Non dulpicated files
What is a non duplicated file?
This type of file is a file that does not have a copy. If the original is lost, recovery could be difficult. For critical files it is always essential to have multiple copies, ideally on multiple disk drives, or storage platforms. This mode of scanning will highlight files with no copy.
Various modes can be used which is useful when files are evolving. Thus matching could be just on file name, or could require identical size and contents. We could also decide that a .bak is an adequate second file - maybe as long as it is not zero length.
The scan process is the same as normal file scan, but it is only possible to scan on selected file types, rather than the whole disk drive. The intention is to find where there is only a single copy of critical files.
Once the scan is complete. click on the drive and the non duplicated files will be seen. It should be noted that there is an option to test for files based on file name, or file name and file size. The first option can be useful if file are being updated on a regular basis, and so the size may change.
Example of when to this feature could be used.
It is common for multiple people to work on a common project and often on different PCs. At times, all files may be stored in a common location (a shared storage or cloud). In other cases, all work may be done locally but at some time files need to be merged. What we need to determine is where files are identical between systems, where ones have added, and where the same file exists, but with a different size, or contents. By using the feature 'Scan non dups' we get a report showing differences and missing files. It may well help if you limit to the scan to certain file types, eg .docx, or .html.
A related function is the 'Same file different contents'. This helps when multiple copies exist, but the contenets may be the same or different. It show which file are different - probably updated.
