using briefcase?

J

jim sturtz

i've never messed with trying to use the 'briefcase' to synchronize stuff. just never thot of it i guess.

i have an office xp system and 1 and home.

several folders, ie pics, are often the same files altho sometimes slightly different, and where i store my cardfile of names, addresses.

i have setup batch files & use scheduled tasks to attempt to keep some of these folders in sync, but sometimes my vpn tunnel drops and i may not realize it for a day or so.

it would be handy if i could somehow say to XP, 'hey, see this folder, \\jimhome\pics, and this one here, \\jimoffice\mypics, well they're supposed to really be the same stuff. so if i'm at the office and copy something into mypics, then automatically copy it to \\jimhome\pics or if i'm at home and edit a file in pics, then when its saved go out and update the same file at \\jimoffice\mypics. '

is that somehow possible.

i read the help on creating a briefcase and using a briefcase and it didnt seem like i could do just that.

<<
To synchronize files on connected computers using Briefcase
1.. While the computers are connected, open Briefcase on your portable computer and copy the appropriate files from your main computer. [do i copy stuff from the main computer into the briefcase folder? or just anywhere ]
2.. Work on the files on your portable computer.
3.. When you have finished working on the files, connect the two computers if they were disconnected, open Briefcase on your portable computer, and then do one of the following:
a.. To update all the files, on the Briefcase menu, click Update All. [so assuming the files i see in the current briefcase folder, have a counterpart on another machine, it knows it because it kept a 'tag' of some sort when i copied it into the briefcase folder? so then it goes out and updates back to the originating computer. or do the folders to be sync'd need to be located in the same named briefcase folder on each machine, and if so, then how do i tell the briefcase folder which two machines are involved?]
b.. To update only some of the files, select the files you want to update, and then on the Briefcase menu, click Update Selection.
Notes

a.. When you are using Briefcase to copy files from your main computer to your portable computer, the two computers must be connected, either over a network or by a direct cable connection.
b.. While you are working on your files, the two computers do not need to be connected. when i read this help i dont think i really am seeing how the 2 computers know what to link up.

any help explaining or maybe a good example i can try would help :)

thanks.
 
L

Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]

OT, but I hate briefcase, and I hate offline files - see www.centered.com
for something I think works a lot better (it's cheap, too!)

jim said:
i've never messed with trying to use the 'briefcase' to synchronize
stuff. just never thot of it i guess.

i have an office xp system and 1 and home.

several folders, ie pics, are often the same files altho sometimes
slightly different, and where i store my cardfile of names,
addresses.

i have setup batch files & use scheduled tasks to attempt to keep
some of these folders in sync, but sometimes my vpn tunnel drops and
i may not realize it for a day or so.

it would be handy if i could somehow say to XP, 'hey, see this
folder, \\jimhome\pics, and this one here, \\jimoffice\mypics, well
they're supposed to really be the same stuff. so if i'm at the
office and copy something into mypics, then automatically copy it to
\\jimhome\pics or if i'm at home and edit a file in pics, then when
its saved go out and update the same file at \\jimoffice\mypics. '

is that somehow possible.

i read the help on creating a briefcase and using a briefcase and it
didnt seem like i could do just that.

<<
To synchronize files on connected computers using Briefcase
1.. While the computers are connected, open Briefcase on your
portable computer and copy the appropriate files from your main
computer. [do i copy stuff from the main computer into the briefcase
folder? or just anywhere ]
2.. Work on the files on your portable computer.
3.. When you have finished working on the files, connect the two
computers if they were disconnected, open Briefcase on your portable
computer, and then do one of the following:
a.. To update all the files, on the Briefcase menu, click Update
All. [so assuming the files i see in the current briefcase folder,
have a counterpart on another machine, it knows it because it kept a
'tag' of some sort when i copied it into the briefcase folder? so
then it goes out and updates back to the originating computer. or do
the folders to be sync'd need to be located in the same named
briefcase folder on each machine, and if so, then how do i tell the
briefcase folder which two machines are involved?]
b.. To update only some of the files, select the files you want
to update, and then on the Briefcase menu, click Update Selection.
Notes

a.. When you are using Briefcase to copy files from your main
computer to your portable computer, the two computers must be
connected, either over a network or by a direct cable connection.
b.. While you are working on your files, the two computers do not
need to be connected.when i read this help i dont think i really am seeing how the 2
computers know what to link up.

any help explaining or maybe a good example i can try would help :)

thanks.
 
J

jim sturtz

ill look at it, thanks. jim

"Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]"
OT, but I hate briefcase, and I hate offline files - see www.centered.com
for something I think works a lot better (it's cheap, too!)

jim said:
i've never messed with trying to use the 'briefcase' to synchronize
stuff. just never thot of it i guess.

i have an office xp system and 1 and home.

several folders, ie pics, are often the same files altho sometimes
slightly different, and where i store my cardfile of names,
addresses.

i have setup batch files & use scheduled tasks to attempt to keep
some of these folders in sync, but sometimes my vpn tunnel drops and
i may not realize it for a day or so.

it would be handy if i could somehow say to XP, 'hey, see this
folder, \\jimhome\pics, and this one here, \\jimoffice\mypics, well
they're supposed to really be the same stuff. so if i'm at the
office and copy something into mypics, then automatically copy it to
\\jimhome\pics or if i'm at home and edit a file in pics, then when
its saved go out and update the same file at \\jimoffice\mypics. '

is that somehow possible.

i read the help on creating a briefcase and using a briefcase and it
didnt seem like i could do just that.

<<
To synchronize files on connected computers using Briefcase
1.. While the computers are connected, open Briefcase on your
portable computer and copy the appropriate files from your main
computer. [do i copy stuff from the main computer into the briefcase
folder? or just anywhere ]
2.. Work on the files on your portable computer.
3.. When you have finished working on the files, connect the two
computers if they were disconnected, open Briefcase on your portable
computer, and then do one of the following:
a.. To update all the files, on the Briefcase menu, click Update
All. [so assuming the files i see in the current briefcase folder,
have a counterpart on another machine, it knows it because it kept a
'tag' of some sort when i copied it into the briefcase folder? so
then it goes out and updates back to the originating computer. or do
the folders to be sync'd need to be located in the same named
briefcase folder on each machine, and if so, then how do i tell the
briefcase folder which two machines are involved?]
b.. To update only some of the files, select the files you want
to update, and then on the Briefcase menu, click Update Selection.
Notes

a.. When you are using Briefcase to copy files from your main
computer to your portable computer, the two computers must be
connected, either over a network or by a direct cable connection.
b.. While you are working on your files, the two computers do not
need to be connected.when i read this help i dont think i really am seeing how the 2
computers know what to link up.

any help explaining or maybe a good example i can try would help :)

thanks.
 

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