The Briefcase is a special folder that supports simple two-way file synchronization between itself and another folder. The Briefcase is designed for mobile PC users so that they may transfer it to a removable drive and have it synchronize with the computer to which the removable drive is attached.
The Briefcase feature in Windows helps user keep his files updated by automatically synchronizing multiple copies of individual files. It keeps track of the relationship between files on two or more computers.
Briefcase stores and displays the update status of files. It keeps track of whether a file is linked to the original file on your main computer, or whether it is an orphan file (a file stored in Briefcase that is not linked to another file). You can use this information to keep your files organized and to keep track of the most recent versions of your files.
Use Briefcase when you use two or more computers to work on files, and when you need to frequently transfer files between computers by using a direct cable connection or a removable disk.
Use Briefcase when you use two or more computers to work on files, and when you need to frequently transfer files between computers by using a direct cable connection or a removable disk.
- To update all files, click Update All on the Briefcase menu.
- To update only some of the files stored in Briefcase, select the files that you want to update, and then click Update Selection on the Briefcase menu
How to Create:
· Choose New -> Briefcase from the menu.
· Optionally, rename the Briefcase icon.
Using Briefcase to Synchronize Files Stored on External Storage Media:
• Attach an External Storage Media with your computer.
• Start Briefcase, and then copy the files or folders that you want to work with from your computer to Briefcase.
• Drag/Copy Briefcase to the External Media (The files and folders in Briefcase are copied to the disk.)
• Remove the External Storage from your desktop computer, and then insert it into your portable computer.
• Start Briefcase from the media, and then make the changes that you want to the files.
• When you have finished working on the files, remove the media from your portable computer, and then reinsert it into your desktop computer.
• Start Briefcase from the media, and then do one of the following:
• The Update dialog box is displayed. Confirm the update action on the files or folders that are displayed in the dialog box, and then click Update.
The files on your desktop computer are synchronized with the updated versions of those files in Briefcase on the Removable media.
Splitting Files Stored in Briefcase from Their Counterparts
When you split a file stored in Briefcase, you separate the Briefcase copy of the file from its counterpart outside Briefcase. The resulting orphan file stored in Briefcase can no longer be synchronized.
To split files stored in Briefcase from their counterparts, follow these steps:
1. Start Briefcase, right-click the file that you want to split, and then click Properties.
2. Click the Update Status tab.
3. Click Split From Original, and then click Yes when you are prompted, to prevent any future updates of the file.
4. Click Close, and then quit Briefcase.
The file is now an orphan.
Limitations
When a user wishes to sync a file with one in another folder, the file-name must be exactly the same. If any item is renamed or moved, it splits from the original, is no longer synchronized and becomes an orphan. If an item is deleted, the associated copy by default is deleted as well when using Update All.
If the briefcase medium becomes full during an Update, there will be no space for writing the updated briefcase database. This has the effect of making many of the folders and files orphans, with no easy way to restore their link with their counterparts on the source medium.
Such limitations (and others) make briefcase files very brittle, easily corrupted. This limits robustness as a folder and file backup mechanism.
