Sync discipline across multiple machines?

[jonathan7007]

I use ON2007 on three computers running Vista Business, WinXP Home(SP3) and
finally, WinXPPro (SP2) at my desk where I teach. I have set all the
notebooks' locations to a folder on a USB stick. I have seen no specific
problems but write today to ask about the how the timing of changes might
affect correct alignment through the sync process.

Can ON2007 keep track of the most recent change in a page as the stick
travels from machine to machine? Are new Notebooks perhaps holding different
pages, merged or changed? An example is my "Journal" Notebook, which has
monthly Sections, and new pages might have been created at all three machines
inside that section before there is any sync between any of the machines. Two
of the tree computers are in one location (home) and when I get to school it
isn't easy to find time to sync before the day starts. (Would do so if I have
to, though...)

My Vista laptop is the most common source of new content. It makes me feel
that I should always try to sync that laptop to the USB stick *first.* But
this is not always the case so I hope that others here know that there is a
very smart software keeping track of multiple changes.

Back in the day (sales job using ACT) when I sync'd to Palm devices you had
to think carefully about which device originated the change and which device,
in turn, had the most recent data. There was a directionality that affected
data.

I am aware that the Unfiled notebook doesn't "travel".

So, can I merrily sync when it's convenient and see my pages all remain
intact in the sections ... merged?

Jonathan

 

[Rainald Taesler]

I use ON2007 on three computers running Vista Business, WinXP
Home(SP3) and finally, WinXPPro (SP2) at my desk where I teach. I
have set all the notebooks' locations to a folder on a USB stick.

This was very wise!

I have seen no specific problems but write today to ask about the how
the timing of changes might affect correct alignment through the sync
process.

Can ON2007 keep track of the most recent change in a page as the stick
travels from machine to machine?

Yes it does.

Are new Notebooks perhaps holding different pages, merged or
changed?

Al things will be merged.
And in case of really are conflicts (a paragraph changed in both ends)
there is conflict resolution). I have been working with ON for app. 4
years and never any problem with synching.

An example is my "Journal"
Notebook, which has monthly Sections, and new pages might have been
created at all three machines inside that section before there is any
sync between any of the machines. Two of the tree computers are in
one location (home) and when I get to school it isn't easy to find
time to sync before the day starts. (Would do so if I have to,
though...)

Synching works automatically.
But it's good practice if one synchs to the sticks when finishing the
day's work - just to make sure.
It will only need seconds.

My Vista laptop is the most common source of new content. It makes me
feel that I should always try to sync that laptop to the USB stick
*first.* But this is not always the case so I hope that others here
know that there is a very smart software keeping track of multiple
changes.

Yes it does this.

Back in the day (sales job using ACT) when I sync'd to Palm devices
you had to think carefully about which device originated the change
and which device, in turn, had the most recent data. There was a
directionality that affected data.

ON is working totally different in so far. It's automatic synching is
unmatched.

I am aware that the Unfiled notebook doesn't "travel".

This not compulsory.
With the proper settings on all of the machines you can use the same
"Unfiled" section in all computers.
Go to "Tools | Options | Save" and set the location for the "Unfiled
notes" to the stick.
Thereafter even the unfiled stuff will travel.

So, can I merrily sync when it's convenient and see my pages all
remain intact in the sections ... merged?

"Yes we can!" <bg>.

Anyway: As you have all the precious data on the stick make sure to make
regular backups of the *whole*stick* on your main computer. Sticks can
get corrupt (there is a recent thread on this problem). You may create a
special directory on the computer where you keep everything held in the
stick 1:1. You may then synch with the stick using synch software - f.e
example the most efficient and easy to use "SyncToy" from MS [1].

Apart from the above: As you are using ON on several computers I don't
want to miss pointing you to an alternative:
You could run ON on any computer without ON being installed there if you
install ON on a portable HDD with Ceedo and its Argo installer. Besides
quite some other apps I have ON installed on a newly bought 1.8 external
HDD (which has the size of a cigarette package and is only half as
thick). It works really great. I had tested this construction before on
a 2GB USB stick but it was it was not a super fast stick and so ON was
rather slow (still better than nothing when being at a place where ON
was not on the computer).
Another huge advantage of Ceedo: When working on someone else's
computer, no traces will be left behind. All temporary stuff is held on
the Ceedo device. So the ON cache too. And surfing with any browser and
collecting mail will be done in total privacy.

Rainald
[1]
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...36-98E0-4EE9-A7C5-98D0592D8C52&displaylang=en
[2] http://www.ceedo.com/products/ceedo-personal.html

 

[Bernd]

-------- Original-Nachricht --------

Apart from the above: As you are using ON on several computers I don't
want to miss pointing you to an alternative:
You could run ON on any computer without ON being installed there if you
install ON on a portable HDD with Ceedo and its Argo installer. Besides
quite some other apps I have ON installed on a newly bought 1.8 external
HDD (which has the size of a cigarette package and is only half as
thick). It works really great. I had tested this construction before on
a 2GB USB stick but it was it was not a super fast stick and so ON was
rather slow (still better than nothing when being at a place where ON
was not on the computer).
Another huge advantage of Ceedo: When working on someone else's
computer, no traces will be left behind. All temporary stuff is held on
the Ceedo device. So the ON cache too. And surfing with any browser and
collecting mail will be done in total privacy.

Rainald
[1]
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...36-98E0-4EE9-A7C5-98D0592D8C52&displaylang=en
[2] http://www.ceedo.com/products/ceedo-personal.html

Rainald:

If I understand your Ceedo solution right, then all ON data including
the standard ON backups and the cache are on the portable device.

So there is no real sharing and no redundancy and a daily HDD backup is
necessary.

Am I right ?

Bernd

 

[jonathan7007]

Rainald, as always you are very helpful, and I appreciate confirmation of my
conclusions about OneNote sync. I, too, have been using ON since the 2003
version. I follow your posts with enjoyment. (We once exchanged messages
about our love of fonts and, for example, Helvetica's history.) I want to
step up the depth of my ON2007 solution for scheduling and tasks so needed to
confirm the depth of the sync. Yes, I expect that the 2010 solution will go
several steps further but I won't use the beta yet as much of this is work
related.

Thank, too, for the links. An enclosure for a 1.8 drive... what an
interesting thought.

Jonathan

I use ON2007 on three computers running Vista Business, WinXP
Home(SP3) and finally, WinXPPro (SP2) at my desk where I teach. I
have set all the notebooks' locations to a folder on a USB stick.

This was very wise!

I have seen no specific problems but write today to ask about the how
the timing of changes might affect correct alignment through the sync
process.

Can ON2007 keep track of the most recent change in a page as the stick
travels from machine to machine?

Yes it does.

Are new Notebooks perhaps holding different pages, merged or
changed?

Al things will be merged.
And in case of really are conflicts (a paragraph changed in both ends)
there is conflict resolution). I have been working with ON for app. 4
years and never any problem with synching.

An example is my "Journal"
Notebook, which has monthly Sections, and new pages might have been
created at all three machines inside that section before there is any
sync between any of the machines. Two of the tree computers are in
one location (home) and when I get to school it isn't easy to find
time to sync before the day starts. (Would do so if I have to,
though...)

Synching works automatically.
But it's good practice if one synchs to the sticks when finishing the
day's work - just to make sure.
It will only need seconds.

My Vista laptop is the most common source of new content. It makes me
feel that I should always try to sync that laptop to the USB stick
*first.* But this is not always the case so I hope that others here
know that there is a very smart software keeping track of multiple
changes.

Yes it does this.

Back in the day (sales job using ACT) when I sync'd to Palm devices
you had to think carefully about which device originated the change
and which device, in turn, had the most recent data. There was a
directionality that affected data.

ON is working totally different in so far. It's automatic synching is
unmatched.

I am aware that the Unfiled notebook doesn't "travel".

This not compulsory.
With the proper settings on all of the machines you can use the same
"Unfiled" section in all computers.
Go to "Tools | Options | Save" and set the location for the "Unfiled
notes" to the stick.
Thereafter even the unfiled stuff will travel.

So, can I merrily sync when it's convenient and see my pages all
remain intact in the sections ... merged?

"Yes we can!" <bg>.

Anyway: As you have all the precious data on the stick make sure to make
regular backups of the *whole*stick* on your main computer. Sticks can
get corrupt (there is a recent thread on this problem). You may create a
special directory on the computer where you keep everything held in the
stick 1:1. You may then synch with the stick using synch software - f.e
example the most efficient and easy to use "SyncToy" from MS [1].

Apart from the above: As you are using ON on several computers I don't
want to miss pointing you to an alternative:
You could run ON on any computer without ON being installed there if you
install ON on a portable HDD with Ceedo and its Argo installer. Besides
quite some other apps I have ON installed on a newly bought 1.8 external
HDD (which has the size of a cigarette package and is only half as
thick). It works really great. I had tested this construction before on
a 2GB USB stick but it was it was not a super fast stick and so ON was
rather slow (still better than nothing when being at a place where ON
was not on the computer).
Another huge advantage of Ceedo: When working on someone else's
computer, no traces will be left behind. All temporary stuff is held on
the Ceedo device. So the ON cache too. And surfing with any browser and
collecting mail will be done in total privacy.

Rainald
[1]
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...36-98E0-4EE9-A7C5-98D0592D8C52&displaylang=en
[2] http://www.ceedo.com/products/ceedo-personal.html






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