Robocopy or Strong File Copy is a file and listing copying software on Home windows. It may well copy information regionally and over the community. To make use of it, you could hearth up your command immediate and kind instructions for finishing up copying and transferring jobs.
Nevertheless, many people like a point-and-click strategy. To make Robocopy user-friendly, there are lots of Robocopy GUI (Graphical Consumer Interface) instruments out there that don’t require you to recollect and kind Robocopy scripts on a boring, black command immediate display.
This Robocopy information will enable you to on tips on how to use Robocopy on command immediate and likewise listing the most effective free Robocopy GUI instruments that make the copying course of a lot simpler.
What’s the Robocopy Copy Command?
Robocopy is a command-line software for copying/transferring information over the community and on the identical pc. Microsoft saved it as a third-party software until Home windows XP. Nevertheless, from Home windows Vista, Robocopy grew to become a Home windows function.
Some would ask: Who wants a specialised copying command or software when you will have the standard copy-paste software out there on Home windows?
The final copying choice on Home windows is nice sufficient for small jobs like copying a file from one folder to a different or from one pc to a different, nevertheless it lacks the superior choices you could take full management of the copying/transferring duties.
- With Robocopy you’ll be able to copy information over a community with out worrying about community disruptions as a result of it will possibly routinely resume from the identical file when the connection establishes once more.
- Robocopy enables you to copy the attributes of the information and folders like date and time stamps, safety info (permissions, auditing, house owners), and others.
- It may well replace folders within the vacation spot folder from the supply folder by skipping the already copied information and updating solely these which can be modified.
- It additionally enables you to use multithreading the place it transfers a number of information on the identical time for dashing up the copying job.
How To Use Robocopy on Command Immediate?
To apply it to your Home windows 7, 8, 10, and 11 pc, open command immediate, and use the beneath Robocopy syntax:
robocopy <supply> <vacation spot> [<file>[ ...]] [<options>]<supply> is the supply folder
<vacation spot> the vacation spot folder
<file> is to specify which file or information will likely be copied
<choices> is for together with any Robocopy choices resembling copy, logging, file, job, and retry.
That will help you perceive what a typical Robocopy script seems to be like, let’s run a robocopy command for copying a file ‘FB31.txt’ from ‘C:Social Media’ to a share folder on the community ‘MarketingFB’ with multi-threading ‘/MT’ and replica all of the file info ‘/copyall’ switches.
robocopy c:social media 'marketingfb' FB31.txt /mt /copyallRobocopy Switches
Robocopy is loaded with choices and switches to repeat/transfer information as you need. Just a few well-liked Robocopy switches are listed beneath:
| Change | That means |
|---|---|
| S | Copy subfolders excluding empty ones |
| E | Copy subfolders together with empty folders |
| B | Copy information in backup mode |
| COPY:[DATSOU] | Copy the attributes of the file together with date and time stamp and safety info |
| COPYALL | Copy all file info |
| NOCOPY | Don’t copy any file info |
| MIR | Mirror a folder and its subfolders |
| MOV | Transfer information after which delete them from the supply folder |
| MOVE | Transfer information and folders and delete them from the supply |
| MT [n] | Carry out multithreading. The variety of threads to run must be specified rather than [n]. For instance: MT [16]. If it’s not talked about, the default worth of 8 is used. You should utilize from 1 to 128. |
To seek out the complete listing of choices and switches, carry out these steps:
- Click on Begin, kind cmd, and click on ‘Run as administrator’.
- Go to Robocopy assist by typing robocopy /? and examine the Robocopy switches listing.
You will discover extra Robocopy examples on Microsoft’s website.
Free Robocopy GUI Instruments and Options for Home windows 7, 8, 10, and 11
- Microsoft Robocopy GUI
- Straightforward Copy (ChoEasyCopy)
- RoboMirror
- WinRoboCopy
- Microsoft RichCopy
1. Microsoft Robocopy GUI
Robocopy GUI is a free, light-weight software that performs capabilities equivalent to the Robocopy command-line with an easy-to-use interface. You may carry out Robocopy GUI obtain from Microsoft. The precise obtain hyperlink from Microsoft provides the 404 error. This hyperlink is thru the Manner Again Machine.
Obtain .NET Framework 2.0.x for Robocopy GUI
Robocopy GUI doesn’t run with out the .NET Framework 2.0.5. You may simply set up it from the Management Panel. Comply with these steps:
- Click on Begin, kind ‘Management Panel’, and click on the app.
- Click on the drop-down menu subsequent to ‘View by’ and choose ‘Massive icons’.
- Choose ‘Program and Options’ from the listing of Management Panel objects.
- From the facet panel, select ‘Flip Home windows options on or off’.
- Click on the field subsequent to ‘.NET Framework 3.5’ and click on OK.
- It could ask you to let it obtain this system.
- Restart your pc.
Utilizing Robocopy GUI
- After the set up of Robocopy GUI, run it by clicking Begin, typing ‘Robocopy GUI’, and clicking the app.
- Enter the Supply and Vacation spot paths. You may choose them by clicking the three dots buttons subsequent to every considered one of them.
- By going to the ‘Copy Choices’ tab, choose the Robocopy switches you need to use for the copying course of. Hover your mouse cursor over any change to learn its operate.
- Carry out the identical for ‘Drive Mapping’, ‘Filters’, ‘Logging’, and ‘Monitoring Choices’.
- When finished, click on ‘Run’ to begin the method.
- To be taught extra about Robocopy GUI, click on ‘Assist’ from the menu bar and choose ‘Robocopy Customers Information’.
A draw back to Robocopy GUI is that it’s a really previous software. In the event you want applications which can be latest, observe different choices on the listing.
2. Straightforward Copy (ChoEasyCopy)
Cho EasyCopy is a free open-source software that you should use as Robocopy GUI. Its design is best than most on the listing and the choices are proven with their full operate. You don’t have to hover your mouse cursor over every choice to be taught what it does.
Furthermore, it runs on the newer .NET Framework so that you don’t should obtain older variations of .NET Framework for it. Obtain Straightforward Copy from GitHub launch.
3. RoboMirror
RoborMirror works on .Web Framework 4.0+ and gives a easy interface for finishing up file/folder mirroring duties. You may click on ‘Add job’ to pick out the supply and vacation spot paths for mirroring. Choose the choices you need to use and click on OK. You may obtain RoboMirror from SourceForge.
A drawback of utilizing RoboMirror is that it doesn’t present all of the Robocopy switches. It’s important to manually enter the switches.
4. WinRoboCopy
One other helpful Robocopy GUI software program is WinRoboCopy. Its interface seems to be a bit messy, however upon spending a couple of minutes, you’ll discover it very handy and sturdy.
Create a number of jobs for mirroring by choosing the supply and vacation spot paths and choosing choices. It reveals the listing of switches and if you wish to see their particulars, click on the ‘+’ button. You may export a job as a cmd file on it as properly. Obtain WinRoboCopy from its official website.
5. Microsoft RichCopy
That is the successor of Robocopy GUI and it was developed a couple of years after Robocopy GUI. It’s richer in options than its predecessor nevertheless it has powerful competitors from Straightforward Copy and WinRoboCopy.
Nevertheless, we like its easy interface and it’s extra user-friendly than the talked about choices. You can begin the copying course of by selecting the supply and vacation spot.
For superior choices, click on ‘Choices’ to discover a bunch of switches for extra management over the method.
You may carry out RichCopy obtain from Manner Again Machine. If the hyperlink is expired, search on Google ‘obtain Richcopy’.
Robocopy vs XCopy for Copying Recordsdata
Earlier than Robocopy, Microsoft supplied XCopy for copying/transferring information over the community. As Robocopy is an enchancment of XCopy, and Microsoft retains updating it, it’s the higher of the 2.
How is it higher? As a result of the Robocopy command-line has many options that XCopy doesn’t have.
- Robocopy makes use of mirroring whereas XCopy doesn’t. This allows Robocopy to sync/replace information with out copying all of the information each time.
- Robocopy has automation settings whereas XCopy doesn’t have them. With automation, you’ll be able to schedule the copying course of.
- It’s also possible to discover monitoring help for Robocopy. This implies, if the monitoring command is used, it is going to monitor information for modifications and replace them when they’re modified. XCopy lacks this function.
Conclusion
Robocopy is a robust software that lets you copy or transfer information over the community. You should utilize the command immediate on Home windows to run its command or obtain a Robocopy GUI to carry out the operate with a couple of clicks.
