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Dave Symes

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May 3, 2013, 1:15:58 AM5/3/13
to
I'm in the process of tidying up my RO machine backing, and have a small
problem that remains an annoyance...

This old SARPC (18 years) Running on Select RO 6.20 has a mirror on a
VRPC-Adjust SA (Obviously also running 6.20)

I keep the mirror up to date weekly using DirSync (Jan-Jaap van der Geer)
and that works very well.
However there's one errant file that will not play the game and I wonder
why. (It has AFAIKR never played the game so I've always done it manually.)

On this real SARPC Organizer's "OrgData" file has a date stamp of 03 May
2013 and is 53K in size. (Added some notes yesterday).

The OrgData file on the mirror has a date stamp of 27 April 2013 and is
50K in size.

DirSync after a "Compare" action shows the files to be = and so won't auto
update the VRPC version.

Anyone have any ideas why this is occurring, as it only presents with this
one file?

Thanks
Dave

--

Dave Triffid

Martin

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May 3, 2013, 4:57:32 AM5/3/13
to
On 03 May, in article <5345e18...@triffid.co.uk>,
Dave Symes <da...@triffid.co.uk> wrote:
> I'm in the process of tidying up my RO machine backing, and have a small
> problem that remains an annoyance...

> This old SARPC (18 years) Running on Select RO 6.20 has a mirror on a
> VRPC-Adjust SA (Obviously also running 6.20)

> I keep the mirror up to date weekly using DirSync (Jan-Jaap van der
> Geer) and that works very well. However there's one errant file that
> will not play the game and I wonder why. (It has AFAIKR never played
> the game so I've always done it manually.)

> On this real SARPC Organizer's "OrgData" file has a date stamp of 03
> May 2013 and is 53K in size. (Added some notes yesterday).

> The OrgData file on the mirror has a date stamp of 27 April 2013 and is
> 50K in size.

When was the last run of DirSync?

> DirSync after a "Compare" action shows the files to be = and so won't
> auto update the VRPC version.

That is most odd! Something is not telling the whole truth!! Files that
are not the same size cannot be the same. Every time the OrgData file is
written by Organizer the datestamp changes obviously ... and also an
internal datestamp.

> Anyone have any ideas why this is occurring, as it only presents with
> this one file?

I can see no reason. And before anyone asks, the Orgdata file is never
left 'open' by Organizer.

With Organizer v2.20 perhaps another way would be to use the new
'Cloning' facility. This can automatically copy the file on request, on
startup, or from an Alarm (daily, weekly, or whatever).

--
Martin Avison
Note that unfortunately this email address will become invalid
without notice if (when) any spam is received.

Dave Symes

unread,
May 3, 2013, 9:44:26 AM5/3/13
to
In article <5345f5d8...@avisoft.f9.co.uk>,
Martin <New...@avisoft.f9.co.uk> wrote:
> On 03 May, in article <5345e18...@triffid.co.uk>, Dave Symes
> <da...@triffid.co.uk> wrote:
> > I'm in the process of tidying up my RO machine backing, and have a
> > small problem that remains an annoyance...

> > This old SARPC (18 years) Running on Select RO 6.20 has a mirror on a
> > VRPC-Adjust SA (Obviously also running 6.20)

> > I keep the mirror up to date weekly using DirSync (Jan-Jaap van der
> > Geer) and that works very well. However there's one errant file that
> > will not play the game and I wonder why. (It has AFAIKR never played
> > the game so I've always done it manually.)

> > On this real SARPC Organizer's "OrgData" file has a date stamp of 03
> > May 2013 and is 53K in size. (Added some notes yesterday).

> > The OrgData file on the mirror has a date stamp of 27 April 2013 and is
> > 50K in size.

> When was the last run of DirSync?

On Saturday the 27th April because I do the backups weekly usually Sat or
Sun, but this week I was doing it today 3rd because I'm busy with family
stuff this weekend.

> > DirSync after a "Compare" action shows the files to be = and so won't
> > auto update the VRPC version.

> That is most odd! Something is not telling the whole truth!! Files that
> are not the same size cannot be the same. Every time the OrgData file is
> written by Organizer the datestamp changes obviously ... and also an
> internal datestamp.

I think I have the/an answer... see End note.

> > Anyone have any ideas why this is occurring, as it only presents with
> > this one file?

> I can see no reason. And before anyone asks, the Orgdata file is never
> left 'open' by Organizer.

> With Organizer v2.20 perhaps another way would be to use the new
> 'Cloning' facility. This can automatically copy the file on request, on
> startup, or from an Alarm (daily, weekly, or whatever).

Thanks for the thoughts Martin,
Indeedy, I am aware of the new Organizer facility, but as everything is
setup the way I'm doing it ATM I don't want to change unless I really have
to.

End note:
I appears from here that SyncDir is just that, it will Compare and Sync
directories and their file contents, but won't sync just a file from
within a directory.

I've now tried this with a number of (Just) files from different places
and it gives the same result... Maybe there's some config I don't know
that allows it to do that.

So being aware of that flaw...If I get SyncDir to do a Compare on the two
...Choices.Organizer directories it works okay and flags up the difference
in the OrgData files and when given permission does the backup.

The downside of that is, it also Compares all the other directories of
stuff in the Organizer dir, like Backups and Journal directories and
contents going back to 1997 non of which have changed.

Dave

--

Dave Triffid

Martin Wuerthner

unread,
May 3, 2013, 1:15:54 PM5/3/13
to
Dave Symes <da...@triffid.co.uk> wrote:

> End note: I appears from here that SyncDir is just that, it will Compare
> and Sync directories and their file contents, but won't sync just a file
> from within a directory.

Just to avoid confusion: I think you mean DirSync (there is also a different
utility with a name more similar to SyncDir).

> I've now tried this with a number of (Just) files from different places
> and it gives the same result... Maybe there's some config I don't know
> that allows it to do that.
>
> So being aware of that flaw...If I get SyncDir to do a Compare on the two
> ...Choices.Organizer directories it works okay and flags up the difference
> in the OrgData files and when given permission does the backup.
>
> The downside of that is, it also Compares all the other directories of
> stuff in the Organizer dir, like Backups and Journal directories and
> contents going back to 1997 non of which have changed.

No problem, DirSync allows you to exclude specific directories from the
comparison process. You only need to set this up once and save it in your
hotlist.

--
Martin Wuerthner MW Software http://www.mw-software.com/

------- RISC OS Software for Design, Printing and Publishing --------

Peter Young

unread,
May 3, 2013, 2:16:23 PM5/3/13
to
On 3 May 2013 Dave Symes <da...@triffid.co.uk> wrote:

[snip]

> End note:
> I appears from here that SyncDir is just that, it will Compare and Sync
> directories and their file contents, but won't sync just a file from
> within a directory.

> I've now tried this with a number of (Just) files from different places
> and it gives the same result... Maybe there's some config I don't know
> that allows it to do that.

> So being aware of that flaw...If I get SyncDir to do a Compare on the two
> ...Choices.Organizer directories it works okay and flags up the difference
> in the OrgData files and when given permission does the backup.

> The downside of that is, it also Compares all the other directories of
> stuff in the Organizer dir, like Backups and Journal directories and
> contents going back to 1997 non of which have changed.

I've been using Chris Johnson's SyncDiscs, from
http://www.chris-johnson.org.uk/software/index.html
and without being able to give chapter and verse it seems to do what I
want, the same as Dave wants, rather more reliably than DirSync does,
good though that app is. It can also keep a logfile, so that you can
easily check that it's done what is should do.

With best wishes,

Peter.

--
Peter Young and family
Prestbury, Cheltenham, Glos. GL52, England
http://pnyoung.orpheusweb.co.uk
pny...@ormail.co.uk

Dave Symes

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May 3, 2013, 2:35:13 PM5/3/13
to
In article <mpro.mm8fyi00is...@mw-software.com>,
Martin Wuerthner <spam...@mw-software.com> wrote:
> Dave Symes <da...@triffid.co.uk> wrote:

> > End note: I appears from here that SyncDir is just that, it will
> > Compare and Sync directories and their file contents, but won't sync
> > just a file from within a directory.

> Just to avoid confusion: I think you mean DirSync (there is also a
> different utility with a name more similar to SyncDir).

Indeedy you are right Martin, in my original posting I got it right, but
then wandered off into another app entirely... Brain Rot setting in ...
;-)

> > I've now tried this with a number of (Just) files from different
> > places and it gives the same result... Maybe there's some config I
> > don't know that allows it to do that.
> >
> > So being aware of that flaw...If I get SyncDir to do a Compare on the
> > two ...Choices.Organizer directories it works okay and flags up the
> > difference in the OrgData files and when given permission does the
> > backup.
> >
> > The downside of that is, it also Compares all the other directories of
> > stuff in the Organizer dir, like Backups and Journal directories and
> > contents going back to 1997 non of which have changed.

> No problem, DirSync allows you to exclude specific directories from the
> comparison process. You only need to set this up once and save it in your
> hotlist.

Erm yes, but I've never managed to quite get my head around what the
difference Absolute and Relative means in this context.
Additionally I cannot get anything into that (Ctrl E) window it just moans
on about "The directory you drag into this window etc..."

What I can say is...
ADFS::HD4.$.!Boot.Choices.Users.Single.Organizer is the file path on the
real SARPC.

ADFS::HardDisc4.$.!Boot.Choices.Users.Single.Organizer is the file path on
the Virtual.

Within the Organizer directory they are structurally identical.

Backups A directory.
Journal A directory
OrgData
OrgDate-214
OrgData-bak

OrgData and Journal are the only two I want to Sync.

Dave Symes

unread,
May 3, 2013, 3:25:28 PM5/3/13
to
In article <bd0229465...@pnyoung.ormail.co.uk>,
Peter Young <pny...@ormail.co.uk> wrote:

[Snip]

> I've been using Chris Johnson's SyncDiscs, from
> http://www.chris-johnson.org.uk/software/index.html
> and without being able to give chapter and verse it seems to do what I
> want, the same as Dave wants, rather more reliably than DirSync does,
> good though that app is. It can also keep a logfile, so that you can
> easily check that it's done what is should do.

> With best wishes,

> Peter.

I vaguely remember having a play with SyncDiscs a while back, but to be
honest, *personal preference in action,* I didn't like the UI and I didn't
see any facility to create a Hotlist.

I use the Hotlist facility in DirSync all the time as it saves on a lot of
work.

Peter Young

unread,
May 3, 2013, 4:07:28 PM5/3/13
to
On 3 May 2013 Dave Symes <da...@triffid.co.uk> wrote:

Not so much a hotlist, but I have here a pretty large directory of
SyncJobs, which do pretty much what DirSync's hotlist does. I have the
whole backup setup automated here. However, I'll be away for much of
May, with at best intermittent internet access, so may not be able to
write a lot about this "real soon now".

NB: Chris's adaptation of SyncDiscs is a whole lot different from St
David Pilling's original app, and Chris is always happy to incorporate
suggestions from users.

Dave Symes

unread,
May 4, 2013, 3:59:22 AM5/4/13
to
In article <412e33465...@pnyoung.ormail.co.uk>,
Ah I see Peter, I was looking for a Hotlist or something similar, now
you've mentioned that the similar function is "SyncJobs" I've found it in
the help.

FWIW. When I said "a while back," it was post D.Pilling, so it was a Chris
version, anyway... I've just downloaded the latest (yesterday evening) but
after playing... Sorry chaps, personal preference, but I just don't like
the UI.

Thanks for the thoughts, but I'll stick with DirSync which I've also found
very reliable... just this one little incident, and I do like the UI far
more.

Dave

--

Dave Triffid
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