Can't sync symbolic links, or folders outside my profile (home folder).

[Niklas Rosenqvist]

I just installed the Ubuntu One for Windows beta2 and wanted to backup my local web server. Since I for some reason can't share other files than the ones in my user directory I created a symbolic link to the web server in my user directory. But that just syncs an empty directory.

[Roberto Alsina (ralsina)]

Currently, Ubuntu One doesn't sync anything outside your use directory.

[Helge Willum Thingvad (helgesdk)]

If the web server resides on a local volume, you can create an NTFS junction point instead of a symlink.
DO NOT use junction points on removable media.

e.g.
mklink /J folderLink \path\to\folder

I have just done so on my laptop, and it seems to be working just fine.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NTFS_junction_point

[Niklas Rosenqvist (niklas-s-rosenqvist)]

I solved it by going the other way around. I have the directory containing the websites in my home folder and from there I've symlinked it to the local web server. :)

[Michael Bewley (michael-bewley)]

+1!
Definitely keen for the ability to sync folders outside my home directory (different hard drive) using the Windows client.

[Silas Davis (78luphr0rnk2nuqimstywepozxn9kl19tqh0tx66b5dki1xxsh5mkz9gl21a5rlwfnr8jn6ln0m3jxne2k9x1ohg85w3ja-launchpad-a811i2i3ytqlsztthjth0svbccw8inm65tmkqp9sarr553jq53in4xm1m8wn3o4rlwaer06ogwvqwv9mrqoku2x334n7di)]

No new information but another anti-use case:

My home directory on my windows work network is mapped to a backed-up network location, which is sensible in most respects, but it makes no sense to waste network bandwidth and backup space to store my ubuntu one files there.

I'd be interested to know if there was a rationale behind this restriction since it seems it must have been actively intended by someone...

[Leo Arias (elopio)]

Here is Chipaca's answer on AskUbuntu: http://askubuntu.com/a/51383/61416
It explains why we haven't implemented this feature, and why it is low priority for us.

[Gordon ML (gordonml89)]

Chipaca's answer is entirely irrelevant and translates roughly as "I don't use it, so I don't see the point".

Regarding mount points of removable devices: syncdaemon already is able to detect that a folder is a mount point and then actively refuses to sync it. I don't see why you can't just show a warning about syncing removable drives and then allow the user to ignore it if they wish. The only "usability nightmare" is arbitrary limitations on what can be synced.

The point about folders with special permissions / ownership is nonsense: I could have a folder that I don't own, or one with special permissions or special files in in my home directory if I wanted. And Ubuntu One would cheerfully attempt to sync that. So you haven't solved the problem. Besides, it doesn't really apply to Windows.

In any case, other cloud services seem to have got round this issue. Since you actively detect mount points / symlinks / junction points, this issue could solved tomorrow by not detecting these. Or at least add a checkbox for "allow me to sync folders outside home directory" with a warning saying it is unsupported. I was actually ready to get a subscription and start giving you money but your arbitrary restrictions have prevented this.