Ignore only folders in root

Support
1

I would like to sync only files within a folder, not folders.

For example: Root is c:\folderA\

  • c:\folderA\file.docx ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀is a file in root = sync OK
  • c:\folderA\folderX.xlsx⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀is a file in root= sync OK
  • c:\folderA\folder1\file.jpg ⠀ ⠀ ⠀is a file in a folder = no sync
  • c:\folderA\folder2\ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀is a folder in root = no sync

How can I archive this?

I already tried:

  • /* → ends sync of all files and folders
  • */ → results in empty folders on synced nodes
  • */* → results in empty folders on synced nodes
  • */** → results in empty folders on synced nodes
2

You’ll need /*/.

1 Like
3

Thank you @imsodin. Unfortunately /*/ also results in empty folders on synced nodes.

  • /* → ends sync of all files and folders
  • */ → results in empty folders on synced nodes
  • */* → results in empty folders on synced nodes
  • */** → results in empty folders on synced nodes
  • /*/ → results in empty folders on synced nodes
4

See below, I “mis-thought”.

5

I don’t think this is really possible, because Syncthing doesn’t distinguish between files and directories when it comes to ignore patterns. The only imperfect solution that I can think about is something like

!*.*
*

yet this will only work if all your files have extensions (which is quite likely, as we’re talking about Windows here, but still).

6

Right, I was mistaken, the slash at the end does mean ignore everything below, but not the directory itself - thanks for the clarification @tomasz86

7

Hello @tomasz86

!*.*
*

…sounds logical, but my Syncthing installation seems to be no friend of logics. If I set up that ignore pattern, files and folders are synced, like there is no ignore pattern at all.

8

I’ve tested those patterns locally, and they should sync only folders that contain files (with extensions). Have you check what happens in a new pair of folders? Please keep in mind that the patterns will only apply to newly created content, i.e. they won’t delete already existing empty folders.

9

Thank you for the advice. For every test, I create a new folder and a new txt-file, both with the same timestamp (YYYYMMDDHHMMSS) as name in root. Then I copy an other test file in that folder. By doing so, I assume I only have “new” folders and files, that are unknown to SyncThing.

Actually folders should not synced - no matter what´s inside.

PS. But you are right - empty folders are not synced… :wink:

10

If I understand correctly, what you actually want may be

// Ignore everything in subfolders.
/*/
// Don't ignore files with extensions in root folder.
!/*.*
// Ignore everything in root folder.
/

however, as already mentioned, this is quite flaky, as files with no extensions will also be ignored, while folders with a . in them won’t be (e.g. Paint.NET).

11

Thanks @tomasz86 and @imsodin. That works quite well, even with the mentioned restrictions.

// Ignore everything in subfolders.
/*/
// Don't ignore files with extensions in root folder.
!/*.*
// Ignore everything in root folder.
/
2 Likes
12

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