multiple database sync

[jmurthy]

Hi all,

newbie question. I have struggled with it quite a bit but haven't still found the right solution.

I would like to setup a ref library on a particular topic (say, spinal injury) on my usb flash drive with all the associated attachments (pdfs).
I also want to sync this to my office computer and my home computer so that the usb references will be backed up on both these computers and they will also stay current i the event of a hard drive disaster. The libraries on the home and office computers will have articles on many other topics and so is vital to keep the spinal injury articles in a separate group. However, the usb will be my main work horse while writing the paper since I travel quite a bit. There is also a likelihood that I may be adding articles to the spinal injury library on the usb drive when I am traveling.
Please let me know if this feasible. From my impression of bookends, this seems very much within it's reach. I really want to be sure that I do this right to prevent a disaster from my own inexperience.
Regards,
Jay

[Jon]

Hi,

This is certainly one way to use Sync. Personally, I'd keep one database and use groups (static or smart) to keep track of subtopics, but that's of course up to you.

Also, make sure Automatic Backup is turned on in preferences. It will do an implicit Verify before every backup.

Jon
Sonny Software

[jmurthy]

Hi,

This is certainly one way to use Sync. Personally, I'd keep one database and use groups (static or smart) to keep track of subtopics, but that's of course up to you.

Also, make sure Automatic Backup is turned on in preferences. It will do an implicit Verify before every backup.

Jon
Sonny Software

Jon,
My question was "how to setup sync on the three libraries?" ie what should I designate as the master and is there any particular place that should I put the attachment folder on USB?
also, should I keep changing the folder location in preferences when I am toggling between the usb and the home/office computers?
Thanks,
Jay

[Jon]

You can set the database on your thumb drive as the master. If you want to sync to 2 databases, you'll have to configure that each time you want to sync to them, then do a manual sync.

The attachment file can be anyone you want on the thumb drive. You can tell Bookends to use that. Or, just attach one file from the thumb drive folder manually, and Bookends will find it. As long as the thumb drive is always inserted, I don't see why you'd need to play with preferences repeatedly.

BTW, thumb drives are fragile compared to hard drives and have a limited life. They also get lost. I'd be careful using it as a main repository.

Jon
Sonny Software

[jmurthy]

BTW, thumb drives are fragile compared to hard drives and have a limited life. They also get lost. I'd be careful using it as a main repository.

Jon
Sonny Software[/quote]

Agree. but I presume the database can be recovered on a new flash drive from the synced databases.

[jmurthy]

Jon,
here's the update. everything seemd to be working well without any sync issues between office nd home comps (both remote) to USB drive as the local library.

however, on my desktop I suddenly happen to get this error with autosync at database open/close option selected;
Database error: Segment "5" is wrong. The last segment is "4"


any idea what this is?
thanks in advance.
Jay

[Jon]

Yes, it means that the db engine has misplaced a segment. Rebuild the database (probably the one on the desktop -- if that doesn't fix it, the one it is syncing to).

Jon
Sonny Software

P.S. Questions like this are best sent to tech support (support@sonnysoftware.com).

[jbear]

I have been experimenting with Dropbox (https://www.getdropbox.com/) and Bookends. Seems like a good way to achieve syncing for lots of files including Bookends libraries. I'll let you know how it goes.