Shared Notebooks in OneNote 07 (Taking a notebook on the road)

[Travis C.]

I currently work in a mid-sized law firm, and we were hoping to make the
switch to OneNote as an efficient way to keep certain kinds of case records.
We have bought a few copies of it to test it out, and so far have had little
success in working with Shared Notebooks.

We have set up a shared notebook on one of our Windows servers, and we don't
have any trouble updating the information when we open it from that location.
The problem is that we can't figure out how the attorneys are going to be
able to make changes to the notebook from home (without access to the
server), and be able to save those changes to the shared notebook. I don't
want them to do all of the work, then not be able to sync it up.

If possible, I would like any help with the situation... thank you in advance.

 

[Rainald Taesler]

We have set up a shared notebook on one of our Windows servers, and
we don't have any trouble updating the information when we open it
from that location. The problem is that we can't figure out how the
attorneys are going to be able to make changes to the notebook from
home (without access to the server), and be able to save those
changes to the shared notebook. I don't want them to do all of the
work, then not be able to sync it up.

It's very easy when done the right way.

ON works with its *cache*.
All changes (incl. creating new sections and new pages) are stored in
the cache.
And they are synched *automatically.

The basic thing is: Do not store the ON-files on the laptop (the device
to be synched later)!!
And *exclude* ON from any other synching technology (offline files,
f.e.)

Just open the notebooks from a shared device over the network.
As long as the laptop is connected, everything is automatically synched
both ways.
If the laptop is disconnected, work is done with the cache only.
As soon as the laptop is re-connected, everything is synched both ways.

ON's synching feature is one of most important things in ON.
I do not know any other software which would be that convenient for
people working "on the road" in addition to the office.

Rainald
P.S. One can also work with ON from a USB-stick or a storage card. In
case being interested pls see David Rasmussen's article "OneNote
Notebooks on USB drives and SD cards"
http://blogs.msdn.com/david_rasmussen/archive/2006/06/29/650705.aspx

 

[Ben M. Schorr - MVP (OneNote)]

Rainard has it exactly right - we use OneNote in exactly the way you
propose and Rainard explains. Our users have Tablet PCs and our OneNote
files are stored on a Windows server at the office. We share them from
there; the files are sync'd anytime the user connects to the server at
the office - whether they are actually AT the office or they connect via
VPN from home, client's, hotel, Starbucks or wherever. Works like a
charm.

--
-Ben-
Ben M. Schorr, MVP
Roland Schorr & Tower
http://www.rolandschorr.com
http://www.officeforlawyers.com
Author - The Lawyer's Guide to Microsoft Outlook 2007:
http://tinyurl.com/5m3f5q

 

[Travis C.]

Thank you, Rainald!

I tried using it how you described, and everything is working like a charm.

 

[Rainald Taesler]

Rainard has it exactly right

Thanks for the praise ;-)
My name - misspelled twice in one posting <gbg> - is "Rainald", however
;-)

Strange name, but German names differ a bit from English ones (as they
do differ from native Hawaiian names) <d&rvf>

Rainald

 

[Rainald Taesler]

Thank you, Rainald!

De nada.
That's what we are here for ;-)

I tried using it how you described, and everything is working like
a charm.

Great to hear that I could be of help.

And as I said:
OneNote for sure is unique if it comes to connecting office-computers
and "road-warriors" ;-)

Kindest regards from a former owner of a law-firm

Rainald
P.S. If any further questions: The are just for being asked in here <g>
---
Prof. Dr. iur. Rainald Taesler
Hochschule Heilbronn / Heilbronn University
Abteilung Tourismuswirtschaft /
Department of Tourism Management
Max-Planck-Str. 39
74081 Heilbronn
(e-mail address removed)
www.hs-heilbronn.de/Members/taesler
Tel. 07131 - 504 -366
Priv.: 07131 - 57 57 09
Handy: 0179 - 48128 71