Synchronizing files between two or more computers

Today many of us work with more than just one computer. For instance, you can use one PC in your office and another at home, etc. In such case you probably want the files you work with to be the same on all the computers you are using. Here we run into the task of synchronizing files between computers.

Let's consider the ways you could go to synchronize files.

Basic approach

The idea is simple and comes to mind at once. To synchronize files we should just copy the files of interest from "PC A" to a removable disk or place them online to take them to "PC B". And if a file on the removable disk appears newer than its copy on "PC B", you should overwrite the copy with the removable-based file.

That's all. Does anybody know another way? I doubt so. Well, if it were so easy, why would you care to search for advanced way?

File synchronization software

There are several advantages in using the Active Backup Expert software that synchronizes files for you.

• You select the files to synchronize only once. Besides the obvious effect - you don't have to do it every time - there is a more important consequence: you won't miss a file by mistake.
• You select the folder to copy files from a removable only once. Thanks to that, you won't copy them to a wrong folder.
• Compression. Your files on a removable disk will take less space if you are using the ABE. It means that you can use a smaller media or reduce the number of discs needed.
• You will have a backup of your files. It is a very important side effect of using the ABE to synchronize files.

Synchronizing files with Active Backup Expert

We recommend the ABE to synchronize your files.

You need to install the ABE on every of your computers to synchronize. But don't worry, if you are the only person who uses the ABE on those computers, you need just one license. And if there are other people using the ABE, we offer great quantity discounts (please see our pricing).

Here is how it works.

First you'll have to set up a backup-project that includes your files to synchronize (Please see our Creating backup-project page for more info about creating projects). For a synchronization project you should set the "Restore only newer and brand new files" option on Project properties->Restoring page. Specify the removable device's or FTP folder as one of Storage Folders for the project. As soon as you have your project set up, you're ready to do the synchronization.

The synchronization itself consists of two stages: "create a backup of files on PC A"  and "restore the backup on PC B". Let's take a closer look at both the stages.

Creating a backup of files on PC A.

Just open your synchronization project with the ABE and press the Backup button. The Incremental mode backup (it includes only changed files) would be enough for synchronization. Though you can select the Full or Differential mode as well (see our Incremental Backup vs. Differential Backup to compare the backup modes).

 

Restoring the backup on PC B.

Import the backup made on PC A into the ABE on PC B. Press the Restore button on that backup. Correct the folder to extract files, if needed.

When you are about to go from PC B to PC A just create a backup with your synchronization project, export it to removable media or FTP and restore it on PC A.

If you are using different location for your files on your two computers, you don't have to use two projects to synchronize the file. Just modify the included masks of the copy of your synchronization project on PC B to include the files from the correct folders.

(unlimited 30-day trial, 4Mb)

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