Compatibility with synchronization service question

[printedtopsntees]

I have downloaded the portable version with the intention of including it within the folder which is synchronized across my computers using SugarSync. It opens fine on the other computer but all the links etc are based on the user name on the main computer. Before I change the user name of the second computer could someone tell me if this is the correct way to go. I will be working on exactly the same info on both computers so keeping the integrity of the links is paramount. The two computers are both Win 7. I have another computer with Vista (hangs his head in shame) but this is really only synchronized as a backup rather than for working on. As Vista has a different directory structure I would assume that it's not going to do what I want the other Win 7 machine to do but could someone please advise. As soon as I know what to do I will download the appropriate version and pay for a Lifetime license.

FYI

I came across XYPlorer whist googling "copy directory structure" and came across a forum from (I think) 2007 where Don suggested TrackerV3. I think the program is sensational and within half an hour I had it set up to do wonderfull things in the Catalog as well as copying a directory structure. I sell printed T Shirts online and need to overlay the print image onto a photo of the T Shirt to create a sales pic. I have approx 55 variants (style and colour) that previously I loaded into Illustrator individually. Now I can load all the variants of a style with a couple of clicks. I now hardly use the "File Open" option in Illustrator as it's easier to do it within XYP. Next thing to setup is Tags using <getdrop> which will enable me to keep track without bits of paper. I'm sure I'll keep finding more useful timesaving things in XYP. I'm already evangelical telling all my friends that they need this.

[highend]

Links? Hyperlinks / Links for XYplorer in the start menu? The easiest way to sync would be: the portable (noinstall) Version. Everything under one folder, no Appdata nonsense.

[admin]

I came across XYPlorer whist googling "copy directory structure" and came across a forum from (I think) 2007 where Don suggested TrackerV3. I think the program is sensational and within half an hour I had it set up to do wonderfull things in the Catalog as well as copying a directory structure. I sell printed T Shirts online and need to overlay the print image onto a photo of the T Shirt to create a sales pic. I have approx 55 variants (style and colour) that previously I loaded into Illustrator individually. Now I can load all the variants of a style with a couple of clicks. I now hardly use the "File Open" option in Illustrator as it's easier to do it within XYP. Next thing to setup is Tags using <getdrop> which will enable me to keep track without bits of paper. I'm sure I'll keep finding more useful timesaving things in XYP. I'm already evangelical telling all my friends that they need this.

Sounds great. I badly need something religious going, like my friendly competitor TC has for years. Be my prophet!

Don

[printedtopsntees]

Thanks highend but I think I may have confused the issue.

The links I am referring to are two different things:-

1) When XYP opens on the second computer it cannot open the tabs that were open on the closing of XYP on the first computer as the addresses are different.

2) The magical things I have in Catalog to open the highlighted files in Illustrator won't work for the same reason above.

Now I can rename the User on the second computer to match that on the first which I believe will resolve both issues as I work on exactly the same data on both computers.

I guess all I was after was confirmation that this will work and any possible conflicts which may screw it up so I can go ahead and purchase the correct version.

My feeling is that Synchronization is a "BIG THING" and many people are using it so the can work seamlessly in the office, at home, on the road etc. If XYP can do this then I see that as a big selling point for XYP even to the point of the Cloud Sevices promoting XYP. Now I'm prepared to rename the User on the second computer but I suspect most won't be. So Don may need to create some sort of look up table with, say, the address to the Libraries, so each computer can access everything without compromising any of the others. I guess it will also need to lock open files so the a file cannot be modified on one computer whilst open on another. The way I use Synchronization is Single User but I'm sure others, deliberately or not, will use it with multiple con current users so it will not be easy to make it idiot proof.

Don

From this moment henchforth I shall desist from cutting my hair, wear a rainment of sacking and go out into the World and preach the word of XYplorer to the ignorant masses.

[admin]

My feeling is that Synchronization is a "BIG THING" and many people are using it so the can work seamlessly in the office, at home, on the road etc. If XYP can do this then I see that as a big selling point for XYP even to the point of the Cloud Sevices promoting XYP. Now I'm prepared to rename the User on the second computer but I suspect most won't be. So Don may need to create some sort of look up table with, say, the address to the Libraries, so each computer can access everything without compromising any of the others. I guess it will also need to lock open files so the a file cannot be modified on one computer whilst open on another. The way I use Synchronization is Single User but I'm sure others, deliberately or not, will use it with multiple con current users so it will not be easy to make it idiot proof.

Yes, I assume it is BIG. But I never invested any thinking in it. So what is Synchronization? Compare two locations and make them equal by copying files or removing files based on certain criteria?

[nas8e9]

Now I can rename the User on the second computer to match that on the first which I believe will resolve both issues as I work on exactly the same data on both computers.

Does changing the stored paths (tabs, catalog, etc.) from C:\Users\Username\ to C:\Users\%UserName%\, i.e. change the hardcoded username to the system variable %UserName%, help in this regard?

[printedtopsntees]

Don

Apologies for the delay in getting back to you. I did reply before but maybe the session timed out and it got lost.

If you look ay synchronization from a technical perspective you're correct it is merely compare and match.

But if you look at it from a users perspective it's something else.

A typical user may be someone who is office based most of the time but occasionally either works from home or goes out to see clients. In this scenario the office computer, the home computer and laptop are all synchronized. This means that no matter where the worker is (s)he has up to date data on that computer. No flash drives, DVD's or emailing files (when you remember of course). You do not need an internet connection to use the computer, unlike cloud based services, the computer will synchronize any changes next time it does have a connection.

I personally work from home and synchronize my desktop computer with my ultra portable. This means that when I am out and about and have some downtime (planned or not) I can be productive. This is completely seamless, you just use the computer/laptop as normal, no disks, flash drives or emailed files to think about.

Synchronization seems like it could be useful for groups of people working on a project but can be problematic as you need to make sure two people don't modify the same file at the same time. I haven't looked into this but maybe some of the syncronization services have a file locking mechanism. To be completely safe the files would need to be flagged as read only which makes it pretty useless really.

I am using XYP more and more as a dasboard/launchpad for my work so being able to include the portable version in a synchronized folder means that all the catalog items and any changes are there on any other synchronized computer and function exactly the same with the folders open on one computer when shut down are there when XYP is opened on another synchronized computer.

Obviously it depends on how you work but for me it's a fantastic tool and a great timesaver.

I personally can't see Cloud Computing being viable for a long time. Slow intermitent internet connections and not much software as yet. I use Illustrator and PhotoShop and I'm sure that at some point these will be optimised and offered as a cloud service but I personally am struggling to see the potential benefit.

[printedtopsntees]

Now I can rename the User on the second computer to match that on the first which I believe will resolve both issues as I work on exactly the same data on both computers.

Does changing the stored paths (tabs, catalog, etc.) from C:\Users\Username\ to C:\Users\%UserName%\, i.e. change the hardcoded username to the system variable %UserName%, help in this regard?

The impression I get from various sources on the internet is that this won't work as all this does is display to the user the new name but nothing is actually changed on the computer so something like XYP would not be affected by this bit of window dressing. If I have missunderstood and you know of some feature that will change what XYP sees then please let me know.

[serendipity]

Now I can rename the User on the second computer to match that on the first which I believe will resolve both issues as I work on exactly the same data on both computers.

Does changing the stored paths (tabs, catalog, etc.) from C:\Users\Username\ to C:\Users\%UserName%\, i.e. change the hardcoded username to the system variable %UserName%, help in this regard?

The impression I get from various sources on the internet is that this won't work as all this does is display to the user the new name but nothing is actually changed on the computer so something like XYP would not be affected by this bit of window dressing. If I have missunderstood and you know of some feature that will change what XYP sees then please let me know.

The best solution I've found for catalog is conditional paths, if computer name is so and so path is abc, if it is something else path is xyz. see here:
http://www.xyplorer.com/xyfc/viewtopic. ... 722#p77722

This way you can script each path names too.

[printedtopsntees]

Now I can rename the User on the second computer to match that on the first which I believe will resolve both issues as I work on exactly the same data on both computers.

Does changing the stored paths (tabs, catalog, etc.) from C:\Users\Username\ to C:\Users\%UserName%\, i.e. change the hardcoded username to the system variable %UserName%, help in this regard?

The impression I get from various sources on the internet is that this won't work as all this does is display to the user the new name but nothing is actually changed on the computer so something like XYP would not be affected by this bit of window dressing. If I have missunderstood and you know of some feature that will change what XYP sees then please let me know.

The best solution I've found for catalog is conditional paths, if computer name is so and so path is abc, if it is something else path is xyz. see here:
http://www.xyplorer.com/xyfc/viewtopic. ... 722#p77722

This way you can script each path names too.

Hi thanks for the above although I'm not sure that it's what I want.

I want both my computers to be identical from a user point of view i.e when I open XYP on one computer it's exactly the same as when it was closed on the other computer. Also all the catalog items works identically on both machines. In my instance where I'm using Win 7 on both computers and I can rename the UserName on one to match the other I think this will do it for me.

This is what synchronization is for me to be able to use either computer to do my work without worrying about if the data is up to date or not and to have identical interfaces. I can see some people have big problems with directory structures and Operating Systems but fortunately this doesn't apply to me.

I intend to do the rename shortly and will post what happens. I'm a newbie so will only be able to tell you about the features that I use which aren't too many at the moment.

My original post was to find out which version (portable or installed) was best. What are your thoughts on this.

[nas8e9]

I intend to do the rename shortly and will post what happens. I'm a newbie so will only be able to tell you about the features that I use which aren't too many at the moment.

If memory serves, this may not work: when renaming an existing user account in Windows, the login name and its display are changed, but the new name is mapped to the old user folder, i.e. the name of the user folder on disk isn't changed.

My suggestion of changing the paths stored in XYplorer, could work *if* you don't save settings on exit in XYplorer, and infrequently make changes to paths in XYplorer's configuration. This is because XYplorer will resolve the paths and take the resolved path as basis for further folder changes. This means that if you store the tabs' location on exit, you'd store the resolved path. Given the different user names, that wouldn't work for synchronisation purposes.

[serendipity]

Ok read the first post more carefully. Seems like what nas8e9 mentioned about changing the username variable is the way to go. That way links will be intact across PCs. Or am i missing something?

[printedtopsntees]

I intend to do the rename shortly and will post what happens. I'm a newbie so will only be able to tell you about the features that I use which aren't too many at the moment.

If memory serves, this may not work: when renaming an existing user account in Windows, the login name and its display are changed, but the new name is mapped to the old user folder, i.e. the name of the user folder on disk isn't changed.

My suggestion of changing the paths stored in XYplorer, could work *if* you don't save settings on exit in XYplorer, and infrequently make changes to paths in XYplorer's configuration. This is because XYplorer will resolve the paths and take the resolved path as basis for further folder changes. This means that if you store the tabs' location on exit, you'd store the resolved path. Given the different user names, that wouldn't work for synchronisation purposes.

Thanks for the tips

There seems to be two ways of changing the User name.

1) Through Windows and as you say this is just a bit of window dressing that doesn't change anything deep down.

2) Do a deep level rename. There are a few ways of doing this some scarier than others but I have found one way that seems quite straightforward with just a few Registry tweaks. This will everything but a few Windows Tools see the new User Name.

I intend to go with No 2 which should make both my computers have exactly the same paths. I can easily rebuild the laptop if it goes wrong.

I will look into what you say about using built in features of XYP but as I say I'm a newbie and am still getting my head around its capabilities.

I know Don is unconvinced about Synchronization and I don't know the practicalities of any recode to resolve this issue. I've seen what serendipity (Cheers Mate) has posted on another thread on synchronization but right this moment it's way beyond me.

Something you guys may be able to help me with, which may give me another option, is that my laptop was bought second hand and the seller did a restore and he told me that he had to use the original User Name to setup the new installation. Is that correct as if not the I could do another restore and get the User Name I want.

[nas8e9]

There seems to be two ways of changing the User name.

1) Through Windows and as you say this is just a bit of window dressing that doesn't change anything deep down.

2) Do a deep level rename. There are a few ways of doing this some scarier than others but I have found one way that seems quite straightforward with just a few Registry tweaks. This will everything but a few Windows Tools see the new User Name.

I intend to go with No 2 which should make both my computers have exactly the same paths. I can easily rebuild the laptop if it goes wrong.

I'm curious: could you post a link to that second procedure?

Something you guys may be able to help me with, which may give me another option, is that my laptop was bought second hand and the seller did a restore and he told me that he had to use the original User Name to setup the new installation. Is that correct as if not the I could do another restore and get the User Name I want.

Restore can mean several things: it may mean there's a recovery partition which restores the image at the time of the computer's manufacture, although often a post-install wizard is then shown which allows user customisation, including user accounts. As factory images inevitably have crapware installed, there's already a user account in place, however.

A different angle would be the use of subst, a command-line way to assign drive letters to paths. In limited testing, doing something like:

Code: Select all

subst D: C:\Users\Username\Documents

... makes D: show up in XYplorer's tree. If this works for you, you'd simply have to run this command on startup and then you'd be able to define the data paths in XYplorer as being located under D: on both computers.

Do note that it seems you'd need to do this in a non-elevated command prompt and that the path shouldn't end in a backspace.

Edited.

[printedtopsntees]

There seems to be two ways of changing the User name.

1) Through Windows and as you say this is just a bit of window dressing that doesn't change anything deep down.

2) Do a deep level rename. There are a few ways of doing this some scarier than others but I have found one way that seems quite straightforward with just a few Registry tweaks. This will everything but a few Windows Tools see the new User Name.

I intend to go with No 2 which should make both my computers have exactly the same paths. I can easily rebuild the laptop if it goes wrong.

I'm curious: could you post a link to that second procedure?

http://www.ghacks.net/2011/03/28/how-to ... lder-name/