Registered: Oct 1999
Location:
Posts: 16

My to be delivered Visor is my first PDA (so be gentle!)...and I have a question regarding synching from different machines.

My home PC will be my only constant. Work PCs could be from anywhere with any configuration. Is this going to confuse the synch program if the PC-side image is different between sync's? I would hope its smart enough, but I want to make sure its not going to delete PDA stuff just because the PC image is empty.

Also, would having different e-mail clients (Outlook vs Outlook express, for ex.) cause grief?

And lastly, what about different e-mail accounts????

lots a questions, I know, but I suspect pretty common for people really on the go.


tia

Steve

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Lexington, KY, USA
Posts: 50

I have a similar situation. I use my laptop most of the time. But I also want to be able to get files and miscelaneous stuff from my home machine, which is mostly my wife's machine. She wants to be able to write stuff on there, and then get it put onto my PDA, so that I won't forget. She keeps my life in order most of the time anyway, so this is pretty important.

This is my first PDA also, so the whole concept of synching is rather new to me - I'm not exactly sure what it means.

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: NY, NY, USA
Posts: 155

The HotSync software defaults by syncing everything between the two machines. You first start out by specifying a user name/ID for the pda, then you sync. Whatever is in the pda goes into the PC software, and whatever is in the PC goes into the pda. So as long as you identify your pda to the PC software before syncing, you shouldn't have any problem.

Of the two situations, the better is having two machines that don't change, and one is frequently used for syncing, whereas the other is synced somewhat frequently.

If you continue changing machines, just be sure it's got the proper version of HotSync (periodic updates are the norm), and you shouldn't have too much difficulty.

Keep in mind that once you name your PDA (ie assign a User ID to it), it's basically forever (or until a hard reset). The PC Software stamps your pda's signature onto your profile/user id, and what happens is that whenever you sync with that pda and that machine, it will recognize the profiles and sync them up. IOW, the bottom line is the longer you go between syncs with any delineated machine, the longer it will take to synchronize data between the two.

Registered: Oct 1999
Location:
Posts: 16

Thanks for the comments, Hot Carl.

I'm thinking the "roaming" syncs during the day will only be for e-mails, and thats about it. Avantgo & software & syncing for backups will be from home.

Can't wait to get my Dlx! My girlfriend's new job gave here a PalmIII, so I've gotten a taste.....but I'm ready for the real deal.

thanks again

Steve

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 431

Based on my personal experiences with MS Outlook and on other Palm user's recommendations, I would recommend that you only synchronize on one PC. The other should do "Handheld overwrites Outlook."

My work PC, where I do the vast majority of my updates, is set up to synchronize while my home PC is set to "Handheld overwrites Outlook".

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Lexington, KY, USA
Posts: 50

You say "handheld overwrites outlook". What does that mean, and what are the other options (other than the obvious "outlook overwrites handheld").

What I'm used to is shnchronization means that they will just exchange data, and only stuff that has been explicitly marked as deleted will get dropped.

Sorry, I'm a total newbie at this.

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 431

Synchronization options available with PocketMirror (which is included with Visor) are:
1. Synchronize
2. Outlook overwrites Handheld
3. Handheld overwrites Outlook
4. Do Nothing
5. Backup to Palm Desktop
6. Restore from Palm Desktop

Actually, it's a good idea to regularly do a "Backup to Palm Desktop" even if you are syncing to MS Outlook as Outlook may occasionally crash and you can lose all that data.

Registered: Oct 1999
Location:
Posts: 16

Sounds like I better get a test mail account setup while I try to figure this out!

I was hoping it wouldn't blow things away, but the "Handheld overwrites Outlook" sounds like it might. I'd prefer that it sends outbound e-mails, and downloads new, unread mail. I suspect I've still got a few weeks to go for my 10/5 order....so time will tell.

Steve

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 431

Synchronization is not straight forward.

The synchronization options that I listed above for those conduits supported by PocketMirror (Address, Datebook, ToDos and Memos). The Mail conduit is separately controlled by Hotsync. You may want a configuration where Mail is set to "Synchronize the files" but the Outlook preferences are "Handheld overwrites Outlook".

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: NY, NY, USA
Posts: 155

Howdy all.

Now that I've been syncing with two PC's on a regular basis (a week ;-) including syncing with Netscape Mail (v 4.7), my recommendation is that you set the Sync to synchronize fully on your work PC except for mail. Set your mail so that the Desktop overwrites your Visor mail, unless you plan on keeping everything mail-wise on your Visor.

Your home PC should be set in either Handheld overwrites PC fully (except for mail, which should be Desktop overwrites Handheld) or synchro if you do use your PC at home for occasional entry (and the mail should be set to either sync or to have Desktop overwrites handheld).

The keys are how much information you need to pull out of your home PC, and whether you simply want access to e-mail on your Visor or if you want to keep a load of messages thereon.

My setup, which includes frequent office _and_ home PC syncs, has everything set to sync at the office, except for e-mail and AvantGo. At home, everything is set for sync except e-mail, which is set for Desktop overwrites Handheld, so I don't download all my messages into my Visor (once I read them, I delete them anyway from my Visor, and if the option is set for sync, they are deleted from the Desktop as well, which is something I do _not_ want).

Hope this helps.

You're prolly best-off experimenting and seeing which is best for you.

I would highly suggest getting the Backup Springboard Module. For $40 or $50, it's a foolproof way to make sure everything of yours is intact.