Question on syncing between computers
I'm successfully running MD 2017.3 (1610) on macOS 10.12.5 and sharing between several Macs and iPhones. In reading your topic about sharing in http://help.infinitekind.com/kb/moneydance-2017/sharing-data-using-... I noticed the following item: "Please ensure that the data files you'd like to share are not already located in any shared folder (like Dropbox, Network Share, etc) before following the steps below."
I currently have my .moneydance data file as well as my .moneydancearchive files on dropbox and am syncing with the dropbox folder method which has been working fine on all machines. I plan to wait until the dust settles from the new update before I install it, but want to make sure that I won't run into any problems with my current syncing method.
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1 Posted by jonthaler on Jun 26, 2017 @ 02:10 AM
I am also confused. Currently, I sync by keeping my Data file in the Dropbox folder and letting Dropbox it do the work. What is the difference/advantage of taking the file out of this folder and selecting (in the File/Syncing... menu) the "Dropbox Folder", "Dropbox Connection", or "Shared Folder" option? Right now, "Don't Sync" is selected.
PS: I looked in vain for the ("Coming soon!") Moneydance 2017 User Guide. I am willing to pay a bit more for well documented SW.
2 Posted by derekkent23 on Jun 26, 2017 @ 08:17 AM
I am not support staff, just a user.
Up to Moneydance 2015 to sync, Drobox was the correct place to locate your .moneydance data set. In 2017 the sync approach is completely different. Moneydance automatically set up a sync folder .moneydancesync in Dropbox. If you locate your data set in Dropbox you data, in effect, is being synced twice between your computer and the cloud storage Dropbox. This can potentially create errors. You should locate your data set folder in the Moneydance default location HELP – SHOW DOCUMENT FOLDER. You should keep your manual and auto backup locations on Dropbox in case your computer drive should fail.
If you don’t use the new sync method, setting “Don’t sync” and put your data set on Dropbox you can only open your data set on one computer at a time or you risk data corruption. With your data set in its default location on your main computer and setting “Dropbox Folder” and following the steps in http://help.infinitekind.com/kb/moneydance-2017/sharing-data-using-... a sync folder is automatically set up on Dropbox and a duplicate data set is automatically created on your second computer, again in its default location. This means you can have your data set open on just one or more than one computer at a time. The local data set for each computer updating to/from the Dropbox sync folder. You can work when not connected to the internet. Data being synced next time you go online via the Dropbox sync folder. Information on using alternative to Dropbox folder, Dropbox connection and shared folder is given in the linked article.
By the way I agree that the 2017 user guide should be released by now. Not professional.
Hope this helps.
3 Posted by wa1oui on Jun 26, 2017 @ 11:26 AM
@derekkent23 Thanks for your detailed reply. I've followed your advice and moved my db back to the local folder. Two questions:
1) Do I really understand your comment that you can have MD open on more than one device at a time?!?! I've always been so careful to never have that happened as I know the dangers of accessing a db from a network when the program can't handle that.
2) What do you mean by "manual and autobackup locations"? I assume autobackup is MD saving n number of days of backup which I have on Dropbox. By manual do you mean a method I use externally to backup the default document folder? Currently I use Mac Time Machine and an incremental backup run nightly.
Thanks so much for your comments.
4 Posted by dwg on Jun 26, 2017 @ 11:54 AM
@wa1out
Moneydance 2017 can be opened on one or more devices simultaneously operating on the same data set. This is totally different to how Moneydance 2015 or earlier worked. The fundamental difference is that you must use the inbuilt Moneydance synchronisation for this to work, use any other method and you are likely to get the same sort of data corruption as you would have with the earlier releases.
Moneydance 2017 can do this because each computer has its own copy of the data set - hence why you keep it on your local hard disk, but what the sync engine is doing is moving around log files of data updates and changes between the machines and applying them locally.
Quite frankly because of the sync engine in MD2017 and the limitation of dropbox sharing of the data set I would suggest that the previous method that received conditional support in MD2015 or earlier not be supported at all in MD2017.
Derek is saying that you can store Backups, both the automatically created ones and ones you create manually from within Moneydance can be stored on drop box. These should not interfere at all with the sync process, unlike some of the problems that have been seen with storing the data set itself on drop box with MD2017. While you can point the moneydance backup location to a dropbox folder you should not point it to a network share, you are likely to see a big performance hit if you do.
Using a proper external backup method is superior again as you are using a tool designed for the job, the Moneydance backups are relatively elementary backups but can be useful.
5 Posted by wa1oui on Jun 26, 2017 @ 12:54 PM
Great explanation... I've rearranged my files and all connect properly. Thanks!!!
6 Posted by TonyRI on Jun 26, 2017 @ 01:05 PM
Just to add a note (not sure if you made a typo, or not). The latest stable release of MD is now 2017.3 build 1620:
https://infinitekind.com/download-moneydance-personal-finance-software
7 Posted by wa1oui on Jun 26, 2017 @ 01:08 PM
Actually it wasn't a typo... I'd had the 1610 version to see if it would solve a problem. Not sure if it did, but I did update to 1620. Thanks for checking.
8 Posted by TonyRI on Jun 26, 2017 @ 01:16 PM
You're welcome. Take care! :)
System closed this discussion on Sep 25, 2017 @ 01:20 PM.