By default a .duplicacy folder is created in the root of the repository to store configurations, filters, caches and logs. With the -pref-dir option of the init command, this folder can be moved to a different location, but still a .duplicacy file which points to that folder is created in the root of the repository.
It is possible to move the .duplicacy folder to a desired location without creating the .duplicacy file:
- Pick the desired location for the
.duplicacyfolder, this will be your repository root. - In this directory create symlinks to the folders you want to include in your backup. On Unix use
ln -s /path_to/existing_folder /target_folder, on Windowsmklink /D target_folder "C:\path_to\existing_folder\". Note that this is the only way to create a repository that includes multiple drives on Windows. This can also make include/exclude patterns configuration a lot simpler, or even unnecessary. - Execute the
initcommand in this directory and then thebackupcommand. By default Duplicacy will follow the first-level symlinks (those under the root of the repository). Symlinks located under any subdirectories of the repository will be backed up as symlinks and will not be followed.