Sync does NOT follow folder symbolic links Linux -> Windows :: Support Forum

jcmanciot Guest

Sync does NOT follow folder symbolic links Linux -> Windows

2016-02-26 15:01

WinSCP 5.7.6
Source Files: Ubuntu 15.10
Target Files: Windows 10

Uploaded screenshots:

Symbolic links option is enabled
Mirror sync mode
no symbolic link (Program-Files here) is followed during sync

No automation tools have been used, only the GUI.
If I double-click on the symbolic link within the session panel, it is followed though, which means it is recognized as such by WinSCP.

No Symbolic Link is followed during sync.jpg (257.48 KB)

Description: No Symbolic Link is followed during sync

Sync Options.jpg (133.33 KB)

Description: Sync options

Symbolic Links Option.jpg (133.67 KB)

Description: Symbolic links option is enabled

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jcmanciot Donor
Joined:: 2016-02-27
Posts:: 26
Location:: Paris, France

Re: Sync does NOT follow folder symbolic links Linux -> Windows

2016-02-27 10:26

From the log which is attached:

Reading symlink "Program-Files".
Type: SSH_FXP_READLINK, Size: 56, Number: 1811
13,00,00,07,13,00,00,00,2F,2F,68,6F,6D,65,2F,61,63,74,69,6F,6E,6D,79,73,74,
69,71,75,65,2F,47,6F,6F,67,6C,65,20,44,72,69,76,65,2F,50,72,6F,67,72,61,6D,
2D,46,69,6C,65,73,
Sent 60 bytes
There are 0 bytes remaining in the send buffer
...
Link resolved to "/home/actionmystique/Program-Files".
Read 4 bytes (37 pending)
Read 37 bytes (0 pending)
Type: SSH_FXP_ATTRS, Size: 37, Number: 2065
69,00,00,08,11,00,00,00,0F,00,00,00,00,00,00,10,00,00,00,03,E8,00,00,03,E8,
00,00,41,F8,56,B1,3E,48,56,D0,37,A4,
Read file 'Program-Files' from listing
...
Program-Files;D;0;2016-02-26T12:28:49.000Z;"actionmystique" [1000];"actionmystique" [1000];rwxrwxrwx;
...

The folder contains 347,796 items, totalling 27.0 GB.

root@172.17.100.1.log (3.98 MB, Private file)

Description: Log file

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martin◆ Site Admin
Joined:: 2002-12-10
Posts:: 39,446
Location:: Prague, Czechia

Re: Sync does NOT follow folder symbolic links Linux -> Windows

2016-02-29

Yes, the synchronization does not follow symbolic links.

We may add a support for optionally following the links, but it's not planned atm.

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jcmanciot Donor

2016-03-01 07:23

Is the "Resolve symbolic links" option for syncing very different from reading? I mean, when you know the whole contents of a symlinked folder, how different is it from what is already implemented to sync it?

It would be awesome to add this feature and shouldn't represent a lot more code.

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martin◆ Site Admin

2016-03-01

It's not that it's difficult to follow the links.
It's that WinSCP explicitly skips the symlinks when synchronizing.
Most users want them to be skipped.

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jcmanciot Donor

2016-03-01 09:17

Great, so adding the option could almost be done in a heartbeat :)

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martin◆ Site Admin

2016-03-01

This request is tracked here:
Bug 51 – Option to follow or not follow symbolic links

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jcmanciot Donor

2016-03-03 11:29

How can I be notified when the enhancement has been implemented?

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martin◆ Site Admin

2016-03-11

I'm sending you an email with a development version of WinSCP to the address you have used to register on this forum.

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jcmanciot Donor
Joined:: 2016-02-27
Posts:: 26
Location:: Paris, France

2016-03-12 18:50

Brilliant! :)
Almost perfect.
The symlinks are followed now during sync when the corresponding option is set.
However, I have isolated a very slight glitch so far: all date/time properties of synced files are correct, but for folders, they do not match; the date & time of the sync is used for the synced destination folders, instead of the date & time of the source folders.

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martin◆ Site Admin

2016-03-14

WinSCP does not update timestamps of directories by default, no matter if it is symlinked directory or not.
You have to enable this. See:
https://winscp.net/eng/docs/ui_transfer_custom

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jcmanciot Donor
Joined:: 2016-02-27
Posts:: 26
Location:: Paris, France

2016-03-14 10:46

Well, despite the fact that WinSCP is run as administrator, some transfer options – including timestamps – are greyed out: cf. uploaded screenshots.
Am I missing something?

Some WinSCP Transfer Options are greyed out.JPG (59.12 KB)

Description: Some WinSCP Transfer Options are greyed out

WinSCP as administrator.JPG (42.73 KB)

Description: WinSCP is run as administrator

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martin◆ Site Admin
Joined:: 2002-12-10
Posts:: 39,446
Location:: Prague, Czechia

2016-03-14

@jcmanciot: This bug has been added to the tracker:
Bug 1410 – Option to preserve directory timestamps is not enabled for synchronization

I'm sending you a new development version.

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martin◆ Site Admin

Re: Sync does NOT follow folder symbolic links Linux -> Windows

2023-02-13

Option to consider symlinked files when synchronizing is now specifically tracked here:
Bug 2165 – Consider symbolic link targets when synchronizing directories

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Sync does NOT follow folder symbolic links Linux -> Windows