Syncing MAC and PC
Macbook Pro using Moneydance version 5118, running Sonoma version 14.5, The PCs are both Windows Home using release 23H2 version 22631.3810.
Sync method chosen was a shared folder on my NAS.
The network setting was previously configured with 2 PCs synced using this method and syncing between the 2 computers worked. When I added the Macbook to the configuration again the syncing was verified using transactions and reminders to ensure that all worked. Loading of the information on the Macbook was from the directions provided on the Infinite Kind site for setting up a sync between computers.
My sync problem showed up when I took the Macbook away from the home setup for a weeks vacation and was away from the local wifi and thus the shared drive.
What was noticed when I returned to sync the Macbook to the existing network was that the Macbook did not sync to the local PCs. I verified that there was no longer a connection between the computers by trying to add a simple reminder to see if it would show up on the other computers. The reminder did show on the other PC however the Macbook was no longer in sync with the PCs.
Looking into the Macbook I found that the home network shared drive folder was changed to a folder local to the Macbook under the current user..
When found I adjusted the shared folder first turning off syncing and shut down the program, restarted the program and changed the synce folder to be on my home wifi folder hoping that syncing would start once the shared folder was corrected.
During the initial reconnection to the shared folder I noticed that it did not request the passcode for the connection but ignored that point. I assume that this was remembered as part of the initial connection process.
Once this adjustment was made I was able to verify that when I made a new reminder or make a new transaction things synced as expected.
Following the change the problem continued where my local Macbook information did not sync back to the correct shared folder.. All of the work accomplished during my absence was now just on the Macbook and when I started to make any adjustments transactions on the outdated PC side were confused and then duplicated on the Macbook side and things went from bad to worse.
My solution was to not use the Macbook and add the information from my time away back in manually to the PC and basically avoid the sync which was not the plan.
Obviously this is not how I expected the sync process to work so is there something that I did not process correctly to cause this issue when I tried to reconnect the Macbook to my system?
In the near future I will again want to take the Macbook away from the home network and try again to update while away and then sync the changed information to the PCs once I reconnect to the home wifi.
Any assistance is welcome Thanks in advance.
Comments are currently closed for this discussion. You can start a new one.
Keyboard shortcuts
Generic
| ? | Show this help |
|---|---|
| ESC | Blurs the current field |
Comment Form
| r | Focus the comment reply box |
|---|---|
| ^ + ↩ | Submit the comment |
You can use Command ⌘ instead of Control ^ on Mac
Support Staff 1 Posted by Maddy on 25 Jul, 2024 01:22 PM
Hi,
We are sorry to hear about the problem you have encountered.
In order to determine what might be causing the problem, please can you provide the information below:
Which version and build of Moneydance are you using on each computer? To check, open Moneydance and select Moneydance/Help --> About Moneydance
Can you let me know which operating system you're running on your computers?
Is your data file stored in the default location on the primary computer?
Please note: if you are syncing your data with a mobile device, or another system - you should NOT move your data file to a shared folder location, like Dropbox. The file should remain on your local system if your data is being synced or shared, as outlined here.
When you navigate to File->Syncing which sync method do you have selected? Dropbox Folder, Dropbox Connection or Shared Folder ?
Finally, is your most recent data showing at least one of your devices? If so, which? Is this the 'primary'?
--
Maddy, Infinite Kind Support
2 Posted by graypg70 on 25 Jul, 2024 01:33 PM
As a further test to the issue I tried again from scratch to load and sync the 3 computers with the latest version of Moneydance and also on the home network. Again following the provided instructions I loaded the Laptop and synced to the desktop PC ( what is considered the master as this was kept as the source with its data residing on the NAS but was not cleaned off as part of the test). The sync went as expected and was ok. The Macbook was then loaded and synced to the NAS without issue. Once the data was reviewed as being consistent all computers were shut down for the day.
Day 1 of the test. I only used the Mac and used my phone for the network as to not be able to sync to the home NAS.
Day 2 of the test was again updated using the Mac and the home network was selected for the data. Data was updated and saved with the intent to sync the data back to the home NAS.
I opened the Desktop or Master and reviewed the data. I also had opened the Mac to verify the changes on the desktop PC. Unfortunately none of the changes from the Mac were synced to the PC.
So again will the sync work in this configuration or not?
Version of Moneydance on all computers
2024.1 (5118)
Desktop PC windows version
Windows 11 Home
Version 23H2
Installed on 10/5/22
OS build 22631.3380
Lap top windows information is identical to the desktop
The data files on the master or desktop is stored D:\Data\Moneydance
I am unclear about your last question about the "most recent data showing at least one of your devices"? Please explain this more. I see the most recent data on the Macbook as it is where I updated this morning. and no it is not the primary unit.
3 Posted by graypg70 on 25 Jul, 2024 01:36 PM
Sorry the Macbook version is MacOS Sonoma 14.5 (23F79)
Support Staff 4 Posted by Maddy on 25 Jul, 2024 01:42 PM
For the syncing process to work as expected your data file should be stored in the default location on the primary computer. This is where the software points at when syncing your data file. Moving it from the default location can cause issues as the one you describe.
If you wish to relocate your data file you should;
Navigate to Extensions->Manage Extensions and install the Toolbox.
Select the Update function (from within the Toolbox) and navigate to Menu: General Tools->Relocate this dataset back to the default 'internal' location.
Additionally, please let us know if you wish to make your MacBook the 'primary' and we will send you the relevant steps to achieve this.
--
Maddy, Infinite Kind Support
5 Posted by graypg70 on 25 Jul, 2024 02:02 PM
Must I keep it on the Microsoft OneDrive also? No I want the desktop to be the primary source of the program.
Must I also change the laptop to use the default data locations? The Mac was loaded as it wanted too so everything there is defaulted
Should I restart the test by removing the data from the Mac and Laptop and install and sync fresh or can I continue the testing with how it is installed?
6 Posted by graypg70 on 25 Jul, 2024 03:02 PM
ok I am just going to reinstall on the laptop and Macbook with all defaulted locations, other than the backups, which I assume is ok.
7 Posted by dwg on 25 Jul, 2024 09:51 PM
Backups can be stored anywhere you like.
8 Posted by graypg70 on 25 Jul, 2024 10:22 PM
9 Posted by graypg70 on 25 Jul, 2024 10:24 PM
10 Posted by graypg70 on 26 Jul, 2024 01:32 PM
OK I installed everything on the laptop and Mac yesterday but when I installed on the laptop it asked me for the sync password but did not on the mac. Prior to the Mac install i erased everything locally and also on the icloud. I am not sure this is an issue as today when I did my "remote" test on the Mac using my iphone as the online source when I reconnected to the home network no sync occurred.
As a kind of sync test that I did before and it seemed to work with all computers being on the network and also using the non defaulted drives on the Laptop and Desktop when I put in a reminder on the Mac it showed up on both of the Windows computers. Today following the instructions for file locations it did not work including any of the changed the changed data.
Looking on the Mac if I were to select File-> Syncing the window that is opened shows the correct information about how the data is to be synced and also where the sync data is located. When I select OK just to see what it would do I see that it is pointing to the HardDrive on the Mac under the users name and Moneydance folder.
Looking on the Desktop PC I did the same File->Syncing it was again pointing to the NAS but when I selected OK it just went away. It seems odd that one points to the local drive but the other doesn't.
I assume that what is on the Mac is somehow incorrect but am not sure how to repair.
Help !!
Adjustment I decided to remove the Sync information from the Mac and close /reopen and make the sync connection to the NAS again.
After a moment or two I noticed that the screen on the Mac moved around then I checked the Desktop and noticed that the data had changed and it was now in sync with the Mac.
Was this a fluke or will it default to the local drive again when I am not on the local network? I will try but any input will be appreciated.
LOOKING FURTHER INTO WHAT DATA WAS SYNCED BETWEEN THE MAC AND PC, I noticed that duplications of the data occurred, meaning the on purpose changed data was correctly synced however some of the past transactions were duplicated on both the PC and Mac which were made days before.
I shut down the PC copy and then put the Mac on another network i.e. my phone with Moneydance running, I noticed a message was displayed indicating that the network was missing. I answered ignore to it and then I looked at File->syncing on the Mac and noticed again that it was pointing to the local drive, I guess since the Network was missing, so I will continue to test but what are your thoughts on this and what would be the best method to sync once I am on a different network.
If this is the issue then using non standard file locations may not be an issue, just for thought.
I will wait for your input but continue to test locally.
11 Posted by derekkent23 on 27 Jul, 2024 07:31 AM
I am not support staff, just a user.
Hi graypg70
Over the years I seen a number of post relating to trying to use a NAS setups. As Moneydance syncing was not designed or tested to work on a NAS random problems sometimes seem to occur.
Moneydance Sync is tested and approved for syncing between computers with different operating systems using a free Dropbox cloud server account. I would recommend the Sync Method Dropbox Folder after setting up a free Dropbox account and downloading Dropbox client onto each of your computers. Mobile devices already have Dropbox imbedded in the Moneydance mobile app.
The data synced to Dropbox is end to end encrypted with the key only held on your devices not in the cloud.
Hope this helps.
12 Posted by graypg70 on 27 Jul, 2024 11:27 AM
13 Posted by derekkent23 on 27 Jul, 2024 01:46 PM
I am not support staff, just a user.
Hi Peter
Replying by email often does not work. Your post has no new content.
Use your browser and go to https://infinitekind.tenderapp.com/discussions/iphone-ipod-touch-ip...
to post a reply.
graypg70 closed this discussion on 27 Jul, 2024 02:00 PM.