file synch software

  • Thread starter Thread starter brett.shand
  • Start date Start date
B

brett.shand

Hi

I've been looking round for a piece of software which will allow a very
small number of files to be kept in synch over three Windows boxes (one
each of XP, 2000 and 98) at three separate physical locations all
connected by DSL.

It needs to be simple because two of the people are quite nontechnical
and it needs to be secure because the files contain sensitive
information.

It is not possible to run multiple instances of the file(s), so as one
user is using the file(s) the other(s) must be locked out.

I don't need any other collaborative/synchronisation tools at all, just
the capacity to sync these few files.
 
Hi

I've been looking round for a piece of software which will allow a very
small number of files to be kept in synch over three Windows boxes (one
each of XP, 2000 and 98) at three separate physical locations all
connected by DSL.

It needs to be simple because two of the people are quite nontechnical
and it needs to be secure because the files contain sensitive
information.

It is not possible to run multiple instances of the file(s), so as one
user is using the file(s) the other(s) must be locked out.
Click to expand...
Hmmm, that's quite a shopping list you have there. Are the files text
files or binary files? Does one box contain the master file whilst the
other contain just copies, or can each of them change the files?
 
Mark said:
Hmmm, that's quite a shopping list you have there. Are the files text
files or binary files? Does one box contain the master file whilst the
other contain just copies, or can each of them change the files?
Click to expand...

Yes, I agree it's a long and maybe unrealistic list of wants/needs. The
files are executables and each box can and will have to change the
files. The files are stand-alone FoxPro programmes, they are clunky
dogs, but they are what I have to work with and to be fair they do the
job they were designed to do. More or less :)

I'm beginning to think the best way would be to get a cgi script
written and use an ftp server.
 
Hi

I've been looking round for a piece of software which will allow a very
small number of files to be kept in synch over three Windows boxes (one
each of XP, 2000 and 98) at three separate physical locations all
connected by DSL.

It needs to be simple because two of the people are quite nontechnical
and it needs to be secure because the files contain sensitive
information.

It is not possible to run multiple instances of the file(s), so as one
user is using the file(s) the other(s) must be locked out.

I don't need any other collaborative/synchronisation tools at all, just
the capacity to sync these few files.
Click to expand...

You could try Foldershare http://www.foldershare.com

MW
 
Hi

I've been looking round for a piece of software which will allow a very
small number of files to be kept in synch over three Windows boxes (one
each of XP, 2000 and 98) at three separate physical locations all
connected by DSL.

It needs to be simple because two of the people are quite nontechnical
and it needs to be secure because the files contain sensitive
information.

It is not possible to run multiple instances of the file(s), so as one
user is using the file(s) the other(s) must be locked out.

I don't need any other collaborative/synchronisation tools at all, just
the capacity to sync these few files.
Click to expand...

Dang, Brett;

Nice, tight requirements. The only problem I keep stumbling over is
end-user experience. Short of that though, have you considered using a
versioning system such as cvs or subversion? Whatever you come up with,
please let us know.

-Craig
 
Thanks martyn I looked at it already, but it seemsa it runs only on XP
and W2K. Part of the frustration!
 
Yes Craig, it does have to be straight-forward. The others are not
fools at all, just very little experience.

I know subversion by name that's all, I have no experience with it. It
is certainly much more than I need but that's not necessarily a
problem, but that it's all command line at the client end (do I have
that right?) I think will be.

This is strange. This must surely be a very common problem and yet
there seems to be no solution. Anyone want to make a million bucks? :-)

I think the solution will have to be an sftp site and a small cgi
script.

Thanks everyone for your thoughts.
 
Thanks martyn I looked at it already, but it seemsa it runs only on XP
and W2K. Part of the frustration!
Click to expand...

Yes, and Macs. I use it to sync my Mac and two PCs. Saved me the cost
of .Mac

Pity about the Win 98 machine - no chance of upgrading, I take it?
 
Martyn said:
Pity about the Win 98 machine - no chance of upgrading, I take it?
Click to expand...

There is a new XP machine coming I believe which will replace the Win98
box. I think that I'm just going to have to cart the files round on
flash drive for a while. Sigh :)

Unless I can persuade my son to write the cgi script. Blackmail and/or
bribery is on the horizon I think.
 
Mark Carter wrote:




Yes, I agree it's a long and maybe unrealistic list of wants/needs. The
files are executables and each box can and will have to change the
files. The files are stand-alone FoxPro programmes, they are clunky
dogs, but they are what I have to work with and to be fair they do the
job they were designed to do. More or less :)
Click to expand...

AHA. In that case, it appears that you have problems.
I'm beginning to think the best way would be to get a cgi script
written and use an ftp server.
Click to expand...

If you have an ftp server, then it would be simpler to ditch cgi
scripts, and just use ftp.

Also, can't you jsut keep the files in one place, and then execute them
from a different machine? If I had an Access database, for instance, I
could keep it on a server, but I could "open it up" on any machine
connected to the server.
 
Yes Mark, I can use an sftp server but the problem is keeping it locked
if another user is using it.

Oh! Actually it occurs to me at this moment that if each user actually
downloaded the entire file and ran it locally then it wouldn't be there
for other users to alter until it was loaded back up to the sftp server
would it? That might be a good temporary solution. Duh Brett! :-)

I was going to use a cgi script to lock the file on the server while it
was in use.

Thanks again everyone.
 
Oh! Actually it occurs to me at this moment that if each user actually
downloaded the entire file and ran it locally then it wouldn't be there
for other users to alter until it was loaded back up to the sftp server
would it? That might be a good temporary solution. Duh Brett! :-)
Click to expand...

Maybe if they actually move the files from the server if they want to
use it, it would work. Bear in mind that you did say that 2 of the users
were non-technical. That will probably mean that the whole idea of
"locking" and "control" will go out the window in a short space of time,
assuming it ever makes it through the front door in the first place.
Hell, I've met programmers (who admittedly probably wouldn't be ranked
as being amongst the finest practitioners of their profession) who
seemed to have difficulties with the whole raison d'etre of version
control mechanisms.
 
Back
Top