THE INFORMATION IN THIS ARTICLE APPLIES TO:

• CuteFTP® (All Versions)

SYMPTOM

I am unable to mirror a remote folder without transferring all of the files each time. I want a local folder to be an exact match of the remote folder. To conserve bandwidth and time, I only want to download the newer files, not all of them.

Using the following configuration, all files are transferred the first time the synchronization is performed, which is as expected. The problem is that for subsequent synchronizations on the same day, all files are again transferred, even if no files are changed. My expectation is that after the first synchronization is successfully finished, for subsequent synchronizations, only the newer files would be transferred.

Current configuration in Global Options is as follows:

1. Under Transfer > Smart Overwrite, in the Matching File or Folder Name Handling section, for matching files, choose Use Rules.
2. Click Configure Rules and add the following Smart Overwrite rule:
• If destination file date is older and size is no matter during download then overwrite.

CAUSE

Since second and subsequent synchronizations on the same day do not strictly meet the requirements of the defined overwrite rule, and no alternative rule is specified, the defined Prompt timeout action is used (without the timer). By default, the Prompt timeout action is set to Overwrite.

RESOLUTION

There are two alternatives.

1. You can set the Smart Overwrite Prompt timeout action to Skip:
1. On the Tools menu, click Global Options.
2. Expand Transfer and then click Smart Overwrite.
3. Under Matching File or Folder Name Handling, choose Skip for the Prompt timeout action.
2. If you prefer to keep the global Prompt timeout action set to Overwrite, then you can setup a second Smart Overwrite rule so that the files are skipped:
   1. On the Tools menu, click Global Options.
   2. Expand Transfer and then click Smart Overwrite.
   3. Click Configure Rules and then add the following Smart Overwrite rule:
   "If destination file date is the same and size is no matter during download then skip."