How Do I Synchronize Multiple Files at Once?

Introduction

Synchronizing multiple files at once can be a challenging task, especially if you have a large number of files to sync. However, with the right tools and techniques, you can easily synchronize multiple files at once on your Windows 10 computer. In this blog post, we will discuss how you can symlink several files at once on Windows 10, just like you can on Linux.

What is Symlinking?

Symlinking, also known as symbolic linking, is a process of creating a link to a file or directory that points to another file or directory on the same or different file system. Symlinks are useful when you want to access a file or directory from a different location without having to copy or move it. Instead, you can create a symlink to the target file or directory, and whenever you access the symlink, it will redirect you to the target file or directory.

How to Symlink Several Files at Once on Windows 10

To symlink several files at once on Windows 10, you will need to use the Command Prompt. Here are the steps to follow:

Step 1: Open Command Prompt

To open the Command Prompt on Windows 10, press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box, type cmd, and press Enter.

Step 2: Navigate to the Source Directory

Use the cd command to navigate to the directory where the files you want to symlink are located. For example, if the files are in the Documents folder, type cd Documents and press Enter.

Step 3: Create a Symlink

To create a symlink to several files at once, type the following command:

for %i in (*) do mklink "%i_link" "%i"

This command will create a symlink for each file in the current directory. The symlink will have the same name as the original file, with “_link” appended to it. For example, if you have a file named “example.txt” in the current directory, the symlink will be named “example.txt_link”.

Step 4: Move the Symlinks to the Destination Directory

After creating the symlinks, you can move them to the destination directory using the following command:

move *_link "C:destinationdirectory"

This command will move all the symlinks that were created in the current directory to the specified destination directory.

Step 5: Verify the Symlinks

To verify that the symlinks were created correctly, navigate to the destination directory and check that the symlinks are present. You can also open the symlinks to ensure that they point to the correct files.

Advantages of Symlinking

Symlinking has several advantages over copying or moving files. Here are some of the benefits of using symlinks:

Save Disk Space

Symlinks allow you to access files from different locations without having to copy or move them. This can help you save disk space, especially if you have large files that you need to access from multiple locations.

Keep Files in Sync

Symlinks can also help you keep files in sync across different locations. Whenever you update a file, the changes will be reflected in all the symlinks that point to the file. This can save you time and effort, especially if you have many copies of the same file.

Reduce Duplicates

By using symlinks, you can avoid creating duplicate files. Instead of copying a file to multiple locations, you can create a symlink to the original file and access it from different locations.

Improve Performance

Symlinks can also improve performance by reducing the time it takes to access files. Instead of searching for the file in multiple locations, the symlink will redirect you to the target file, which can save you time and improve your productivity.

Conclusion

Symlinking is a useful technique that can help you synchronize multiple files at once on your Windows 10 computer. By following the steps outlined in this blog post, you can easily create symlinks for several files at once, just like you can on Linux. Symlinks have several advantages over copying or moving files, including saving disk space, keeping files in sync, reducing duplicates, and improving performance.

There is no corresponding command in Windows, but you can create a .bat file that performs a similar function:

@echo off
for /f %%f in ('dir /b "C:\path\to\source\directory"') do (
    mklink "C:\path\to\destination\directory\%%f" "C:\path\to\source\directory\%%f"
)