Synchornising Folders

[Balrog]

I have a problem, there are two computers I use for work, one mainly for graphic design and the other mainly for wordprossesing and website design. I have them connected in a LAN network through a LAN modem.

I was wondering how to synchronise my work folders on both computers. I perfer to keep a copy of the most current files on both computers incase one fails so I am able to keep on working. Is it possible to synchronise both folders on both computers at the same time updating them from both with the most recent file from either? I know there is a synchronise folders program in windows but I havent a clue how to use it.


Thankyou for your help, time and patience.


Benjamin Kelly
kellydesign@hotmail.com

[Paul Komski]

I'm sure there are many approaches to your problem (and also many ways of creating backups).

My own "simple" approach on a LAN would be to always work from only one folder on one or the other pc. You would always then be current whichever pc you were working from (and particularly to keep in sync any websites that you might have mirrored on your HDD).

But... I would have a back-up procedure that would save copies (incremental or otherwise) on the other pc or on another HDD so that if one HDD fails your data has some security; also if the data is important enough I would always backup to removable media as well.

The main advantage of backing-up to a HDD is that it is quick and easy and therefore least likely to not be neglected. There is software available that will do this automatically for you, though I have never used any.

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Take nice care of yourselves - Paul
"People in glasshouses ..... shouldn't undress during daylight!"

[Balrog]

Yeah that is what I do at the moment, I just prefer to have to up to date copies of information on both of my computers incase one of them goes wrong (which seems to happen alot).

Thanks for your adivice though

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Benjamin Kelly
kellydesign@hotmail.com

[Paul Komski]

Well you could use briefcase folders to synchronise just like you would do with a Laptop and a Desktop only you would be using two Desktops instead. The following is copied from Windows Help Files.
To synchronize files on connected computers by using Briefcase.

While the computers are connected, open Briefcase on your portable computer and copy the appropriate files from your main computer.
Work on the files on your portable computer.
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:
To update all the files, click the Briefcase menu, and then click Update All.
To update only some of the files, select the files you want to update, click the Briefcase menu, and then click Update Selection.
Notes

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.
While you are working on your files, the two computers do not need to be connected.


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Take nice care of yourselves - Paul
"People in glasshouses ..... shouldn't undress during daylight!"

[Balrog]

Ah but, will the briefcase know which file is the most recent.

Eg. I have copies of both files on both computers, i edit an image using photoshop on computer a. I also write a webpage at the same time on computer b. I save them both. This means there is a recent file on both computers, I update them both and computer a updates everything from the work folder on both machines. My question is won't comp A simply copy everything to both folders and erase my webpage?

Apart from that good idea, i will look into it


Thanks for your help

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Benjamin Kelly
kellydesign@hotmail.com

[Paul Komski]

I have never used briefcase but someone who uses it with a laptop may be able to give you a definitive answer. I imagine that if briefcase is on CompA and it contains files copied from CompB that you have altered while working on CompA that it is straightforward to update all files back onto CompB. If you go and separately alter files on CompB then these should be copied afresh to the Briefcase on CompA to keep it current for the files on CompB. Since this has to be done manually it will be prone to mistakes at some time or another.

Personally I think it is a messy way to go and my original suggestion has the merit that since you are only using one set of files/folders they will always be current. Its a bit like a backend database that many users can access from a LAN. There would be little point in keeping copies on every workstation as it would be impossible to keep them all synchronised. I don't know if you also have a mirrored webites on your HDD but it is hard enough keeping them synchronised with a website on the web, without having other duplicates in different locations.

As for automatic backups there must be many applications out there and some peeps may have good suggestions on these. DriveImage5 (which has its own merits) contains an application called DataKeeper. Its blurb states that it provides an easy way for you to perform secure, automated backups of all your important data. You can back up to your local hard disk, a second partition that has an assigned file system (such as FAT32) and drive letter, a network drive, or removable media such as LS-120, Jaz, or Zip drives. You can use DataKeeper to:
a)Back up combinations of files and folders on your computer with options such as password protection and file compression.
b)Restore a single file (even from a compressed backup), a most recent version of a file, or an older version of a file.




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Take nice care of yourselves - Paul
"People in glasshouses ..... shouldn't undress during daylight!"

[Balrog]

I think that the solution for this is to invest in some Zip disks, I have a zip drive lying in my bottom draw that I got off an old computer and have never used. Once I get some disks I will just store the data on them.

Thanks for your suggestions, u have given me quite a bit of food for thought (thats an english expression so i don't know if u americans will get that) http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

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Benjamin Kelly
kellydesign@hotmail.com