SolidCopy Main Window

Basically, you just select source/target folders and click Start.
Everything else is options, with safe defaults. On the main screen you can select how to handle file overwrites: never allow them; be presented with a checkable list in batch; or overwrite if filesizes differ, filestamps differ, or just always overwrite.

After setting options you can save them to a config file (note: any OS-illegal characters will be dropped):

Options

Fast initial scan - allows for better progress indication, although the claim about time remaining being displayed baffles me. I can't find time remaining anywhere. But the time elapsed definately works.

Remove listed filespecs from source folders - this can be very convenient, but be sure to always check Preview Deletions (unless you are automating a script).

Keep only certain files in the source folders and delete all the rest - again, a useful feature, the usual cautions, etc. Note that wildcards are NOT used here, only substrings / text fragments that reside within the filename(s).

Retry Count and Interval - these variables will set up a retry loop for failed operations. This is more suited to a situation where some operations may fail, but possibly not all.

Retry Indefinately - this is the default and overrides the above settings if checked. This is more suited to a situation where if one operation fails the rest will follow suit.

If you don't want any recovery attempts made at all, set the counters to zero and uncheck the Retry Indefinately option.

MD5-Verify - perform a post-copy MD5 file digest compare. This really doesn't take much time and might be made checked by default in a later version.

NoCopy / Don't do any copying - simulate the copy process, test scripts, or also useful when you want to delete files without any copying.

Review and confirm all file deletes - This should normally be checked, except for automation.

Delete unmatched files / files in the target folder but not the source folder - useful for synchronizing files. These files will also be shown in a preview window, unless Preview Deletions is unchecked. This option does not yet extend to unmatched subfolders.

Delete source files if copied ok - this effectively does a move or rename operation. It is not optimized yet for same-volume moves, where only the file allocation table is updated. Enabling this option will also turn on the MD5-Verify option, although it isn't enforced beyond that initial suggestion.

Associate .scc files - this enables SolidCopy config files / scripts to be launched when they are double-clicked, and displays the Open With option in the Explorer context menu. See Automation below for how to schedule unmonitored jobs. If you need to disassociate .scc files, use Windows Explorer -> Tools -> Folder Options -> File Types.

Logs/Configs Folder - this is normally MyDocuments, but you may prefer a network drive.

Preview files that qualify for deletion or overwrite:

To enable overwrite prompting, select it from the main screen:

The file list can be saved to an easily parsible textfile:

An example of a long process and a sample log (not related to that process):

sample session log

Automating Jobs/Scripts

Go to Control Panel -> Scheduled Tasks -> Add Scheduled Task
Locate SolidCopy.exe and proceed through a few scheduling screens...

After you've dispensed with those details, be sure to check the Advanced Properties checkbox:

Last Step! Type in the SolidCopy config you want executed (without path info or .scc extension, and also enclosed in quotes if you have used spaces):

Click Ok and you're done. To create a desktop or other shortcut you can launch ad hoc any time you want, create the shortcut and edit its properties in the same way.

Last updated: Feb 29 2008