Web server sync via Finder folder

Scripting Forums AppleScript | Mac OS X
,
#1

I found a really nice free service called DropBox that syncs folders on multiple Macs to a Web server. It offers up 2Gb free and up to 100Gb at a cost. I love it. It syncs both ways.

What I’m wondering is if I can take advantage of a Web server I have (unlimited Gb @ ~$10/mo) to do a similar function. I’m not looking to get carried away, but it would be nice to have more capacity without further expense. I can connect through the Finder to my Web server, so I was thinking about setting up a hot folder on my Mac to sync to the server.

on adding folder items to thisFolder after receiving theFiles
	repeat with thisFile in theFiles
		tell application "Finder" to duplicate file thisFile to folder "server:Private:DropBox:" with replacing
	end repeat
end adding folder items to

I stumbled upon this script for working with folder actions, but I’m wondering if something along these lines could be used to sync back and forth between the local folder and the one on the server. This might be something an app would be better suited to, like DropBox. I figured it’s worth a shot. Maybe I’ll tinker with DropBox and see if I can sync it to my server…

Model: 2006 MacBook 10.5.6, G5 dual 2.3 10.4.11
Browser: Firefox 3.0.10
Operating System: Mac OS X (10.5)

#2

Hi,

syncing is a bit more than duplicating a folder or file. Intelligent sync routines check first for new or changed files
and provide functions like "delete file at destination if it’s no longer present at source.

The shell command rsync has a variety of options and is designated for this job.

#3

I knew it would be more complicated than a short Finder-focused script. I’ll look into the rsync context and hopefully figure out a way to make it work.

#4

sprale:

Be careful with rysnc and the --delete argument (if you’re mirroring). Every character counts as I found out when I deleted 4 years worth of research with an ill-placed slash :(. And that’s irretrievably gone, as in forever gone.

I suggest using the -n (or --dry-run) argument to just see the results while you’re testing. Also, using 2 or 3 -v arguments increases the verbosity of the results. (There’s a word I don’t get to use every day! :P) Like rsync -vvvanE. Note: the use of the n for safety. For some reason I always end up spelling little words with the arguments, like “vane” here! lol

Have fun - it’s powerful stuff!

Jim Neumann
BLUEFROG