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Multiple sync

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Phil Kauffman

22 Nov, 2020 06:05 PM

Sir/Madam:

First and foremost, please accept one million kudos for an excellent double-entry personal finance program. I have been using your product since MoneyDance 2006!

I currently have Moneydance 2019 running on a single Mac. My wife and I have a second Mac that we wish to have working with MoneyDance as well as both of our iPhones.

Please advise me as to how to properly make this work.

1. 1 Posted by Stuart Beesley ... on 22 Nov, 2020 06:17 PM

   

   rough instructions:

   1/ install same version of MD on all devices
   2/ get dropbox working on all devices and ensure you can see DB working and syncing OK on all devices
   3/ on main dataset, Menu>File>Syncing.
   - choose dropbox folders
   - Set a passphrase
   4/ on the secondary machine wait until you can see dropbox folder populating.... (it's a hidden folder in dropbox)
   5/ on secondary, moneydance, file new> open sync folder, dropbox folders, enter same passphrase, choose the dataset.

   on iOS, moneydance app, click the settings gear, dropbox folders, same passphrase,

   (a fellow user)

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2. 2 Posted by derekkent23 on 22 Nov, 2020 07:22 PM

   

   I am not support staff, just a user.
   Hi Phil

   Moneydance - Setting up Sync Method Dropbox Folder to another computer.

   Make sure you have the same version/build of Moneydance installed on all computers.

   You need to has a least a free Dropbox account and have installed Dropbox client on the computers to be synced.

   When you sync you have a primary computer and one or more secondary computers.
   The free Dropbox account only allows you to install Dropbox Client on three computers. If you need more than 3 then the extra computers can use Dropbox Connection where you don’t need to install Dropbox client.

   You don’t have to be online when Moneydance is running as changes are written to your local Dropbox folder. The next time you go online the changes will be synced.

   Dropbox Folder syncing method setup is as follows:

   1. Open Moneydance on your primary computer under FILE (MONEYDANCE on Mac) - SYNCING, set your “Encryption Passphrase”, set “Sync Method” to “Dropbox Folder” and click OK.
      
   2. Wait for Dropbox folder “.moneydancesync” and its contents to be created in your Dropbox folder. This can take some time. Watch the Dropbox icon and wait till it states “Up to Date”. Then wait until the same Dropbox folder appears on your second computer, again watch the Dropbox icon this time on your second computer and wait till it states “Up to Date”. From now on normal syncing is fast, no need to wait or check. Note: on a Mac if “.moneydancesync” is hidden, try in your Finder window, typing CMD-Shift-G and then pasting ~/Dropbox/.moneydancesync/ into the box to unhide.
      
   3. On your second computer starting Moneydance should open it in the welcome window, click on “Create a new account set”. Or if it opens in to an existing account click FILE (MONEYDANCE on Mac) - NEW
      
   4. Select “Open Synced File” and use dropdown to select “Dropbox Folder” then click NEXT.
      
   5. You should see a search screen headed “Finding synced files” then “Select a synced document to open”
      
   6. Highlight the data set name you won’t to sync with and click NEXT.
      
   7. Enter the encryption password, the “Encryption Passphrase” you set on your primary computer under FILE – SYNCING.
      
   8. Then click on FINISH. You should see the message “Performing initial sync this may take a while”.
      
   9. Wait to syncing is complete.
      You may find a lot of old, maybe closed accounts or other accounts you have removed from the side bar reappearing in the second computers side bar. Use the “+” sign at bottom of side bar then ADVANCED to tidy up the side bar.

   You can also sync to mobile devices such as phones. The free app is available from Play Store, or Apple Store. The setup is as follows.
   1. On your phone once the Moneydance app is installed, open the app, then tap "Connect to Dropbox" or Dropbox icon.
   2. You'll be taken to Dropbox's website to give the Moneydance app permission to access your Dropbox.
   If you're already connected to Dropbox on your device, this may be done automatically.
   3. If you have more than one file enabled to sync via Dropbox, choose the file you'd like to sync.
   4. Enter the Encryption Password (“Encryption Passphrase”) that you used to sync on your computers.
   5. It can take a long time to for the first sync to complete, perhaps leave overnight if necessary.

   You can now view, edit and add transaction to your Bank and credit card type accounts. You don’t get access to investment account reminders, reports etc. It’s just a simple method of adding transaction when you’re out and about.
   Perhaps also read https://infinitekind.tenderapp.com/kb/syncing-and-sharing-data

   Hope this helps.

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