Transfer
The Transfer section in TeraCopy's Options tab allows you to customize what data and metadata are transferred during copy operations. You can control these settings separately for files and folders.
Files & Folders
Data
Description: Creates folders and copies files.
Usage:
Checked: Copies files and folders to the destination.
Unchecked (Files): Only the folder structure is copied; files are skipped.
Unchecked (Both): No new folders or files are created; selected attributes apply to existing items on the target.
Timestamps
Description: Preserves original creation and modification dates.
Note: Useful for maintaining the chronological order of files.
Attributes
Description: Retains file attributes like Read-only and Archive flags.
Streams
Description: Preserves alternate data streams (ADS).
Note: Streams will be copied only to file systems that support them (e.g., NTFS).
Security
ACL (Access Control Lists)
Description: Keeps original user permissions and access rights.
Owner
Description: Preserves owner information of files and folders.
Note: Requires administrative rights to function properly.
Audit
Description: Retains audit settings used for tracking access.
Note: Requires administrative rights to function properly.
Important Notes
Copying Only Folder Structure: If you uncheck the Data option for files but leave it checked for folders, TeraCopy will replicate the folder hierarchy without copying any files.
Applying Attributes to Existing Items: Unchecking the Data option for both files and folders means TeraCopy won't copy data or create new folders. Instead, it will apply the selected timestamps, attributes, and streams to existing items at the destination.
Transfer Options
On Filename Collision
Defines how TeraCopy handles file name conflicts during transfers. Refer to the File Replace Dialog for detailed settings.
Hash
Selects the hashing algorithm used for verifying file integrity during transfers or testing.
Number and Size of Buffers
Configures the buffer size for data transfers, affecting memory usage and transfer speed. The number of blocks sets the buffers allocated per thread. Increasing the buffer size can improve performance when copying between high-speed drives, while reducing it can make progress reporting more responsive when using slower networks or devices.
Currently, each file reserves an entire buffer regardless of size. When copying many small files, it's advisable to decrease the buffer size and increase the number of buffers to optimize performance and resource usage.
Threads
Specifies the number of files processed concurrently during transfers. The actual number of threads used by TeraCopy will be higher, structured as follows:
N read threads for reading files and calculating checksums.
N × number of targets for writing threads to handle each target device.
1 thread dedicated to managing file replacements and database updates.
TeraCopy automatically adjusts to a single thread when transferring to slower devices, such as spinning hard drives (HDD), to maintain stability and optimize performance.
Verify Files After Transfer
Verifies the integrity of transferred files to ensure data was copied correctly.
Verify Skipped Files
Provides an option to verify the integrity of files that were skipped during the transfer process.
Test Options
Store/Verify Checksum in ADS
Enables storing checksums in Alternate Data Streams (ADS), allowing file integrity checks without creating separate files. After testing, TeraCopy saves the checksum and file timestamps to the ADS. If the checksum changes in future tests but the timestamp remains unchanged, TeraCopy will display an error, indicating potential data corruption.
On Finish
Export as (HTML | CSV | TXT)
Exports the file list upon task completion. Click the button to configure export options such as file format and operation modes.
Save Checksum File
Automatically saves checksums of transferred files for future verification. You can specify operation modes (copying, testing, etc.).
Run Scripts
Allows automatic execution of PowerShell scripts after the transfer completes. TeraCopy includes these default scripts:
Eject drives.ps1: Ejects connected drives when the transfer is finished.
Notify via IFTTT.ps1: Sends notifications using the IFTTT service.
Notify via Ntfy.ps1: Sends notifications using the Ntfy service.
Right-click on any script to edit its settings.
Buttons
Save as Default
Saves the current configuration as the default for future transfers.
Note: For safety reasons, the On Filename Collision option will always default to Prompt on Filename Collision.
Reset to Default
Restores settings to their original default values.