Silly question....about copying files across a network automatically..

[Abhi]

I know next to nothing about networking... so if this is a stupid question, sorry!

I get up a small network at my office all by myself (Yay me!). I did this using a network hub. Two PCs had XP, another ME. I set up a workgroup and file and printer sharing is working perfectly.

My problem. PC2 has a directory on its hard drive which needs to be copied to PC1frequently. I just want to copy that one directory (50 MB) from PC2's HDD to PC1's HDD across the network. I want to set it up so it happens when a user at PC2 clicks an icon or something.

The people who work on these comps are idiots, so i cant expect them to manually copy the files. I know its dawm simple, but its nearly impossible to explain it to them.

I just need to a way that whenever the user of PC2 wants, she can copy the entire contents of a given directory to PC1, just by clicking an icon.

Any ideas how/if i can do that?

 

[illusion88]

hm, well I am sure you can write a pearl script or something....

Anyways, why have a shortcut to the directory on PC1 and PC2 on their desktops (two different icons). Then all theyy would have to do is drag them and drop. Not quite what you are asking for but that would do the trick. I think you even have to hold down ctrl. I do believe that it will automatically copy without cutting it from PC2.

 

[cpars]

Why not create a shared folder/dir on PC2 and have both work to and from that dir ?

 

[Abhi]

Originally posted by: cpars
Why not create a shared folder/dir on PC2 and have both work to and from that dir ?

the data is already shared, i want a second copy...

 

[JackMDS]

Map the drive, write a little batch file with the copy x:\directory\*.* command, and make shortcut on the desktop.

 

[Need4Speed]

check out robocopy... its free and does a great job of mirroring. copy robocopy.exe somewhere into your path, them make a batchfile that contains:

robocopy <source> <destination> /mir

 

[Abhi]

I ll try both ur ways JackMDS and Need4Speed and post back..

thanks

 

[Abhi]

Originally posted by: JackMDS
Map the drive, write a little batch file with the copy x:\directory\*.* command, and make shortcut on the desktop.

Will that copy all the subdirectorys with the directory?

Anyway i can do that?

 

[gunrunnerjohn]

Originally posted by: Abhi

Originally posted by: JackMDS Map the drive, write a little batch file with the copy x:\directory\*.* command, and make shortcut on the desktop.

Will that copy all the subdirectorys with the directory? Anyway i can do that?

XCOPY x:\dir-name y:\dir-name /s

This will copy everything, including all subdirectories to the second argument.

Personally, I use BeyondCompare for this kind of task, it's a slick file sync utility with scripting capability. You can set it up to be invoked manually, or use a scheduled task to automagically backup every day, hour, etc.

 

[dmcowen674]

If you want it done truly automatically where they don't even have to click on anything you can use AutoFTP. As soon as it detects a change in the directory files it will upload them.

I use this for an Automatic Weather Updater for a website.