Merge two folders, without overwriting any files

Question

I have a folder called "AeroFS", and another one called "AeroFS Backup".

"AeroFS Backup" contains everything that "AeroFS" contains, and more.

I need to merge "AeroFS Backup" back into the "AeroFS" folder, but not overwrite ANY existing files, even if they are newer.

I'm not particularly comfortable with terminal commands, but may give them a try.

Is there a free app that can do this without overwriting existing files at all?

Answer 1

Not sure why the other answer was deleted, it was almost right.

I use the terminal command to do this:

cp -n -v '/src'/* '/dest'

cp = Copy

-n = Don't overwrite existing

-v = Verbose output

Answer 2

Without using terminal, you can drag your files from the origin folder (AeroFS Backup) to the destination folder (AeroFS) and when Finder realizes that the same file exists, it will show an alert, asking you what you want it to do. If you press "Option" while looking at that alert, one of the options will change to "Skip" and you can then apply that to all the files that you are dragging over.

I recorded a brief video showing this in action

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Using Terminal, I highly recommend the RSYNC solution:

rsync -av --ignore-existing sourceFolder/ destinationFolder

Answer 3

You can do this in Terminal with a short script:

for file in /source/directory; do $time=date +%s; if [[ -f /target/directory/$file ]]; then cp $file ${file}-${time}; else cp $file /target/directory/$file; fi; done

This will check to see if the file already exists and if it does it will append the time in seconds to the destination filename and copy it over. The advantage this has over just doing a -v verbose or -n no overwrite is that it will ensure there are no multiple duplicates.

Additionally, this has the added advantage that if the filenames are the same but are different in size/content it gives you the opportunity to see the potential dupes and deal with them.

Answer 4

Depending on the version of macOS you're running, you could just select all the files in AeroFS Backup and drag them into the AeroFS folder. When you do you'll get prompted as below:

If you then tick the Apply to ALL checkbox and click on the Keep Both button, you'll merge the files as you want. (In older versions of macOS you may be prompted with the Merge button instead of the Keep Both button). If you don't get either option, try holding the Option key down as you drag the files across.

IMPORTANT - Before doing this with the folders you want, I would create a couple of test folders (or just make copies of the folders you want to merge) and then test this behaviour, as I'm not sure what versions of macOS originally offered this functionality.

Answer 5

Synkron might well do exactly what you want. The price is right. It has plenty of features. I use it to sync from my master folder on Mac over to an NTFS folder on a Raspberry pi HD. It does not go wild copying files that are already there.