ndcpa
asked on
Sync Outlook on 2 computers
I have a Dell Desktop and a Vaio portable Both running XP home and Office XP. I use Outlook 2002 for e-mail, contacts, calendar and tasks. I work mostly from my desktop however, when I am out of my office I carry the Vaio. These machines are NOT in a network. So no MS exchange server or anything like that. Strictly stand alone machines.
I have had 3 different PDAs and they just really don't cut it with me. Is there a quick and easy way to sync my two computers so my contact, appointments and tasks are always current?
I would like to sinc them in the same fashion that you would a PDA. Plug in and automatic. Any ideas?
PS - I have had this question posted for several months with no real answers just a lot of go read this or go read that. Anybody out there really good with Outlook?
I have had 3 different PDAs and they just really don't cut it with me. Is there a quick and easy way to sync my two computers so my contact, appointments and tasks are always current?
I would like to sinc them in the same fashion that you would a PDA. Plug in and automatic. Any ideas?
PS - I have had this question posted for several months with no real answers just a lot of go read this or go read that. Anybody out there really good with Outlook?
Hello ndcpa,
from http://www.slipstick.com/outlook/sync.htm
--------------------------
This solution comes from F.E. Froelich:
I think I have found a relatively painless way to share Microsoft Outlook between my laptop, which I travel with, and my desktop without having to connect the two computers together.
I created a directory for the two Outlook files Mailbox.pab and Mailbox.pst. I then copied the directory into My Briefcase. I then placed My Briefcase onto a disk. (I have a Zip drive on both computers, so I keep a Zip disk with nothing but My Briefcase on it for sharing files between my laptop and desktop.) I then deleted the Mailbox.pab and Mailbox.pst files from my laptop and copied the two files from My Briefcase into a directory on the laptop.
When I am ready to leave with the laptop, I put the My Briefcase Zip disk into the desktop and update the files, then put the same disk into my laptop and update. When I come back, I reverse the sequence. So far it seems to work.
As an aside, I have copied the entire My Documents directory into My Briefcase on the same Zip disk. Now all of my Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and Access files are kept up to date between the two computers. When I create a new file or subdirectory on one computer, it is automatically added to the other computer the next time I do an update. This approach is much more efficient than trying to make sure that I have placed all of the individual files that I need into My Briefcase. There is no better way to manage My Briefcase than with a Zip drive (unless you have a LAN).
--------------------------
it's under the windows briefcase section of that page
and here are some mskb articles giving some more info on how to set this up
for outlook xp
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;q294759
general info on the briefcase in windows xp
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;q307885
HAGD:O)Bruintje
from http://www.slipstick.com/outlook/sync.htm
--------------------------
This solution comes from F.E. Froelich:
I think I have found a relatively painless way to share Microsoft Outlook between my laptop, which I travel with, and my desktop without having to connect the two computers together.
I created a directory for the two Outlook files Mailbox.pab and Mailbox.pst. I then copied the directory into My Briefcase. I then placed My Briefcase onto a disk. (I have a Zip drive on both computers, so I keep a Zip disk with nothing but My Briefcase on it for sharing files between my laptop and desktop.) I then deleted the Mailbox.pab and Mailbox.pst files from my laptop and copied the two files from My Briefcase into a directory on the laptop.
When I am ready to leave with the laptop, I put the My Briefcase Zip disk into the desktop and update the files, then put the same disk into my laptop and update. When I come back, I reverse the sequence. So far it seems to work.
As an aside, I have copied the entire My Documents directory into My Briefcase on the same Zip disk. Now all of my Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and Access files are kept up to date between the two computers. When I create a new file or subdirectory on one computer, it is automatically added to the other computer the next time I do an update. This approach is much more efficient than trying to make sure that I have placed all of the individual files that I need into My Briefcase. There is no better way to manage My Briefcase than with a Zip drive (unless you have a LAN).
--------------------------
it's under the windows briefcase section of that page
and here are some mskb articles giving some more info on how to set this up
for outlook xp
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;q294759
general info on the briefcase in windows xp
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;q307885
HAGD:O)Bruintje
ASKER
Reply to TempestOH:
If the solution is simple and automatic I would be willing to net work these 2 machines. So please explain.
Reply to Bruintje:
Hello, good to hear from you again. I will try your solution and see how easy it is to do on a regular basis. I will let you know after I try it a few days.
If the solution is simple and automatic I would be willing to net work these 2 machines. So please explain.
Reply to Bruintje:
Hello, good to hear from you again. I will try your solution and see how easy it is to do on a regular basis. I will let you know after I try it a few days.
I was having the same problem/need.
THen I found this a couple of weeks ago.
THe guy provides great support and has a couple of links to exhaustive help.
http://www.vaita.com/
THen I found this a couple of weeks ago.
THe guy provides great support and has a couple of links to exhaustive help.
http://www.vaita.com/
I can tell you how I've done it in Outlook 2000. I'm sure it's very similar in Outlook XP. On the View menu, you can select Folder View so that you see the name of your PST and each individual folder within it; Inbox, Tasks, etc... Then highlight the folder you want to share, go to the File menu and select Share---> This Folder. The wizard will walk you through an easy setup process where you can decide on permissions. Once the sharing is complete, you can right click on the shared folder and choose properties. There will now be a sharing tab there. You can control how often Outlook will synchronize files between users you've shared the folder with and other things from here. Actually, it uses e-mail to synchronize everything, so you won't have to network the computers if you don't want to. Let me know if you have problems or need more information. Good luck!
Tempest
Tempest
ASKER
Sorry, TempestOH, XP and Microsoft no longer support shared filed in outlook. Yet, I know that sounds like the stupidist decision I had ever hear too.
However, good old MS like always knows more about what you and I need in our software performance than we do.
I have considered removing Outlook XP and going back to Outlook 2000, however, to use half XP and half 2000 really presents some hassles when installing service patches.
However, good old MS like always knows more about what you and I need in our software performance than we do.
I have considered removing Outlook XP and going back to Outlook 2000, however, to use half XP and half 2000 really presents some hassles when installing service patches.
I assume that you (can) have periodic access to the Internet from both machines; if so, you may want to consider a sync application from fusion one (www.fusionone.com).
I faced a problem similar to yours - keeping my office, home office and laptop data synched and tried multiple solutions. I have found fusion one to work reliably and conveniently. It will allow you to sync the standard contacts, tasks, etc. Additionally, for a fee, you can also sync favorites, email and file folders. What makes this a "killer app" for me is that you can set up an automatic synch schedule on any machine that has a constant connection. So, if you are travelling and add contacts to your laptop that you synch while surfing/checking email on the road they will can be automatically pulled to your (constant connection) desktop. Finally, you can access your info via a web interface similar to that used by yahoo.
The basic service used to be free; however, as many businesses have changed course from the "frantic land grab" business models that may no longer be the case. I believe the premium service is approx. $35/year.
Before I settled on this solution I tried other similar online services - that were not as full featured - as well as a network synch app - OSASync which allows you to share folders as described by TempestOH but in XP. You may want to check out OSASync if you desire an "internal/non-web-based" solution." But, I am not aware if you can synch via a cable as I used it on a network.
I faced a problem similar to yours - keeping my office, home office and laptop data synched and tried multiple solutions. I have found fusion one to work reliably and conveniently. It will allow you to sync the standard contacts, tasks, etc. Additionally, for a fee, you can also sync favorites, email and file folders. What makes this a "killer app" for me is that you can set up an automatic synch schedule on any machine that has a constant connection. So, if you are travelling and add contacts to your laptop that you synch while surfing/checking email on the road they will can be automatically pulled to your (constant connection) desktop. Finally, you can access your info via a web interface similar to that used by yahoo.
The basic service used to be free; however, as many businesses have changed course from the "frantic land grab" business models that may no longer be the case. I believe the premium service is approx. $35/year.
Before I settled on this solution I tried other similar online services - that were not as full featured - as well as a network synch app - OSASync which allows you to share folders as described by TempestOH but in XP. You may want to check out OSASync if you desire an "internal/non-web-based" solution." But, I am not aware if you can synch via a cable as I used it on a network.
ASKER
I found the answer to this one.
go to pcworld.com/31454. A pair of shortcut files and an old DOS command (xcopy) and a zip drive, cd-rw, floppy or USB memory stick and it works great. fast and easy.
NDCPA
go to pcworld.com/31454. A pair of shortcut files and an old DOS command (xcopy) and a zip drive, cd-rw, floppy or USB memory stick and it works great. fast and easy.
NDCPA
osasync at www.vaita.com just got updated
it is by far and away the best sync going without exchange... I sync three machines and they are always current except with they are not on the same network.. and supposdly you can sync then via a VLAN or via a VPN
it is by far and away the best sync going without exchange... I sync three machines and they are always current except with they are not on the same network.. and supposdly you can sync then via a VLAN or via a VPN
ASKER
Since I found my own answer please delete this question.
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from npcpa:
"...XP and Microsoft no longer support shared filed in outlook. Yet, I know that sounds like the stupidist decision I had ever hear too."
If you ever used the shared folders feature in Outlook 2000, you wouldn't want to ever use it again. The feature worked sporadically at best.
"...XP and Microsoft no longer support shared filed in outlook. Yet, I know that sounds like the stupidist decision I had ever hear too."
If you ever used the shared folders feature in Outlook 2000, you wouldn't want to ever use it again. The feature worked sporadically at best.
from npcpa:
"...XP and Microsoft no longer support shared filed in outlook. Yet, I know that sounds like the stupidist decision I had ever hear too."
If you ever used the shared folders feature in Outlook 2000, you wouldn't want to ever use it again. The feature worked sporadically at best.
"...XP and Microsoft no longer support shared filed in outlook. Yet, I know that sounds like the stupidist decision I had ever hear too."
If you ever used the shared folders feature in Outlook 2000, you wouldn't want to ever use it again. The feature worked sporadically at best.
Tempest