Offline File Folder/Subfolder Structure

[vizwhiz]

I recently bought a laptop to use at work, Win XP Pro on board.
I read through how to set up the "offline files" so I could work on my
networked files at home and then sync up again when connected back up at work.
(I had been doing this previously with a flash drive and Briefcase.)

Well, the initial sync worked, set up all the files in an offline file
folder on the desktop, but when I looked at the files, they are in one big
list, no subfolder structure shows...the listing shows that their original
location still is in a subfolder, but it didn't copy the subfolder structure
over (and I DID click the little box that asked if I wanted the subfolders
synced.)

I am a little new to messing around with networked files, and I don't want
to do something that will go back and screw up the files on the network when
I sync up next, so I didn't want to just "try" stuff...

Anyone know how to get the new offline files to mimic the network subfolder
structures? I have a dozen folders and hundreds of subfolders...not like I
can just "rebuild" this myself and put the files in it...

Thanks.

 

[Mark Dormer]

I recently bought a laptop to use at work, Win XP Pro on board.
I read through how to set up the "offline files" so I could work on my
networked files at home and then sync up again when connected back up
at work. (I had been doing this previously with a flash drive and
Briefcase.)

Well, the initial sync worked, set up all the files in an offline file
folder on the desktop, but when I looked at the files, they are in
one big list, no subfolder structure shows...the listing shows that
their original location still is in a subfolder, but it didn't copy
the subfolder structure over (and I DID click the little box that
asked if I wanted the subfolders synced.)

I am a little new to messing around with networked files, and I don't
want
to do something that will go back and screw up the files on the
network when I sync up next, so I didn't want to just "try" stuff...

Anyone know how to get the new offline files to mimic the network
subfolder structures? I have a dozen folders and hundreds of
subfolders...not like I can just "rebuild" this myself and put the
files in it...

Thanks.

The offline files do mimic the structure.

The Shortcut to Offline Files link just shows you a conglomeration of all
offline files in a single virtual folder.
If you happen to edit one of those files when you sync the change will
appear in the coorect place.

If you want to see the structures (for creating newfiles/folders) then;
you browse to the original file paths you will still see the structure.

Depending on how you access the network files you might need to try.

Mapped Drive
just try to browse the drive letter
eg: h:

Arbitrary network files
eg: try to access \\servername\share and you will see it even though you are
not connected and the folder structure will be there.

 

[vizwhiz]

Mark,
Great explanation...thanks. I kinda stumbled upon that working on the
computer at home last night, but it is great to hear the confirmation. There
are lots of things that aren't explained really clearly when you read the
"how to set up..." help files, and that was one of them.

Currently, I am keeping my Briefcase on the laptop and updating it, and the
offline files too, just so I can figure out what I can and can't do with
each, and trying to determine which I really want to use.

Offline files seems really easy, because it is more natural to work in the
same folder structure I use on the network at work, but I ran across a little
"uh-oh" last night when I discovered how to use the folders like normal. I
tried to re-name a subfolder, and it wouldn't let me...told me that it
couldn't be done when offline. That was a surprise - chalk one up for
Briefcase!

I also seemed to lose the network connection several times today at work-
I'm on a laptop using a wireless connection in the office. Well, offline
files jumps right in and tells you that you are not connected but that you
can keep working...that's okay, but then it turned out that I really was
still connected after all...and I had to deal with it trying to synchronize
just because it thought I was disconnected.
So the jury is still out on offline files...any advice would be helpful.

Briefcase has its drawbacks also, but right now I'm still leaning toward old
tried-and-true. Please feel free to offer any insight or tips I may be
overlooking...which is probably most of them! Thanks again.

 

[Mark Dormer]

Mark,
Great explanation...thanks. I kinda stumbled upon that working on the
computer at home last night, but it is great to hear the
confirmation. There are lots of things that aren't explained really
clearly when you read the "how to set up..." help files, and that was
one of them.

Currently, I am keeping my Briefcase on the laptop and updating it,
and the offline files too, just so I can figure out what I can and
can't do with each, and trying to determine which I really want to
use.

Offline files seems really easy, because it is more natural to work
in the same folder structure I use on the network at work, but I ran
across a little "uh-oh" last night when I discovered how to use the
folders like normal. I tried to re-name a subfolder, and it wouldn't
let me...told me that it couldn't be done when offline. That was a
surprise - chalk one up for Briefcase!

I also seemed to lose the network connection several times today at
work- I'm on a laptop using a wireless connection in the office.
Well, offline files jumps right in and tells you that you are not
connected but that you can keep working...that's okay, but then it
turned out that I really was still connected after all...and I had to
deal with it trying to synchronize just because it thought I was
disconnected.
So the jury is still out on offline files...any advice would be
helpful.

Briefcase has its drawbacks also, but right now I'm still leaning
toward old tried-and-true. Please feel free to offer any insight or
tips I may be overlooking...which is probably most of them! Thanks
again.

Personally I avoid using Offline Files on systems under my influence.

Have a look at SyncToy
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...8e0-4ee9-a7c5-98d0592d8c52&displaylang=en&tmm

Or Google FolderSync for some non MS freeware to do similar

 

[vizwhiz]

Mark,
I appreciate your input, but I'm curious as to why you avoid using Offline
Files. Is there a pitfall somewhere down the road that my ignorance of the
subject keeps me from seeing at this point?

I have been using it for a week or two now, and it does appear to handle the
sync-ing of files I want well, as well as allowing me to work more seemlessly
when not connected to the network. As you mentioned, the file system is
there as it is when I'm working on the network, so I don't have to go to
another folder to work with my work files.

I have noticed that when I go back to the office to get on the network, I
have to tell Offline Files that it's okay to connect to the network before I
can connect and access the rest of the mapped drives. That's a minor
inconvenience, but it all still works... Any more advice would be helpful.
Thanks in advance.