Copy Files
with Directory Structure

How to: Copy specific files keeping their directory structure

(For this example we will use the Backup if Newer routine but it works the same in most other copy dialogs.)

• Select the files and/or folders you want to copy
• Select the copy routine you want to use, typically either the Actions > Backup if Newer... or Actions > Copy To... command from the main menu.
• Tell FileBoss the destination directories(s) for the selected items.
• Optionally specify any particular conditions or actions in the Copy dialog.
• Click OK

Enter files to be copied (or even files not to be copied)

• To copy all files leave the Patterns field blank or enter and asterisk (*).
• Separate multiple patterns with semi-colons, commas or bar characters ( ; , | ) and precede patterns to be excluded with a minus sign (-).
  If no patterns are entered all is assumed (i.e. leaving the field blank is the same as entering a * or the traditional *.*).
• To prevent certain files from being copied enter their pattern(s) preceding each with a minus sign, e.g. -*.bak : -*.tmp : -~*.
• You can even combine files to copy and files to exclude, e.g. *.htm : *.html : *.css : -~* (note that order in which the file patterns are listed is not significant - excluding files will always take precedence or specifically including them.
• Click the OK button and FileBoss will start the copying and display a progress window.

Advanced file & folder patterns

Enter the names or name patterns of files and folders you want included in the search.

Leaving the field empty is the same as specifying a single asterisk '*' or the traditional '*.*' meaning include all files.

Multiple File Patterns

Separate multiple patterns with the bar character '|'.

Wildcards in File Patterns

The common wildcard characters '*' and '?' can be used when specifying groups of file to be included.

The entry *.tmp | *.bak | ~* will find all files with the extension tmp and bak as well as all files beginning with the tilde character '~'.

Excluding Files and Groups of Files

Specific files and groups of files can be excluded from the search by preceding the files with a minus sign, '-'. If the name actually begins with a minus sign, simply put another in front of it, e.g. "--notations.txt".

To create a File Set that includes all files except temporary and backup files you could enter
      -*.tmp | -*.bak | -~*

(Note that there is no *.* or just * in the beginning. Remember that if there is no include specification then *.* (all) is assumed.

For example the these two patterns are equivalent: -*.zip and *.* | -*.zip (include all files except those with the zip extension).

User Defined & Default Patterns

While the drop down list box will remember the most recently used patterns, even when FileBoss is closed, you can use predefined

Predefined Patterns

Displays a pop up menu of predefined file patterns that can be quickly added to the 'Patterns' field to the left.

You can edit this drop down menu to include the file patterns you use the most (use the 'Edit Menu' option at the bottom.)

The patterns fly out can hold up to a maximum of twenty entries.

Edit

Allows you to edit the contents of the Patterns: drop-down list box.