Compare then copy folders from source folder to a target folder.

Scripting Forums AppleScript | Mac OS X
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#1

I have a drive with number sequential job folders that I want to duplicate onto another volume. Here’s the script I’ve got so far trying to copy FOLDERS (containing files) to another folder.

For a sample test I have 2 folders on the desktop : “Source” and “Target”.
Target has folders numbered 1 to 9, Source has folders numbered 10 to 14. The objective being to get the script to copy the folders (and contents) that don’t exist in the Target folder from the Source folder.


set TargetFldr to (choose folder with prompt "Where is the target folder?")
set SourceFldr to (choose folder with prompt "Where is the source folder?")


tell application "Finder"
	set f1Files to name of every folder of folder SourceFldr
	set f2Files to name of every folder of folder TargetFldr
	
	repeat with anItem in f1Files
		if anItem is not in f2Files then
			duplicate anItem to TargetFldr with replacing
		end if
	end repeat
end tell

Currently returning error:
Finder got at error: Can’t set alias “Mac:Users:Matt:Desktop:Target:” to item 1 of {“10”,“11”, “12”,“13”,“14”}.

Is the syntax correct for copying folders? (Lifted from another post)

Thanks in Advance.

Matt

AS: 1.9.3
MacOS: 10.3.9
Mac: G4 933 - 1/160/SD

#2

Hi Matt,

the argument of folder is a path string, but you have an alias.
Use either

set TargetFldr to (choose folder with prompt "Where is the target folder?") as Unicode text
.
tell application "Finder"
	.
	set f2Files to name of every folder of folder TargetFldr

or

set TargetFldr to (choose folder with prompt "Where is the target folder?")
.
tell application "Finder"
	.
	set f2Files to name of every folder of TargetFldr
#3

I cant seem to get this script to work properly, I see the second reply but I cant see how it is different, I keep getting the error “Can’t get folder…” is it a permissions thing?

Please help

#4

More along these lines – you can’t duplicate a file by name – it must be by reference to it.


set TargetFldr to (choose folder with prompt "Where is the target folder?")
set SourceFldr to (choose folder with prompt "Where is the source folder?")

tell application "Finder"
	set f1Files to every folder of folder SourceFldr
	set f2Files to every folder of folder TargetFldr
	set f2Names to name of every folder of folder targetfolder
	
	repeat with k from 1 to count f1Files
		if name of item k of f1Files is not in f2Names then
			duplicate item k of f1Files to TargetFldr 
		end if
	end repeat
end tell