how do i merge the MS OneNote files on my home and work PCs?

J

Johan

I use onenote on both my work pc and on my home pc. at both locations i
insert various different items into on enote. I would like to merge/sync the
two onenote data bases every few days so that i have access to my work notes
at home and vice versa. Is there any way this can be done?
 
P

Patrick Schmid

Hi Johan,

you can sync your notes using Windows Offline Files, if you can establish a
network connection between the two computers (e.g. using a VPN):
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=831596
However, this requires a strict discipline on your part to not work in the
same section on both PCs at the same time (meaning without syncing first).
OneNote 2003 does not support the ability to merge changes made in the same
sections. For that ability, you will have to wait for OneNote 2007.

Patrick Schmid
 
J

Johan

The two computrs cannot be "linked" (no network access at home). I want to
carry the onenote data base from one PC to the other on a memory stick, then
"update" the "resident" data base with all changes brought from the "remote"
data base, and vice versa.
 
J

Johan

Hi Chris, Thanks for this. It is a great tool (which I do use) but I think I
may want the "impossible"? If I have a Movies.One at home and I have a
Movies.One at work, and I add a movie review (A) to one Movies.One and
another movie review (B) to the other Movies.One, I want to end up with the
two movie reviews - after synchronising - in both Movies.One files! So,
almost combine the content of individual files, not just add new files.
Cheers,
Johan
 
E

exciter

You dont need a sync tool,
I dont undertand why a syn toll would be adviced if one can do the sync
without it.
I exactly do everyday what u want to do.
I have a memory stick and use this same stick both at work and at home.
the only thing you havre to do is to direct ON to the usb directory on both
computers.
this is done thorugh tools>options>open and save.
there you specify the folder directory ON has to check.
Thats al!!!
No syn tool, nothing...
just a memory stick and you are the happiest.
 
P

Patrick Schmid

In OneNote 2003, you have either a sync tool as option or what exciter
suggests: save all ON sections on a USB stick and work off of that. The
downside of the USB stick method of course is that you don't have a copy on
either PC.
ON 2003 does not support the kind of merging you are asking for. Therefore
you really only have the option of using the same file: you either sync two
local copies it using the tool, or you store it in only one portable
location (USB stick).
ON 2007 does offer exactly what you are asking for. It can do the kind of
merging you are asking for. To see how that works with a USB stick, you'll
have to wait for the public beta.

Patrick
 
J

Johan

Thanks guys, for now I will probably go the USB memory stick route, but can't
wait for 2007! Patrick, how do I get my name "on the list" to be part of the
public beta testing?
Johan
 
A

Andrew Watt [MVP]

Johan,

Make sure that you make backups which are not on the memory stick. It
would be disastrous if all your information was on a memory stick
which you lost or which failed!

Andrew Watt MVP
 
J

Johan

Thanks everyone.
Johan

Andrew Watt said:
Johan,

Make sure that you make backups which are not on the memory stick. It
would be disastrous if all your information was on a memory stick
which you lost or which failed!

Andrew Watt MVP
Click to expand...
 
C

Chris H.

Others have offered suggestions already, but you can't "merge" or augment
existing files. Even in Word, if the more powerful tools it has, there is a
"master" copy of the file people are working on (even jointly) and saved
versions. The only way in your specific case would be to replicate the
latest (most current) file from one system to the other. :cool:
--
Chris H.
Microsoft Windows MVP/Tablet PC
Tablet Creations - http://nicecreations.us/
Associate Expert
Expert Zone -
 
K

Kathy Jacobs

Johan,
A little known fact - you can only do so many writes to a memory stick
before they "wear out". While the number of write/erase cycles is upwards of
a million now (much better than the earlier drives), this is still a
consideration. Remember that OneNote will write to your drive several times
a second. For more information on this, see this entry in the WikiPedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keydrive#Strengths_and_weaknesses

I recommend that you copy the folder to your notebook before opening
OneNote, then use the flash drive for transport only. (Coming from the
PowerPoint world, this is much more of a consideration there than here.)
Think on it this way: Just as you would hate to lose the entire section
because you lost the drive, you would hate to lose the entire section
because OneNote can't write to the drive anymore.

If you want the portability of a flash drive without this problem, look into
the small footprint harddrives. I just picked up a 60 g for Bruce and a 20 g
for me and paid about $200 for the two of them.
--
Kathryn Jacobs, Microsoft MVP PowerPoint and OneNote
Author of Kathy Jacobs on PowerPoint - Available now from Holy Macro! Books
Get PowerPoint and OneNote information at www.onppt.com

I believe life is meant to be lived. But:
if we live without making a difference, it makes no difference that we lived
 
E

Erik Sojka (MVP)

At which point, the Sync tool mentioned by Chris earlier would be a great
help.

Set up the Sync tool to sync the HD-based "My Notebook" folder to the
key, and have OneNote store its files in the normal default "My
Notebook" location under the user profile.
 
K

kbals

Johan said:
I use onenote on both my work pc and on my home pc. at both locations i
insert various different items into on enote. I would like to merge/sync the
two onenote data bases every few days so that i have access to my work notes
at home and vice versa. Is there any way this can be done?
Click to expand...

I use an SD card. I leave it in my SD slot and never remove it. I treat
it like another hard drive. I have a 1gb card. I point my one note
folder to back up to the SD card. The advantage of the SD card is I
have nothing sticking out of my pc. Also since I never remove it I
don't have to worry about misplacing it.

I don't know if there are issues like Kathy says about how many times
you can write to a SD card. If this is not a good option I would like
to hear from others as it has worked well for me. Periodically I will
copy my one note folder to my hard drive and to my network drive at
work.
 
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