Synchronization problem

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zanervana
Posts: 5
Joined: Tue Jan 10, 2006 7:19 pm

Synchronization problem

Post by zanervana »

I'm having a bit of a problem synchronizing databases between two machines since switching to Bookends9.
What I used to do was place all of my databases in my ~/Documents/Bookends folder and then use Chronosync to synchronize my bookends files between my desktop and laptop. This had the nice effect of not only updating any changes between the databases, but also bringing along any files in my Bookends/Attachments folder as well.

However, since upgrading, the bookends on one machine no longer recognizes databases (or even exports) from the other machine as being Bookends objects, and vice versa. As a result, I can't open up the database from one machine in bookends on the other machine, nor can I tranfer over the new references through an export.

Is this a known problem, and if so is there any way to fix it?

Thanks in advance!
Jon
Site Admin
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Location: Bethesda, MD
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Post by Jon »

Hi,

Well, I can't speak to the synchronization process. But if Bookends has lost the ability to recognize a file, it may be that the file has lost it's metadata (creator and file type). You can reset these with a free app called File Type (available on VersionTracker). The settings should be

Creator: BERB
File Type: BEDN (for Bookends 9. It's different for Bookends 8).

If this isn't the problem, please contact me directly for tech support.

Jon
Sonny Software
drzog
Posts: 26
Joined: Sun Feb 26, 2006 4:01 am
Location: Melbourne, AU

chronosync

Post by drzog »

Hi, I am considering using chronosync as i now have a mac mini and a laptop.

Did the problem with bookends libraries resolve?

I tried a demo backup and it refused to replace the libraries ("?permissions error").

cheers
drzog
Posts: 26
Joined: Sun Feb 26, 2006 4:01 am
Location: Melbourne, AU

Post by drzog »

i found this in the chronosync FAQ:

Why am I getting permission errors when I synchronize?

This is the most common error you're likely to encounter. Mac OS X, given it's UNIX heritage, enforces ownership and access permissions on every file it manages. Most of the files that you normally access are owned by you and you have no problem synchronizing. Some files, however, are owned by other users of your system and some are owned by the operating system itself. You may not have the ability to see and/or modify these types of files.

When you get a permission error, It simply means that you do not have permission to copy the file. It may be because you don't "own" the file or perhaps it's just because you don't have read-access to the file. There are typically three solutions:

Solution #1: Ignore the error. When you encounter such a file, you should ask yourself if this is really a file that you need to be synchronizing? This is especially true if it is owned by the system. If you choose to ignore the error, we recommend that you Exclude the file from synchronization so you don't see the error again.

Solution #2: Grant yourself access to the file. Locate the file in question using the Finder and then use the "Get Info" command to raise the permissions of the file to the point that you can access it. If the file is not owned by you, you'll have to provide administrative authorization before doing so. Again, you should ask yourself if this really is a file you need to synchronize before doing this.

Solution #3: If you absolutely, positively must be able to synchronize files that are owned by other users or by the operating system, you can run ChronoSync in "Administrative Mode". Contact us by using our support form for instructions on how to do this.


i am going to investigate ADMIN mode...
drzog
Posts: 26
Joined: Sun Feb 26, 2006 4:01 am
Location: Melbourne, AU

Post by drzog »

I reset the permissions to read/write for all user, system and groups, for each library, (on both computers) seems to work fine now.
Great app!
zanervana
Posts: 5
Joined: Tue Jan 10, 2006 7:19 pm

Post by zanervana »

Are you using chronosync on your databases?

I never did clear up the problem- neither machine can recognize databases from the other machine as being bookends objects. This is fine as long as the database is in Bookends' file buffer, but as soon as I have to click 'open' to read the DB, or try and drag and drop it into the bookends app, I just can't read it ...
drzog
Posts: 26
Joined: Sun Feb 26, 2006 4:01 am
Location: Melbourne, AU

Post by drzog »

yes works fine, have not encountered any recognition problems at all.
so long as bookends files are not open at time of sync, syncs are fine with no errors.
Make sure the permissions are set as described above.
Gerben
Posts: 193
Joined: Mon Aug 22, 2005 4:53 pm
Location: Florence, Italy
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Post by Gerben »

Hi,

I run Chronosync to sync my laptop and external hard disk. This works fine for Bookends, no problems at all. Look indeed like a permissions issue.

Gerben
zanervana
Posts: 5
Joined: Tue Jan 10, 2006 7:19 pm

Post by zanervana »

Hmm. Looks like chronosync was stripping off the metadata afterall. I guess that's what I get for not immediately following Jon's advice ...
Jeremy
Posts: 14
Joined: Wed Feb 21, 2007 2:27 pm
Location: Rome
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Post by Jeremy »

I'm wondering what the preferred options are for using Bookends on several machines. I have two iMacs -- one at work and one at home -- and an iBook that I use on the move. I also have a .Mac account, and could store files on a server elsewhere if that would help.

I've noticed posts from people who sync their whole Bookends folder among machines, and others who seem to work from a folder on .Mac but both seem to have issues of vairous kinds.

So, what's the consensus (if there is one) on the best way to use a single Bookends set up on several machines?

Thanks.
Jeremy
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