedir lavryk
  • updated

Would be nice to simplify the life for the users by introducing more intuitive, obvious for "what-will-happen" interface of the TeraCopy. Up to the point that the knowledge base can go directly to the program.

For example, imagine a user moving files so that there are files with identical names in destination folder. User is unsure whether they have the same content and wants to be careful. So far, TeraCopy currently guides the user in the following way:

  • Start copying all files from source to destination.
  • Select Skip all when prompted.
  • Click the Verify button.
  • Select OK when you see the 'Compare skipped files?' prompt.
  • Select files that have mismatching checksum.

And only after this, there is a list of copy collisions that the user can investigate manually and decide on some actions if no bulk solution can be applied.

Why not automating this routine by using some new mode, say "Seamless Move"? To move the files with no conflicts, then automatically compare checksums of conflicting files that have the same name and size - on the fly, without user request, - and remove the duplicates from the directory of origin if matching*, and only then, if any conflicts remain, prompt an action (and make user aware that there are no identical files remained). Of course, user might want to review the files individually (and he will value creating a separate paused task instead of manually clearing the original task from succesfuly finished files) - right now we have something like 5 or 6 options that limit the user. He might want to use any combination of (keep/rename)(older/newer/larger/smaller files/files from origin/files already existing in destination) target-actions. Since all checksums are built to this point, why not displaying a warning about files of different names but same checksum. And, of course, before a "destructive" action (other than keep/rename) is performed, the Move action can be undone, so why not offering user an Undo button as well?

*in an implausible but not impossible event of checksum match, a file of same size but differrent content will be deletein the directory of origin without affecting target file.

Replies 4
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0
zander
Quote from David Fernández

>>> Up to windows version 2.3 there was the option to multi select files that have been accidentally added to the list, that I no longer wish to copy or move, that I can remove at one time before I start the process.

That's not what you wrote on the first question. Version 3.x does not let you multiselect from any filtered list, although it does let you delete one by one. This leave much to improve and should be asked for it. I agree.


>>> To move the files with no conflicts, then automatically compare checksums of conflicting files that have the same name and size - on the fly, without user request, - and remove the duplicates from the directory of origin if matching*


Even version 2.x does not do it. It won't remove source files if moving and it encounters a conflict (by name) and you do not OVERWRITE destination. i.e: if you do not overwrite destination then you have to manually remove source files even if checksum is the same when told to move files.


>>> Since all checksums are built to this point, why not displaying a warning about files of different names but same checksum.


All cheksums are built from source files, and destination conflicting files (by name). No cheksum is built for no conflicting files on destination, so no cheksum to compare for renamed files (as they do not conflict with source files). To build it it MUST observe any other file apart of conflicting ones in destination, isn't it? And it is not what Teracopy is designed for. Correct me if I'm wrong.


To achieve what you asked on the first question you have to:


Move files to destination and skip conflicting ones.

Select skipped files and remove whatever file you do not want to move, one by one. Not a very convenient way but it does what you asked for.

Move the conflicting files to whatever you like or overwirte destination files.


If it is not what you asked, then I completely misunderstood your question.

You are right , that what was Teracopy designed for

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0
David Fernández

>>> Up to windows version 2.3 there was the option to multi select files that have been accidentally added to the list, that I no longer wish to copy or move, that I can remove at one time before I start the process.

That's not what you wrote on the first question. Version 3.x does not let you multiselect from any filtered list, although it does let you delete one by one. This leave much to improve and should be asked for it. I agree.


>>> To move the files with no conflicts, then automatically compare checksums of conflicting files that have the same name and size - on the fly, without user request, - and remove the duplicates from the directory of origin if matching*


Even version 2.x does not do it. It won't remove source files if moving and it encounters a conflict (by name) and you do not OVERWRITE destination. i.e: if you do not overwrite destination then you have to manually remove source files even if checksum is the same when told to move files.


>>> Since all checksums are built to this point, why not displaying a warning about files of different names but same checksum.


All cheksums are built from source files, and destination conflicting files (by name). No cheksum is built for no conflicting files on destination, so no cheksum to compare for renamed files (as they do not conflict with source files). To build it it MUST observe any other file apart of conflicting ones in destination, isn't it? And it is not what Teracopy is designed for. Correct me if I'm wrong.


To achieve what you asked on the first question you have to:


Move files to destination and skip conflicting ones.

Select skipped files and remove whatever file you do not want to move, one by one. Not a very convenient way but it does what you asked for.

Move the conflicting files to whatever you like or overwirte destination files.


If it is not what you asked, then I completely misunderstood your question.

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0
momaks

I am sorry bu you lost me or you do not understand me. Up to windows version 2.3 there was the option to multi select files that have been accidentally added to the list, that I no longer wish to copy or move, that I can remove at one time before I start the process. This has been a God send in the past. The new method you are suggesting is like flying from London to New York when all I want to do is use the Channel Tunnel to go to Brussels. The reason I moved to the updated version and not stayed with 2.3 is transfer speeds. Where the new version can achieve maximum transfer speeds, version 2.3 never achieved half the potential of the hard drives, whether they are HDD, SDD or memory sticks. So the reason I first asked about bulk removing item off the list prior to moving/copying was because I assumed that the best of the past would have been carried forward to the future. If I wanted to go down the route you suggest then I might as well have stuck with FreeFileSync which has always achieved the very fast transfer speeds but has been a nightmare to sort prior to hitting the start button. I think that my best option is to revert to the old ways (of 2.3) and save myself the headache.

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1
David Fernández

You're complicating things too much

Copy process is already an unattended process.


To achieve what you are asking:

Copy files from one location to another. If any conflict arises, just let the aplication SKIP ALL FILES. i.e.: do not press any button.

When finished, select "Skipped" from combobox just above the file list view in expanded View.

Press "NEXT" button on the frame above the File List Frame so that "Copy", "Move", "Test", "Verify" and "Delete" options are presented (for me this is the non intuitive step, as NEXT may mean "Next list" and no "Next action on filtered list" as it may means right now.


Now you can Verify only those skipped files and see if checksum matches. If cheksum does not match then you can select "Failed" and copy them to another location if you wish just by selecting a new Destination by clicking on "Target" -> "Browse". Then only the failed files will be copied to another location. You don't really need to delete anything from the list. Just use the filter on the combobox and the actions to perform on those filtered files.


Teracopy is a file copier, not a file observer to know if a file has changed name but not content. It should "observe" not conflicting files just to know if that file is the renamed source. And it is not for what Teracopy has been designed.


If you want to do things like that you may want to use Syncthing. It recognizes if a file has same content and will only rename the file on destination. The bad thing is that it has to build a checksum database for source and destination dirs and if several terabytes are involved, then expected first exploration time may be up to several days.


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