Ignore File Rules for Content Management Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Content management systems lack an efficient method for users to designate objects that should not be synchronized to the server, forcing users to store such objects outside synchronized directories, which is inconvenient for organized file management.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an ignore file that establishes rules for objects to be excluded from synchronization based on any attribute, allowing dynamic and persistent application of these rules to ensure objects are not synchronized, even if added to a synchronized directory.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users store objects outside synchronized directories to exclude them from synchronization, then synchronization control is achieved, but file organization convenience deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an ignore file as an intermediary mechanism that mediates between the user's file organization needs and the synchronization system's control requirements. The ignore file contains rules that automatically identify which objects should be excluded from synchronization, eliminating the need for users to manually place objects outside synchronized directories while maintaining both organization convenience and synchronization control.
2Reliability
If all objects in a synchronized directory are synchronized to the server, then data backup completeness is improved, but storage efficiency deteriorates due to unnecessary synchronization of objects users don't want to backup
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by enabling different synchronization behaviors for different objects within the same synchronized directory. Instead of uniformly synchronizing all objects, the system evaluates each object against rules in the ignore file and applies synchronization only to objects that match the criteria, thereby maintaining backup completeness for needed objects while avoiding unnecessary storage of unwanted objects.
3Measurement precision
If users manually manage which objects to exclude from synchronization, then synchronization precision is improved, but time consumption deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having users pre-define exclusion rules in the ignore file based on object attributes such as file extensions, patterns, or other characteristics. These rules are established in advance and automatically applied to all objects in the synchronized directory, eliminating the need for users to manually evaluate and select each object for exclusion, thereby maintaining synchronization precision while significantly reducing time consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques and systems are provided for utilizing an ignore file in a content management system. For example, a process can detect an ignore file stored in a synchronized directory of a client device. The process can access the ignore file and interpret rules stored therein that prohibit any objects matching the rule from being synchronized with a content management server. During indexing of a synchronized directory, the process can apply the rules from the ignore file and mark objects that match a rule in the ignore file by writing an attribute to the object that identifies it as an ignored object that is exempt from synchronization with the content management server.