How do I share & update a file under Vista ?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Gene
  • Start date Start date
G

Gene

Good day.

I have a desktop PC running Windows Vista Home Premium.
I have a notebook PC running Windows Vista Home Basic.
I have a Wireless-G Broadband Router Wi-Fi so the notebook
can be used anywhere in the house.

I want "ONE" text or Word 2002 document that contains a simple
name & address list.

I want "both" PCs to access the "same" file.
When I add, edit, or delete an entry to this file on one PC, then I want the
other PC to "automatically" reflect the change. Or at least reflect the
changes
when one of the PCs saves the file.

The problem I have now is that I have ended up with a Word 2002 doc that
is not the "same" on both PCs. I have to keep messing with two documents
with
the same name - otherwise, they will not be identical.

Assuming that there is a way to use the Wi-Fi & share one common file on one
of the PCs, what do I do when I'm on the road? Just wait until I return
home & let
the system sync somehow?

Note: I "DO NOT" want to add another routine that runs in the background
of the Vistas.

THANKS,
Gene
 
On the PC create a Share folder for the file.
Save it there.

On the Laptop map a network drive to the share.
Open from the share.

The only problem is that if both clients have the file
open a save by the other client could cause problems.

Unless the application supports multi users.

Good Luck
 
Robert Martin said:
On the PC create a Share folder for the file.
Save it there.

On the Laptop map a network drive to the share.
Open from the share.

The only problem is that if both clients have the file
open a save by the other client could cause problems.
Click to expand...
Actually this works as one would expect. With MS Word, at least, if the
file is open and another Word application, from another machine tries to
access this same file, the second application gets a message that the file
is open by another user. The first user can make all the changes without
being disturbed by the second. When the first users closes the file, it is
then available for the second to open. IOW the record locking works just
fine. Also, IOW, don't expect two users to be able to make changes to the
same file at the same time. This is not a technical problem. It's and
operational one and chaiotic. regards, Bob
 
THANKS.

I have not tried your suggestions yet, need to read up
on how to do it first. If anyone has a link to the instructions,
please post the URL in this thread - THANKS.


Questions:

Is there only "one" file in the Share folder on the desktop PC
that both PCs access - or are there two files with same name,
one being on each machine?

If there is just one file in a Share folder on the desktop PC,
then what do I do when I have the notebook on the road -
away from my local Wi-Fi setup? Would it make more sense
to have the one file in a Share folder on the notebook, and let
the desktop PC go to the notebook for a copy of the file?
I am the only person that accesses this specific file, so it really
needs to be in the notebook so I will have it on the road.


THANKS,
Gene
 
Questions:
Is there only "one" file in the Share folder on the desktop PC
that both PCs access - or are there two files with same name,
one being on each machine?

If there is just one file in a Share folder on the desktop PC,
then what do I do when I have the notebook on the road -
away from my local Wi-Fi setup? Would it make more sense
to have the one file in a Share folder on the notebook, and let
the desktop PC go to the notebook for a copy of the file?
I am the only person that accesses this specific file, so it really
needs to be in the notebook so I will have it on the road.
Click to expand...

It would be helpful to know exactly how you want the system to behave? For
example, is this a "boiler plate" starting file where you want everyone to
start from the same point, or is this access to a working document where
multiple people are making changes to the same document (but at different
times)? Bob F.
 
Have you considered Vista's "Sync Center"?


Bob F. said:
Actually this works as one would expect. With MS Word, at least, if the
file is open and another Word application, from another machine tries to
access this same file, the second application gets a message that the file
is open by another user. The first user can make all the changes without
being disturbed by the second. When the first users closes the file, it
is then available for the second to open. IOW the record locking works
just fine. Also, IOW, don't expect two users to be able to make changes
to the same file at the same time. This is not a technical problem. It's
and operational one and chaiotic. regards, Bob
Click to expand...
 
Thanks, Bob.

It's just a simple little list of name & addresses that I
have been keeping in a Word 2002 document. There
was never a problem as long as we only had the desktop
PC. Now that we have the notebook linked via a wifi - it
would be nice to have just one copy of NandA.doc so that
I can modify and use the SAME file whether I'm using the
notebook, or the desktop. I guess the "home" location of
NandA.doc would have to reside on the notebook, else it
would not be accessible when I'm traveling. I'm just
not sure how to set it up per above?

Thanks,
Gene
 
You might want to look into Microsoft OneNote.
You can open a notebook on a network share and a copy will be kept on the
remote computer that opened the notebook.
Changes will sync.
If you had Vista Business or Ultimate (or Windows XP pro) you could use the
off line feature for any file, but that would require you to update at least
one of your computers to the more expensive Vista version.
 
I just read the page - THANKS.
It looks like the exact solution I envisioned.
Because of my versions of Vista, I can't use the network
options, but that probably will not be a problem for me.

Wonder if I can use the Sync Center to keep Windows Live Mail
in sync between my notebook & desktop via Wi-Fi ?

Anyone using Sync Center to keep contact lists, "Sent items"
folders, spell checker entries, etc. in sync?

THANKS,
Gene
 
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