File Synchronization

Bonsai Outliner for Windows > File Synchronization

Bonsai is able to synchronize two outline files by using the synchronize with file feature. The feature has three main uses:

•	Bonsai USB users can synchronize their outline files between their desktop version and a copy on their USB drive.

•	Palm Pre phone users can synchronize the outlines between their desktop and the version stored on the Palm Pre.

•	By synchronizing the desktop outline with a copy stored on a network resource, users can share outlines with other co-workers.

The synchronization can be run manually or configured to run whenever the outline is opened or saved. When the synchronization is run, the status is displayed in the Bonsai status bar. If changes are detected on both copies of the outline, the user will be presented with a conflict dialog to allow them to select which change is kept. Since Bonsai syncs at the field level within the outline item, the change must be made to the same field in both outlines in order to trigger this dialog. If an error occurs, check the synchronization log for additional details. The log can be viewed from the global settings dialog synchronization tab.

The Bonsai synchronization engine is able to synchronize at the field level within the outline item but to do so, requires the use of modification flags to track these field level changes. After synchronization, the modification flags are cleared. If the outline is synchronized with more than one outline, the sync engine will be unable to use field level synchronization for the second and subsequent outline synchronizations. The sync engine instead falls back to outline item level synchronization, taking the most recent outline item change. This affects users synchronizing their desktop outline both to their phone or PDA and to an outline on their USB drive. It also applies to users sharing an outline file on a network resource among several users. For best results and to avoid conflicts, your outline should be synchronized before modifying the outline. Be sure to synchronize your phone or PDA device before modifying your desktop copy of the outline. For file synchronization, Bonsai can automate the file synchronization when you enable the synchronize on outline open and save option. Bonsai will also remind you to run the file synchronization at the time you make your first modification to the outline file if the synchronization has not been done or if the outline file has been modified since the last synchronization.

When Bonsai is configured for synchronize on outline open and save, the synchronization status is shown on the status bar. If the synchronization fails, this is the only warning that is displayed. For example, if you synchronize with an outline on a USB drive and do not have your drive connected, the synchronization will fail and this error will be displayed in the status bar. If this were to happen and you do not resolve the failure, you will be prompted to synchronize the outline when you make the first modification to your outline file.