Quickly Backup
Files, Directories and Paths

This is a great way to quickly merge one folder or path into another or to only backup files that have changed. In fact many use this tool rather than the regular copy routine for most of their copying needs. But if you need more control check out the Compare, Merge & Prune routine for ultimate control or take a look at the master copy routine, Copy Files, that offers unprecedented control over the how files are copied. And at the bottom of this page are links to all the copy based tools.

If you would like to completely synchronize the destination directory with the source see the Backup & Sync routine. Synchronizing the destination directory will make it the same as the source folder: updating its files and deleting all files and folders on the destination directory that don't exist on the source.

More about Quick Backups

Only if Newer

Files will only be copied to the destination drive if they don't already exist there or the source file has been changed or modified more recently than the file in the destination directory.

Other Criteria for Comparison

The way in which FileBoss compares files to see determine which is Newer can be modified using meta flags. These flags are specified right in the Destination field of the Backup if Newer... or any of the otherCopyCopy dialogs (but they are only used in Only if Newer overwrite option is checked). For example if you want to have source files overwrite existing target files only when their created date is more recent than the target file the destination field might look like this:

     \\CorpNet\v\NewFiles\ //BYCREATED

Since these are advanced options that are seldom used they are left as meta-flags rather than options on the dialogs themselves.

//ByModified or //BM  (default)
Overwrites the target only if the source file's modified date is more recent than that of the target file.

//ByCreated or //BC
Overwrites the target only if the source file's created date is more recent than that of the target file.

//ByAccessed or //BA
Overwrites the target only if the source file's accessed date is more recent than that of the target file.

//BySmaller or //BS
Overwrites the target only if the source file is smaller

//ByLarger or //BL
Overwrites the target only if the source file is larger

Optionally restrict the copy to specific files or file type

You can optionally specify multiple file types and file patterns that should be copied. When the specification is present only files matching one of the specified patterns will be copied. For instance if *.htm : *.html ; *.css were specified then only files with those extensions would be copied.

Prevent specific file types and groups from being copied

You can optionally specify multiple file types and file patterns that should not be copied. This can reduce the copy time and, sometimes more importantly, prevent your backup folder/drive becoming cluttered with intermediate and temporary files. And it can be combined with the option to specify which file should be copied, e.g. *.htm ; *.html ; *.css ; -~* will copy all files with the extensions htm, html and css unless the name begins with the tilde character (~) (a common way programs specify temporary files).

Retry option on file errors

If FileBoss can not copy a file it will give you the option of trying again (such as if you have to close a file that is in use) or just skip the file. Of course FileBoss will log any files that were skipped due to copy errors.

You can turn this feature off by checking the Skip errors (just log and continue) box on the appropriate copy dialog. When this box is checked and errors occurred the Errors history window will pop up and display the problem files after the copying has finished.

Complete logging of what was and was not copied

The Results window keeps a complete log of what was copied, what was not and what errors occurred if any. These logs can even be automatically written to disk as simple text files for future reference