Synchronizing 2 desktops + PocketPC?

[gus]

Hi,

I am new to MLO, and am thinking the best way to get started. I could
not find this in the other resources and what I tried resulted in all
tasks being duplicated:

Ideally I would like to work on the desktop version at home and also
in the office, and use the PocketPC version when I am not on any of
these 2 places. Synchronizing to my PocketPC works great, and I was
thinking that maybe I could use the PocketPC MLO as a conduit to synch
between the office and home. But when I tried this, I got all tasks
duplicated.

I may have done something wrong, but I would like to confirm with
someone with more experience if this scenario is really possible? Or
maybe people are solving this in a better way?

I would appreciate any hint to get started.

Thanks!

Gus

[Fletcher]

It ~SHOULD~ be possible, but I've found that MLO on PPC does NOT sync
properly with the desktop version-- or there is some difference
between them that had me stop using the PPC version, as it would
frequently duplicate tasks (just one desktop).

[gus]

Oh, I see. Thanks for the advise, I will first check synchronization
with one desktop for a while, I had not noticed the duplicates with
one desktop with the few tests I did.

> > Gus- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

[kamajo]

gus,

I use mlo with 3 pc's and a ppc as well. The best solution I've come
up with is to use a free service at getdropbox.com. Once you create an
account you download a small app on each pc that keeps a 'MyDropbox'
folder synchronized with all the other pc's. I put a subfolder called
MLO into the Mydropbox folder and moved all mlo files (app and data)
into it . Any changes made to the mlo data file automatically get
updated on all linked pc's and I can launch mlo from any of the
machines because the executable is in the folder. I have no
relationship with the company I just love the app and have been using
it about a year with no issues. I also use it to sync an app called
personalbrain which I use for mindmapping and as a general filing
cabinet.

[Michael Ausbrook]

I use Dropbox as well. But I would put the backup folders elsewhere on
each computer. I have occasionally gotten conflicted files in Dropbox,
and the separate, unsynced backups on different computers ensure that
you don't lose your work on any one. I think the conflicted files occur
when I have MLO open on two computers at once.

Of course the other solution, if you have access to an FTP site, using
the sync feature from each computer to a common (differently named) MLO
file on the FTP server should achieve the same end.

[Lake Norman Homes & Boats]

This was posted 2009. If it applies to current versions the date of publishing makes no difference. If not, then we waste time reading and or configuring.  I have since read that one should never sync using Dropbox etc.

It would be nice if the postings could be reviewed, edited, or removed (masked ?)

Thank you

[Dwight Arthur]

Here's an update from 2019. In the decade since this was written, pocket pc's have faded away, replaced by iPhones and Androids. The tradeoff is a lot more complicated now because there are two different issues at play, and I will try to explain both.

1. If you are running MLO on several Windows PC's, a Mac, an iPhone and an Android, there are (at least) two different totally incompatible file formats. All of the Windows PC's use the same file format as each other. The Mac is probably using the Windows version of MLO under an emulator such as Vines, that has the same file format. The iPhone and Android have a totally different file format. (Sorry, I don't know whether iPhone and Android share a format or if they are two totally different formats.) If you were to successfully copy your task file from your PC to your iPhone it would not accomplish anything as the file will be in Windows format and the iPhone will not be able to read it.

2. Please be aware of the difference between file-level synchronization and record-level synchronization. File-level copies a whole file from one device to another. It might be bi-directional, meaning whichever file is older gets overwritten by the newer file from the other machine. File-level synch can be fast but it cannot be instantaneous. Record-level synch looks at each record (each task). If a certain task has been added, changed, or removed on one side that change will be copied to the other side. If one task is changed on one computer and another task has been changed on the other computer, after a record level synch both computers will have the new versions of both tasks. If the same situation happens when you are using file-level synch you will probably lose one of your changes. If a single task has been changed, with different changes, on both computers, the best you can hope for would be to get a message showing you the two versions of the task and asking you which one you want to keep. (I promise not to discuss field-level sync)

So, file level synch such as dropbox would not be helpful in synchronizing MLO on your desktop with MLO on your phone. It could be helpful in synchronizing your desktop with your laptop, or synchronizing your home PC with your work PC. It works best if you use just one computer at a time, and when you are moving from one to the other there is a gap in time long enough to be sure the synch has run to completion. So if you are leaving work, commuting home and then logging on to your home computer, dropbox will probably do a good job. If you are updating tasks on your desktop with your left hand and updating tasks on your laptop with your right hand, dropbox will probably loose some of your updates.

If you are using two computers at once (or you and an assistant are each working on your own desktop updating the same database) or if you are using a computer and a phone, you probably need record synch, which means native MLO synch. Cloud synch is the easiest, least complicated to use once its set up, and fastest. Drawback: you have to pay for it. Also, each device needs an internet connection, and your workplace may have rules about that. The copy of your tasks in the cloud is secured but not encrypted, and some people are nervous about this.

If you want to avoid the cost of cloud synch, or the use of the Internet, you can use the other built-in synch which is called IP synch. This is another record-level synch but it's only for two devices at once - if you have more than two you can get the job done but it's a lot of re-configuring and it's tedious. Also, if you are using it at work on your smartphone you will probably need to connect your phone to your workplace's local area network. The company that runs the LAN may have rules or prohibitions, probably involving privacy or security.

Bottom line, if you can tolerate the cost of the cloud synch, it's the best solution.

-Dwight

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