Access Identity/User Data Across Network

J

Jeff Friedman

I would like to access my Entourage X data files which are on my desktop
computer from my laptop. No matter what I do though, a new identity always
opens up on the laptop. Is there a way to get at the desktops user data from
the laptop and use it, update it, etc. from the laptop?

Thanks,

Jeff
 
M

Mickey Stevens

If you can connect to the desktop computer directly from your laptop, yes,
it should be possible provided you have Entourage X on both machines. On
the Desktop, quit all Office applications except Entourage, and then go to
Entourage -> Turn Off Office Notifications. Then quit Entourage.

On the laptop computer, connect to the Desktop, and follow this path:
Desktop HD/Users/<Your User>/Documents/Microsoft User Data/Office X
Identities/<Your Identity>/

You can either (a) drag the "<Your Identity>" folder over to the exact same
location on the laptop computer to make a copy, or (b) Command-Option-drag
the "<Your Identity>" folder over to the exact same location on the laptop
computer to make an alias.

The first option (a) will make a copy so that you can make changes on the
laptop and then drag the folder back to the desktop computer when you're
done. The second option (b) accesses the desktop's copy of the database
directly so that you don't need to copy the identity folder back over to the
desktop computer. However, it will only work if you are connected to the
desktop via the network.

When you first open Entourage after copying, your data might not appear. If
that is the case, you need to go to Entourage -> Switch Identity, and
manually select your identity.
 
S

Sam Elowitch

Of course, if one is going to do this frequently, investing a data
synchronization application (like Synchronization X) would probably save
some of your sanity.

You could script to it run whenever your laptop is connected to the network,
copying whichever of the two copies of your User Data (either the desktop's
or the laptop's) is newer to the other's folder, overwriting the old files.
You might find this setup less fussy and less prone to error.
 
D

Diane Ross

Of course, if one is going to do this frequently, investing a data
synchronization application (like Synchronization X) would probably save
some of your sanity.

You could script to it run whenever your laptop is connected to the network,
copying whichever of the two copies of your User Data (either the desktop's
or the laptop's) is newer to the other's folder, overwriting the old files.
You might find this setup less fussy and less prone to error.
Click to expand...

Entourage stores it's data in a database so the entire file has to be
copied. Synchronization applications don't help much in this situation.
 
D

Diane Ross

Which file has to be copied...the db file is copied in a synch?????
Click to expand...

The point is the entire database has to be copied in a synch so there isn't
much benefit from using a synch application. Just copying it over results in
the same thing.
 
S

Sam Elowitch

That's true, but some folks are uneasy copying things manually lest they
goof (like I do). I suppose one could write a simple AppleScript that would
accomplish the same purpose for less money.
 
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