Offline Files cache - automatic vs. manual

[Guest]

Hello,

I'm assisting a user with Offline Files and have read a number of documents
on this but still find the distinction between automatically synced and
manually synced Offline Files confusing.

The scenario here is that the user had corruption in his Offline Files
cache, so we cleared and began rebuilding it as described in MS KB article
230738. He has his My Documents shortcut on the destkop pointing to a network
location where he keeps his important documents (>40 GB worth). After
clearing the cache, we had to recheck the Offline Files box in My
Computer-Folder Options-Offline Files tab. The My Docs shortcut got tthe
little "sync-arrow" icon and "Make Available Offline" is checked but greyed
out, and at that point it started building the cache.

We set the size of the cache at just under 2 GB but it currently sits at
over 8 GB. When you set up Offline Files in this fashion, is that a manual or
an automatic sync? And can I set it so that only certain files on the network
share get synced? Seems like every folder is set for offline use but the Make
Available Offline is greyed out so can't change.

I'd like to advise the user to just grab locally cached copies of the
docs/folders he actually uses offline so as not to fill up the hard drive and
otherwise invite cache corruption, but I want to be sure I understand the
difference when you point My Docs to a network share.

Thanks so much for your insight and help!

 

[frodo]

just 2 cents of "advice":

I have had MUCH TROUBLE over the years supporting users that use the
Offline Files feature. I used to reccommend it, but no longer. There are
just too many gotchas. I especially HATE IT that when a user deletes his
offline copy and then reconnects, it'll delete the "master" copy on the
"server" too, without asking! User's simply have a hard time
understanding that their "local copy" _REALLY_IS_ the file on the server,
and not a true "copy". Also, adding new folders to the share DOES NOT
automatically add those folders to the "offline eligable" list; the user
must connect and mark the new folders as offline-able. I get calls from
users on the road who THINK they have their presentation w/ them, "it was
there this morning", but it's not there when they're not connected to the
network.

Try the new SyncToy; it has more features and its behaviour is easier for
users to get their mind around.