Android SD and PC wired folder sync – How?

[DejanN]

If someone knows how to sync folders with Android smart phone SD card WIRED way, please help me.
In Dolphin I can access Android's SD card through MTP and copy, rename, delete, move files/folders (and this is working very well).
Since synchronizing folders is not any different from copy, delete and rename, I'm wandering is there an add-on for Dolphin or some other script/program that would sync folders on MTP devices?


I connect Android 4.1 via USB, I'm on KDE 4.14 and 3.16.0-18 kernel, if that matters.
Thanks in advance

[oshunluvr]

KDE Connect might have what you want. There's MultiSync for Gnome and KitchenSync for KDE but I think KitchenSync has been abandoned.

If you describe more specifically what you're trying to do you might get some other suggestions.

[mbohets]

Krusader file manager has sync tools

[DejanN]

Thank You for helping a newbie.


@mbohets
Problem with MTP is that it doesn't assign drive letters to MTP devices (thanks, Google!). Therefore I believe Krusader (or any other file manager) wouldn't be able to sync folders BEFORE Android is mounted.
@oshunluvr
Haven't tried KDE Connect, but I'm sure it is great because it is a brilliant idea.
But since it works through network (via WiFi) and I am looking for WIRED sync through USB, as mentioned in question, It doesn't solve my problem.


Problem is in MTP and mtpfs that came with my Utopic doesn't work for me.
Problem solved thanks to jmtpfs by Jason Ferrara and Ubuntu guys for putting the package in the repos.
I believe jmtps should be the default MTP file system for Kubuntu.

[mbohets]

In Linux there is no such thing as a drive letter, that is a windows drive naming convention.
When you connect your Android device to a linux PC, it either gets mounted automatically as a subdirectory of the /media or /mnt directories,
or you mount it manually anywhere you like in the linux filesystem.

Once it is mounted, there are plenty of file synchronisation tools you can use to sync the contents of your Android sd card with a directory on your pc.
You will not have access to your device unless it is mounted. Mounting a drive means making it accessible to the operating system for normal read/write operations.

It is possible to start an action automatically when a device is mounted, but I never did such a thing myself so I cannot help you with that.

[woodsmoke]

KDE connect is a wonder ..............use it form my android all the time...........

An example of what wonders can be accomplished "within the Linux ecosystem"..........

and also....... control Amarok from my phone in the other room! lol

woodsmoke

[DejanN]

Thanks for helping a newbie

In Linux there is no such thing as a drive letter, that is a windows drive naming convention.

Thank You for correcting me. It is Windows talk indeed; told You I am Linux newbie :-).

When you connect your Android device to a linux PC, it either gets mounted automatically as a subdirectory of the /media or /mnt directories,

Sadly, that is not the case, otherwise we wouldn't have this "conversation". It's sad because MTP problem is couple of years around.
Device notifier offers "mount this device" option but it's not functional. Location bar in Dolphin shows path; mtp:/DeviceName/.
If You do know location of that directory or subdirectory, please share.

You will not have access to your device unless it is mounted. Mounting a drive means making it accessible to the operating system for normal read/write operations.

Again, if You know where in directory structure MTP devices are automatically mounted, please do share that information. Phone folders and files appear in Dolphin only, but rename option is not available. At least on 14.04 and 14.10.

...or you mount it manually anywhere you like in the linux filesystem

Yes, that is what I did, eventually, and that is why this thread is marked solved,
But I couldn't do it without jmtpfs by Jason Ferrara. I hope this info would help some other newbie.
And finally, I believe someone can easily code that mount option (that I did manually) to Device Notifier.
Not because I'm lazy, but because I want Kubuntu to “live long and prosper”.

[mbohets]

Well, to my shame, I must admit that my info is outdated.
On my old android phone there was a setting to switch from mtp to usb access.
If I put it to usb, the phone just automounts.

I now connected a new Samsung galaxy mini s4, and oops I don't find this mtp-usb setting anymore.
I can copy files back and forth via Dolphin
Path = mtp:/Marc Bohets (GT-I9195)/Phone/
but it is indeed not a real mount because I cannot open files directly from other applications like Libreoffice or Krusader.

[DejanN]

Well, to my shame, I must admit that my info is outdated.

There is no shame in helping and sharing info, and thank You for that.
I believe that Android support in Kubuntu could be better, but Google is pushing (no good) MTP.
User interest for this problem is slim, and it's easy for me to mount it in console, so problem is solved.