Dates in synchronization

[spacific]

I have just started to use synchronization, but cannot understand how Yummy compares files. My server listing shows files dated today. My Mac listing shows files dated September, and yet Yummy says "No items require synchronization at present" using "Update Mac" and "Newer files have later modification dates". It is true that the files are identical (so no transfers are required) but how does Yummy know that? Does it look inside every file and compare? Surely not. Puzzled 

[JD]

By default, Yummy uses only the modified date/time to determine which files are newer. I suspect that what you're seeing is something out of whack in the Time Offset setting. I recommend using the Auto-detect Time Offset option, if it isn't already enabled. What results do you get with it enabled? If it was already enabled, what time offset is displayed?

[spacific]

Time-offset is on auto-detect, and the offset is 0:00, which is correct as the server is in the same time-zone. (Although I would have thought the time difference could be a minute out, but perhaps they are computers are correctly time set.)


Mac list is on left and won't update (except for the first file!).  If I edit one of the server files (e.g. vectors.txt) then try again, the Mac-update does work for that file.

I suspect this is a cache problem as I had earlier synchronized these files in the other direction, from Mac to server. So Yummy "knows" that they are identical (I just don't know how!).

[spacific]

Actually I don't understand why the dates of the transferred files (Mac => sever) were lost. I have "Maintain modification dates of transferred files" set and it is an SFTP link. Come to think of it, this is something I have noticed for a while: that the Mac mod-date is lost in transfer (e.g. by dragging from the Finder) to the server.

[JD]

Ah, the fact that you syched before in the other direction is how Yummy knows that the files on the Mac didn't change - there's some magic going on behind the scenes So basically, the synch is working as expected and correctly.

Regarding the modification dates on the server, however, I've made a test here uploading from the Finder and also from within Yummy's Mac browser and the dates were not lost on transfer. Maybe there is a problem that is 'spacific' to your server? (sorry, couldn't resist). Does the 'Maintain permissions' feature also not work? (it also works fine here)

[spacific]

Well, in looking at 'Maintain permissions' I have discovered something odd:

With 'Maintain mod-dates' set, and 'Maintain permissions' not set (how I normally have things) a file transfer gets today's date. Immediately setting 'Maintain permissions' and transferring another (identical) file maintains mod date.  I can send more details by email if you wish. Thanks.

[JD]

Hmm, that IS odd. It's not the behavior I see here, though... it works as expected, of course.

I'm not sure what further details you could send me, to be honest, unless you're willing to let me try connecting to your server so that I can attempt to repeat the problem - if I can do that it would be great. In the meantime, I'll investigate how this might possibly misbehave from Yummy's end.

[JD]

Do you have 'Don't synchronize dates' enabled in the Advanced Options tab of your Bookmark?

[spacific]

Do you have 'Don't synchronize dates' enabled in the Advanced Options tab of your Bookmark?

No.

Incidentally the Maintain permissions works OK otherwise -- i.e. it maintains permissions!

Yes, I'm not sure what to send. I was thinking of the transcript but it only shows a Put and not what goes on behind the scenes regarding dates.

Not sure that I can get you access to the server, but I'll think about it.

[JD]

Ok, failing the access to the server itself, how about sending me:

1. your Preferences file (com.yummysoftware.yummy-ftp.plist located in your Preferences folder)
2. a copy of your Bookmark with the login and password erased (drag a copy from the Bookmarks window to the Finder)

Maybe there's something in your Prefs + Bookmark which makes this happen - I can check for that.

[spacific]

Just so readers know what is happening here ...

The problem relates to symlinks. Transfering files to the ftp server itself is fine. Transfering files to a symlink (to another server) on the ftp server causes the problem with mod date not being maintained -- this is with "Maintain mod date" set and "Maintain permissions" not set in prefs.

JD and I are investigating and will report back when the answer is known. Other sftp clients have different behaviours so it is hard to track down. Some are not as configurable as Yummy, e.g. you cannot set "Maintain dates" and unset "Maintain permissions" which is the combination that is causing a problem, albeit a very minor one, for me.