File synchronization utilities make it easier to keep updated copies of files or folders in two or more locations, such as different pcs, network drives, USB hard drives, or online storage.
A good synchronization utility would have most or many of the following features.
• Should support two-way synchronization of files.
• Should be able to replicate any source folder even if the files are used.
• Should detect conflicts or file collisions. These occur when the file has changed in both locations since the last sync operation. This requires that a good database or journal be kept through the utility.
• Should propagate deletions and detect file renames. This also requires a log file of earlier operations.
• Should support filter systems and rules for fine tuning what files are, or are not as part of the sync operations.
• Should show a preview of what's going to take place during a sync operation, and allow the operator to easily over-ride all actions desired.
• Should have a job scheduler and the ability to run file sync real-time and automatically detect and launch sync operations when a destination becomes active.
• Should support syncing to both local and network locations.
There are a lot of freeware in this kind of category, but based on this criteria above, best one shareware stand out.
SyncBack4all can be a solid contender here. The thing I much like the best with this utility is its clear and informative interface. The preview is very easy to understand, and file collisions and deletions are more readily recognizable than a number of other sync programs. If you require a sync program that can copy files that are in use or locked, SyncBack4all has you dealt with there too!
Different from other Windows 7 offline file sync software only works when scheduled or simply on demand, SyncBack4all also named as a
Real time file sync software, it synchronize and replicate you data files continuously, while they are currently being modified. In SyncBack4all file sync real-time mode, the program monitors files for changes in the background, using very little system resources. As soon as the file change is detected, the file is saved on the secondary location, such as another folder on a single computer, a network drive, a USB drive, or even remote PC through FTP/SFTP server, and so on.
Real-time file synchronization can be quite convenient and speeds up the synchronization process considerably, because the folders are monitored, they don't have being scanned and skip to the "Analysis source and target file structures" step.
Users are offered with five different product versions - freeware, standard, pro, real time and sync backup - created for home users, power users, IT professionals and companies respectively.
