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Background Transfers Queue List
On both interfaces there is optional component at the very bottom, queue list of background transfers. To show/hide the list use main menu (View > Queue in Explorer interface, Options > Queue in Commander interface). Queue list have special view state Hide when Empty. This is default state and makes the queue list visible, when there is some background transfer in progress or scheduled, only.
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Information Displayed in the Queue List
Each entry in the queue list represents one background transfer (not file to transfer). The entries on the top of the queue represent transfers in progress. Each transfer in progress has two lines, where the second line is used to display information about file being transferred.
Information being shown in the first line is following:
| Column | Description |
|---|---|
| Operation | Icon representing the operation. Right-to-left arrow for downloads, Left-to-right icon for uploads. If the background transfer needs interaction with the user, there is an additional icon representing the type of interaction (confirmation, error message or prompt) and both icons flash. |
| Source | Path to file if one file only is being transferred. Path to source directory if multiple files are being transferred. |
| Destination | Destination directory of the transfer including operation mask. |
| Transferred | Total number of bytes already transferred (for all files). Empty for waiting transfers. |
| Time | Estimated time till end of transfer, if known. Total time already spent on transfer, otherwise. Empty for waiting transfers. |
| Progress | Status of transfer. Percentage indicator for ongoing transfers. Query, Error or Prompt for transfers that need interaction with the user. Waiting… for waiting transfers. Suspended for suspended transfers. |
For ongoing transfers information being shown in the second line is following:
| Column | Description |
|---|---|
| Operation | None. |
| Source | Path to file being transferred. |
| Destination | Empty. |
| Transferred | Number of bytes transferred for current file. |
| Speed | Average speed of the transfer. |
| Progress | The same as in the first line, only the percentage indicator, if shown, is for the current file only. |
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Interacting with Background Transfers
Sometime the background transfer needs to interact with the user. For example to confirm resuming the files transfer, to show error message or to ask for password.
There are two interaction modes. In the default mode the message or input box pops up whenever any of the background transfer needs to interact (but only when the main connection is idle). Alternatively the box may not pop up automatically. Instead the respective line on queue list may visually indicate that the transfer needs interaction. User must double-click the line or choose respective command from queue context menu (or toolbar) to make the box pop up (see Managing the Queue). To switch to alternative mode uncheck Automatically popup prompts of background transfers when idle on Background tab of Preferences dialog.
Some prompts of background transfers may be avoided at all. To disable overwrite confirmations (and similar prompts) check No confirmations on transfer options dialog. To avoid background transfers asking for password you may instruct WinSCP to save the main session password and reuse it for background transfer connections.
Managing the Queue
You can manage scheduled transfers using context menu of the queue list or using optional toolbar. To show the toolbar go to View > Queue > Toolbar in Explorer interface, Options > Queue > Toolbar in Commander interface).
Commands available in the menu (or on the toolbar) are:
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
| Show query/error/prompt | Available for ongoing transfers only that needs to interact with the user. |
| Execute now | Available for waiting transfers only. Use to instruct WinSCP to allow additional temporary connection for this transfer despite the maximal background transfers count limit. |
| Suspend | Available for ongoing transfers only. Use to temporarily suspend the transfer (e.g. to free bandwidth). |
| Resume | Available for suspended transfers only. Use to resume suspended transfer. |
| Cancel | Remove waiting transfer from queue or abort ongoing transfer. |
| Speed | Limits speed of ongoing transfer. The limit is in KiB/s. |
| Move up/down | Available for waiting transfers only. Use to change priority/order of the waiting transfers. |
In submenu All you will find additional commands affecting all transfers in particular state:
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
| Suspend All | Use to temporarily suspend all ongoing transfers. |
| Resume All | Use to resume all suspended transfers. |
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In submenu Once Empty or on queue toolbar you can choose action to do once the queue is completed (all scheduled transfers are finished). Note that the action setting is cleared whenever you switch sessions. Also the action will not be done, if WinSCP is not idle (i.e. there is some dialog box opened, etc.).