3

I want to rysnc my folder and subfolder tree structure without their files but with a max depth of 3 (/folder1/folder2/folder3) and exclude specific folders (ex. cache/)

I have tried this command:

$ rsync -azv --include=*/ --exclude=* --exclude=cache/ --exclude=/*/*/*/ source/ destination/

but it is not working... it is copying all folders and subfolders; it does not respect the max depth and it is not excluding cache folder

Do it need to use another parameter to restrict the max depth of the rsyc; what is wrong with my existing parameters?

p.s. last time I asked this question, it was tagged as duplicate of Rsync filter: copying one pattern only

It is not as it does not deal with max depth nor deal with rsync directory tree structure only. thx

Community
  • 1
yeahman
  • 143
  • 2
  • 8
  • 1
    It may not be a duplicate...but you need to read that other Q&A more carefully. The most obvious mistake in your command is that you're not single quoting quoting your patterns to avoid shell expansion (e.g. --exclude='/*/*/*/'). – Wildcard Oct 09 '15 at 10:39
  • yup thx the Q&A is quite helpful – yeahman Oct 25 '15 at 08:07

2 Answers2

3

You need to exclude the multi-level pattern before including */ as the latter means "include all directories", overriding the later exclude. You also need to add an extra level as */ indicates a directory and /*/*/*/ hence means "exclude three or more levels.

The command becomes:

rsync -azv --exclude='/*/*/*/*/' --include='*/' --exclude='*' --exclude=cache/ source/ destination/

(as Wildcard already commented you must always quote or escape shell metacharacters.)

wurtel
  • 16,115
  • thx for the answer .. it works fine except that I had to put --exclude=cache/ at the beginning for it to work properly.. I'm not really sure why – yeahman Oct 15 '15 at 19:57
  • Ah yes, the --include='*/' includes any cache directories before they're excluded (which as a result doesn't happen). – wurtel Oct 16 '15 at 07:47
1

To sync two directory trees while respecting the max depth limit of three subdirectories use:

rsync -avz /source/ /destination --exclude "/**/**/**/*" --exclude=cache

This will also exclude the directory called cache anywhere in the source path.

A.P.
  • 1,416
  • 9
  • 11