How to Enable Verification in FreeFileSync when Using Cinnamon

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Verification (Verify) is a feature of FreeFileSync (FFS) that will check each copy/past operation to ensure it was copied without errors. It isn’t enabled by default and there isn’t a simple setting in FFS’s GUI one can use to enable it (unless they recently changed it). However, it can be easily enabled by modifying the Globalsettings file. FFS’s website does have instructions on how to do this but some people may find them a bit hard to follow. Hopefully, these instructions will be easier to follow.

1. I've found the easiest way to find the file to change is to go into the Home folder.

2. Right click on an empty space and click on Show Hidden Files if it isn't already checked.

3. Click on the search icon in the upper right hand corner.

4. Type in globalsettings in the search box, then click on the file when it comes up.

5. Around ten lines down, you will find this entry:

<VerifyCopiedFiles Enabled="false"/>

6. Change false to true.

7. Close the file and save it when prompted

Keep in mind this setting is only to verify files copied were copied accurately. It will not correct any errors.

Also keep in mind that enabling Verify will almost double the amount of time needed to run an update or copy operation on FFS. Since FFS can run in the background while using the computer for other things, this normally will not be a problem.

As the pig says, “That’s all, folks.”

[MikeNovember]

Hi,

Just a comment: with flatpak version of FreeFileSync, here is the path of GlobalSettings.xml:

"~/.var/app/org.freefilesync.FreeFileSync/config/FreeFileSync/GlobalSettings.xml"

(where "~/" is a system shortcut for "/home/username/").

Regards,

MN

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Hi,

Just a comment: with flatpak version of FreeFileSync, here is the path of GlobalSettings.xml:

"~/.var/app/org.freefilesync.FreeFileSync/config/FreeFileSync/GlobalSettings.xml"

(where "~/" is a system shortcut for "/home/username/").

Regards,

MN

Besides being difficult to remember and type a long path like that, not to mention the path could be different on some installations, going to the Home folder and searching for the file is both faster and easier.

[MikeNovember]

Besides being difficult to remember and type a long path like that, not to mention the path could be different on some installations, going to the Home folder and searching for the file is both faster and easier.

Hi,

1. Paths
With flatpak version of FreeFileSync, the path is always "~/.var/app/org.freefilesync.FreeFileSync/config/FreeFileSync/GlobalSettings.xml".

With non flatpak version of FreeFileSync, the path is always "~/.config/FreeFileSync/GlobalSettings.xml".
See https://freefilesync.org/manual.php?top ... t-settings

2. Search function
On my computer with Mate desktop, the search for "GlobalSettings.xml" or "golbalsettings" with Caja (Mate file manager) search function does not work: Caja search function is poor, it is well known.

The search works using "mate-search-tool" with the "Show hidden and backup files" search option, i.e. "mate-search-tool --hidden" launch command.

Regards,

MN