Sharing user data on home, office and Powerbook computers

[Clayton Townsend]

I have Office X on several different computers and would like to keep
all my user data the same on each of them. Is there an easy way to
keep them all in sync? Most important to me is the info in Entourage
(addresses, calandar and to do lists) but, it would be great to keep
the documents in sync too. If anyone can help, I would surely be
thankful.

 

[Diane Ross]

I have Office X on several different computers and would like to keep
all my user data the same on each of them. Is there an easy way to
keep them all in sync?
No.

Most important to me is the info in Entourage
(addresses, calandar and to do lists) but, it would be great to keep
the documents in sync too. If anyone can help, I would surely be
thankful.

Rules, mailing lists, signatures, messages, data, schedules, contacts,
tasks, notes, calendar are located in one file.

Entourage X : ~/Documents/Microsoft User Data/Office X Identities/your
identity

Because Entourage stores the info in a database you cannot sync one database
with another. What you choose to do, depends on how often you feel the need
to update.

I suggest getting an IMAP account. Simply put, a POP account downloads all
new mail from the server to the user's computer. In an IMAP account,
everything is kept on the server. This is especially useful if you use
several computers and/or travel. Your local ISP might not offer IMAP so you
might have to shop around. Remember you get what you pay for.

http://www.ii.com/internet/messaging/imap/isps/

To keep incoming messages synced, you can select to leave mail on server so
all incoming mail can be downloaded to each computer. The problem with this
is it doesn't take into consideration what you do with that message.

You can BCC yourself on all sent mail.

Duplicating the Identity folder and replacing it on the other computers only
works if you have a primary computer. This method breaks down if you are
constantly switching computers.

Paul Berkowitz's scripts Export-Import might be a big help so check them
out.

<http://macscripter.net/scriptbuilders/category.php?search=export-import>

I bet about now the IMAP account sounds pretty good.


For syncing your documents, that's another matter. I use Synchronize Pro X
and find it very easy to use. Tri-Backup is another you might want to check
out.

 

[Clayton Townsend]

Thanks so much for your prompt resopnse and helpful advice. I
understand the IMAP sugestion. Also the document sync issue but, I am
a little confused about the identy folder. Is this the only way to
move new contacts and calandars around when I can't keep track of
individual entries?

Thanks again.

 

[Mickey Stevens]

Moving the identity folder actually replaces all of the Entourage data on
one computer with that of another. It's not very elegant, but it's
efficient enough for some people.

The other option, using Paul Berkowitz's "Export-Import Entourage" script
package ($20), allows you to keep different Entourage databases in sync.
You can download a copy from the link Diane provided. Read the Read Me to
see if it's a product you'd be interested in purchasing.

 

[Diane Ross]

Thanks so much for your prompt resopnse and helpful advice. I
understand the IMAP sugestion. Also the document sync issue but, I am
a little confused about the identy folder. Is this the only way to
move new contacts and calandars around when I can't keep track of
individual entries?

The Identity folder contains everything. As Mickey said, it's not an elegant
way, but it works.

For contacts and calendars, Paul's scripts are the ticket.

Here's the description:

A collection of over 50 scripts to export and import almost everything -
Contacts, Groups, Calendar Events, Tasks, Notes, Messages, Folders,
Accounts, Signatures, Mailing Lists and Categories - from one identity of
Entourage X to any other, to and from Entourage 2001, and to transfer
Contacts, Calendar, Tasks and Notes to and from other PIM programs on the
Mac and Windows, with special converters for Microsoft Outlook, Excel and
other programs.

Scripts will export everything as tab-delimited text.
They can also import them back again, or into another identity. If you ever
Need to. You can also open these files in Excel, which makes them easier to
"read", and there are some Excel scripts in there too which can help
manipulate them for various purposes.