Local symbolic links should resolve file properties

FlashFXP displays local symlinks as 0 byte files with a modified time equal to the creation time of the link, thereby disrupting "Compare Folder Content" functionality. It would be far more desirable if links were resolved to the original file's size and timestamp.

For debugging purposes, symlinks can easily be created with Link Shell Extension.

When you are working on a remote site and want to note if something is a link or not? You wouldn't know if you would just show the target information.

FlashFXP should offer an option like it is currently doing for sorting in file browser (Group symbolic link folder...).

If you don't want to see links as links, enable an option like "Resolve symlink targets" (not sure if you can do this in all the protocols). But if you want to see links as links, you still can...

Originally Posted by FlashFXP Fan

It would be far more desirable if links were resolved to the original file's size and timestamp.

Local (soft) symbolic links are transferred as-is (a regular file) and not as the target, if we reported the size/date of the target file this would result in an incorrect logic when uploading a .lnk file, the size/date would never match the real size/date of the .lnk file and it would not produce a consistent result.

Simply put we cannot change just the size/date displayed for .lnk files without changing the way we treat link files all together, so that transferring a .lnk file would transfer the target of the .lnk and not the .lnk shortcut file.

To do this would require a new setting to adjust the behavior, a per-site and global setting.

I am not sure if such a feature would ever be added to FlashFXP.

One alternative to using symbolic links might be to use hard links or junction points instead.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa365006%28v=vs.85%29.aspx

FlashFXP has a setting that is Follow symbolic links recursively which is great.

TO enable it do:

1. F6
2. Transfer > Options > Advanced
3. check [x] Follow symbolic links recursively
4. Click apply.

Restart FlashFXP to ensure setting is being used.

that works very well and maybe helps your "problem".

I dont agree entirely that NOT enhancing the way FlashFXP handles some symlinks could ever make it as a feature in FlashFXP, some other clients handle symlinks in other ways, but none are as complete as FlashFXP is in features and granular and detailed control in most cases.

I would agree, that are more important things to add to FlashFXP in future and that this particular featur,e may be less important than other features, however historically, FlashFXP is a always in development Program, and many other competing programs only wish they were as consistent and as developed as FlashFXP.

All that to say dont loose hope. In meanwhile there are bigger fish to fry.

After double checking this I have come to realize that this setting is poorly written, in that this setting only applies to remote servers, I do not believe it has any effect on machine local symbolic links.

Yes some settings need clarifying for sure, but ya good to know in meanwhile.