Synchronizing data between two computers.
One of the easiest ways a person can transfer date between two computers on a regular basis is through the Windows Briefcase feature that is natively a part of Windows XP. It can not only help you transfer files, but helps you keep your files updated by automatically synchronizing multiple copies of individual files. It’s able to accomplish this task because the Briefcase keeps track of the files on all and displays the update status of the computers involved.
1. Click Start, and then click My Computer.
2. Click the folder in which you want to create a new briefcase.
3. On the File menu, click New, and then click Briefcase. The new briefcase is created. To open the briefcase, double-click it.
If you want to create a new briefcase on your desktop, right-click an empty area of your desktop, click New, and then click Briefcase.
1. Start Briefcase on your portable computer, and then drag the files or folders that you want to work with from your desktop computer to Briefcase.
2. Start Briefcase, and then make the changes that you want to the files.
How to Use Briefcase to Synchronize Files When You Come Back
1. When you have finished working on the files, reconnect your portable computer and then start Briefcase on your portable computer.
2. Do one of the following:
To update all files, click Update All on the Briefcase menu.
-or-
To update only some of the files, select the file or files that you want to update, and then click Update Selection on the Briefcase menu.
3. 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.
4. The files on your server are updated with the modified versions of those files in Briefcase on your portable computer.
How to Check the Status of Files Stored in Briefcase
1. Start Briefcase, right-click the file that you want to check, and then click Properties.
2. Click the Update Status tab.
If the Briefcase file and its counterpart outside Briefcase (the original copy of the file on another computer) are synchronized, an Up-to-date icon is displayed.
If the Briefcase file and its counterpart are not synchronized, a
Replace arrow is displayed. The arrow points towards the copy of the file that requires updating.
3. Click Update to synchronize the files.
The file stored in Briefcase and its counterpart outside Briefcase are synchronized.
For more information on the the Windows Briefcase feature please review the following website.
How To Use the Briefcase Feature in Windows XP Article ID 307885
