Post by Derek L on Jul 21, 2007 10:12:15 GMT -6
Q. I work on the same files on my work computer and home computer. I want to synchronize the files using a thumb drive. And I want to be sure I’m always working with current files. Is there software that will synchronize the files automatically? Does Microsoft still have Briefcase?
A. Keeping files synchronized trips up a lot of people. More-or-less automatic synchronizations are wonderful.
Briefcase is still available in Windows XP and Vista. It was written for Windows XP, but applies equally to Vista.
The Briefcase is handy. But Microsoft offers a much more powerful program for synchronizing files. It’s called SyncToy. You can download it for free. www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=E0FC1154-C975-4814-9649-CCE41AF06EB7&displaylang=en
Once you install the program, you set up folder pairs. The program will let you set up many paired folders. You synchronize all the paired folders within the same window. This is easier than managing multiple instances of the Briefcase.
To get started, open the program and click Create New Folder Pair. Then, specify left and right folders. Depending how you want to set up the synchronization options, this might not matter.
Next, choose your options. They are:
Synchronize—New and updated files are copied between the folders. Files can be renamed or deleted. Renames and deletions also work both ways.
Echo—New and updated files are copied left to right. Renames and deletions also work from left to right.
Subscribe—Updated files are copied right to left.
Contribute—New and updated files are copied left to right. Renames also work left to right. There are no deletions.
Combine—New and updated files are copied both ways. There are no renames or deletions.
After you specify your options, name the folder pair. The name of the folder pair will appear in the left side of the window.
To start the synchronization process, select a pairing and click Run. Synchronize all folder pairs by selecting All Folder Pairs and clicking Run All.
A folder can be part of more than one pairing. If a folder is part of multiple pairs, do not synchronize all pairings at once. The folders won’t synchronize properly.
You can also specify advanced options for a pairing. Select the folder pairing in the left side of the window. Click Change Options.
You can list the file types you would like to include in the synchronization. And you can include or omit subfolders. When you’re done, click OK.
SyncToy also has another great feature: a preview. With your folder pair selected, click Preview. You’ll see a list of changes that will occur when you click Run. You can filter the list by operation. For example, you can see files that will be deleted or overwritten.
The preview also lets you prevent certain operations from running. Simply deactivate an operation by deselecting Active. If you want the operation to run later, you’ll need to go into the preview and select it.
Start by pairing folders on one computer and the thumb drive. Then, pair folders on the thumb drive and the other computer. It sounds like you want a pure synchronization. That way, you’ll have the same files on both computers.
The thumb drive will also have the most recent files. That is, provided you continue synchronizing regularly.
Now, there is one situation you should watch for with SyncToy. You will probably lose changes if you update files on both computers between synchronizing. If you update a file on the work computer, synchronize the file with your thumb drive. Then, synchronize the thumb drive with the home computer before working on the file again.
A. Keeping files synchronized trips up a lot of people. More-or-less automatic synchronizations are wonderful.
Briefcase is still available in Windows XP and Vista. It was written for Windows XP, but applies equally to Vista.
The Briefcase is handy. But Microsoft offers a much more powerful program for synchronizing files. It’s called SyncToy. You can download it for free. www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=E0FC1154-C975-4814-9649-CCE41AF06EB7&displaylang=en
Once you install the program, you set up folder pairs. The program will let you set up many paired folders. You synchronize all the paired folders within the same window. This is easier than managing multiple instances of the Briefcase.
To get started, open the program and click Create New Folder Pair. Then, specify left and right folders. Depending how you want to set up the synchronization options, this might not matter.
Next, choose your options. They are:
Synchronize—New and updated files are copied between the folders. Files can be renamed or deleted. Renames and deletions also work both ways.
Echo—New and updated files are copied left to right. Renames and deletions also work from left to right.
Subscribe—Updated files are copied right to left.
Contribute—New and updated files are copied left to right. Renames also work left to right. There are no deletions.
Combine—New and updated files are copied both ways. There are no renames or deletions.
After you specify your options, name the folder pair. The name of the folder pair will appear in the left side of the window.
To start the synchronization process, select a pairing and click Run. Synchronize all folder pairs by selecting All Folder Pairs and clicking Run All.
A folder can be part of more than one pairing. If a folder is part of multiple pairs, do not synchronize all pairings at once. The folders won’t synchronize properly.
You can also specify advanced options for a pairing. Select the folder pairing in the left side of the window. Click Change Options.
You can list the file types you would like to include in the synchronization. And you can include or omit subfolders. When you’re done, click OK.
SyncToy also has another great feature: a preview. With your folder pair selected, click Preview. You’ll see a list of changes that will occur when you click Run. You can filter the list by operation. For example, you can see files that will be deleted or overwritten.
The preview also lets you prevent certain operations from running. Simply deactivate an operation by deselecting Active. If you want the operation to run later, you’ll need to go into the preview and select it.
Start by pairing folders on one computer and the thumb drive. Then, pair folders on the thumb drive and the other computer. It sounds like you want a pure synchronization. That way, you’ll have the same files on both computers.
The thumb drive will also have the most recent files. That is, provided you continue synchronizing regularly.
Now, there is one situation you should watch for with SyncToy. You will probably lose changes if you update files on both computers between synchronizing. If you update a file on the work computer, synchronize the file with your thumb drive. Then, synchronize the thumb drive with the home computer before working on the file again.