How to copy modified files to another folder

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Moderator: Mr_Noodle

I am relatively new to Hazel and what did was set up a rule for Hazel to copy files from a monitored folder to a backup folder. Now I want to do the same thing if the same files is modified in any way. I thought it should be easy using some combination of date modified and date last matched but it only works one time and then not again. The only thing I can think of is that "date" really means date and not "date and time."

Am I missing something?
Steven Miller
 
Posts: 1
Joined: Sun Apr 27, 2014 10:06 am

Can you post the exact condition you are using? Date last modified is after date last matched should work. If it doesn't then maybe your file's date modified is not being updated?
Mr_Noodle
Site Admin
 
Posts: 11875
Joined: Sun Sep 03, 2006 1:30 am
Location: New York City

Hi,

I am a new user to Hazel (not the one who created this thread). My question is exactly the same.

Here is what I am trying to do. I did two Yosemite clean installs last week.
Now, I have to set all my apps settings... again. Two times, because I have two macs.

Plus, I am interested in backing up different versions of my applications settings files.
In other words, for each application, I want to create a copy of a plist file every time this plist file is modified.

I tested this idea by creating a rule that says "copy" to "Downloads" if all the following conditions are met => "if"
"date last modified" "is after" "date last matched".

The problem are the default options attached to this condition. They say if file already exists -> rename the file/replace the existing file/Do not copy the file. I do not want to rename/replace the file. I want to create a new file. How can I do that if this is possible?

Plus, will a copy of a new file will be created if the original file is modified more than one time during one minute?

Thank you.
politicus
 
Posts: 1
Joined: Thu Dec 11, 2014 12:44 pm

Probably a different thread is needed here since this isn't quite related. If you want a new file instead of replacing the existing one, you can either use the option to rename it (which will add a number) or rename it first using whatever scheme you want, like adding a date. You might need to copy it to an intermediary place though.

As for your last question, it should but I'd test it out. Also, keep in mind that in recent versions of OS X, preferences are cached in the cprefsd process, so the files may not be written to for a while even though you changed a preference.
Mr_Noodle
Site Admin
 
Posts: 11875
Joined: Sun Sep 03, 2006 1:30 am
Location: New York City


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