rsync --force option not working?

rknichols · 07-12-2016, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dickster2

OK, then what options allow me I do this: rsync -apu --stats --delete-during --modify-window=2 dir /Volumes/disk
where "dir' already exists at /Volumes/disk BUT that target "dir" contains obsolete directories that are no longer defined in the source "dir"? Some of those obsolete directories are empty, and others are NOT empty. I want ALL obsolete directories, and their contents, to be deleted.

Just like you wrote it. When I try a command like that, it does just what you say you wanted.

Code:

$ rsync -apuv --delete-during dir1 destVol
sending incremental file list
dir1/
deleting dir1/ghi/
deleting dir1/def/def1
deleting dir1/def/
deleting dir1/abc/

Directories "abc/", "def/", and "ghi/" were present in destVol/, not in the source directory. Destination directory "destVol/def/" contained a file "def1". All were deleted.

Dickster2 · 07-12-2016, 09:18 PM

As soon as I posted it, I tried it, and it does (indeed) delete obsolete directories. The reason I didn't believe that was from other posts that claimed they couldn't delete non-empty directories, only the empty variety. I must have missed some "dir/*" type of case. My whole concern about this is work-related, and "rsync between two machines is failing to delete stuff. My only problem is that I don't have access to the rsync commands. I suspect those who do have access aren't using --delete option properly, or are specifying dir/* types of sources. I'll ask them about it.

Thanks for your responses. It has helped me a lot.