Just got a new computer, with Vista, so stuck with WMDC, instead of the XP
sync environemnt.

In XP, for all conflicts, a dialog was borought up, and for each item, you
could decide whether to accept the copy on the desktop or the PPC. It was
very clear, with an arrow pointing in the direction you wanted the
copy/replace to go.

In WMDC, i find just one setting, under "manage a partnership", then a
dropdown for "If there is a conflict", and you can choose, "replace items on
device" or "replace items on desktop".

But, this is not at all adequate. I cannot state one global rule for this
delicate situation. I want to decide each case, just like XP let me do.

Am I missing something? Is there any way to get the same control i had in XP,
so that i could choose for each item individually, as to if the desktop or
the mobil version is the one to keep?

This is super-dangerous. I might lose valuable information by having it
overwritten! My answer to the conflict quesiton is not always the same
answer, for all cases, in all situations.

Thanks,
tom

--
Message posted via http://www.pocketpcjunkies.com

>> with Vista, so stuck with WMDC <<

Everyone feels your pain, but the short answer is that (afaik) there are
no options for what you need.

Most of us old timers thought that with each version of activesync,
things could not get any worse, but, sure enough, with every version,
they got worse, and then the trend took a major jump with wmdc.

There are finally some decent third party sync solutions appearing such
as goosync which works with google calendar and contacts, plus, exchange
sync may address some of these needs by using a subscription exchange
service. Depending on the age of your device, syncing using a different
computer running xp and an older version of activesync may offer a
painful but usable solution.

>> Am I missing something? <<

You are not missing anything... unfortunately, the "activesync team" has
operated as a closed and user hostile entity since the pocketpc was
introduced despite the attempts of uncounted users who have gone above
and beyond in the vain attempt to get microsoft to address ongoing and
increasing user sync problems.

Beverly Howard

"TomCon via PocketPCJunkies.com" <u50688@uwe> wrote in message
news:942ff55172547@uwe...
> Just got a new computer, with Vista, so stuck with WMDC, instead of the XP
> sync environemnt.
>
> In XP, for all conflicts, a dialog was borought up, and for each item, you
> could decide whether to accept the copy on the desktop or the PPC. It was
> very clear, with an arrow pointing in the direction you wanted the
> copy/replace to go.
>
> In WMDC, i find just one setting, under "manage a partnership", then a
> dropdown for "If there is a conflict", and you can choose, "replace items
> on
> device" or "replace items on desktop".
>
> But, this is not at all adequate. I cannot state one global rule for this
> delicate situation. I want to decide each case, just like XP let me do.
>
> Am I missing something? Is there any way to get the same control i had in
> XP,
> so that i could choose for each item individually, as to if the desktop or
> the mobil version is the one to keep?
>
> This is super-dangerous. I might lose valuable information by having it
> overwritten! My answer to the conflict quesiton is not always the same
> answer, for all cases, in all situations.
>

If you're talking about Outlook Data, there's really not much you can do
other than making sure your data is set up the way you want it on one
device, then let AS or WMDC overwrite everything to the other.

But if it's files you're talking about there are options.
After deciding ActiveSync and then WMDC were far from adequate for syncing
Mobile Devices, I started looking around.
I first looked at MobSync, then MS's SyncToy 2.0. Both were much like AS &
WMDC, with all-or-nothing directional capabilities.
Then I found GoodSync, made by Siber Systems (the same people that created
RoboForm - and no I don't work for them)
http://www.goodsync.com/

There's a free version and a Pro version for about $30.
Vastly superior to anything offered by MS, and it will do exactly what you
want - plus it's good for all your PC sync / backup needs as well, not just
WM.

No more help, just some additional input. It wasn't actually an XP feature,
and it wasn't a given you would get the dialog. It was an Active Sync
option, and you could choose, always favor desktop, always favor device OR
ask every time. Around AS 4.0 we lost the Ask option, so I imagine you were
still using AS 3.8 or earlier. That was arguably the most stable and feature
rich version of AS released, IMHO. In any case, the Ask feature was gone in
XP with AS4.0 or later, which was required with WM 5 or later. The loss of
that feature, among others, in AS was soundly decried, to no avail, and of
course, the migration of the sync process into Vista with WMDC saw even more
feature erosion. Gotta admit it's prettier though. That should be some
consolation. ;(


"TomCon via PocketPCJunkies.com" <u50688@uwe> wrote in message
news:942ff55172547@uwe...
> Just got a new computer, with Vista, so stuck with WMDC, instead of the XP
> sync environemnt.
>
> In XP, for all conflicts, a dialog was borought up, and for each item, you
> could decide whether to accept the copy on the desktop or the PPC. It was
> very clear, with an arrow pointing in the direction you wanted the
> copy/replace to go.
>
> In WMDC, i find just one setting, under "manage a partnership", then a
> dropdown for "If there is a conflict", and you can choose, "replace items
> on
> device" or "replace items on desktop".
>
> But, this is not at all adequate. I cannot state one global rule for this
> delicate situation. I want to decide each case, just like XP let me do.
>
> Am I missing something? Is there any way to get the same control i had in
> XP,
> so that i could choose for each item individually, as to if the desktop or
> the mobil version is the one to keep?
>
> This is super-dangerous. I might lose valuable information by having it
> overwritten! My answer to the conflict quesiton is not always the same
> answer, for all cases, in all situations.
>
> Thanks,
> tom
>
> --
> Message posted via http://www.pocketpcjunkies.com
>

"TomCon via PocketPCJunkies.com" <u50688@uwe> wrote in message
news:942ff55172547@uwe...
> Just got a new computer, with Vista, so stuck with WMDC, instead of the XP
> sync environemnt.
>
> In XP, for all conflicts, a dialog was borought up, and for each item, you
> could decide whether to accept the copy on the desktop or the PPC. It was
> very clear, with an arrow pointing in the direction you wanted the
> copy/replace to go.
>
> In WMDC, i find just one setting, under "manage a partnership", then a
> dropdown for "If there is a conflict", and you can choose, "replace items
> on
> device" or "replace items on desktop".
>
> But, this is not at all adequate. I cannot state one global rule for this
> delicate situation. I want to decide each case, just like XP let me do.
>
> Am I missing something? Is there any way to get the same control i had in
> XP,
> so that i could choose for each item individually, as to if the desktop or
> the mobil version is the one to keep?
>
> This is super-dangerous. I might lose valuable information by having it
> overwritten! My answer to the conflict quesiton is not always the same
> answer, for all cases, in all situations.


I won't beat the dead horse that the current situation is a lousy one, other
replies covered that well enough, but I will ask why do you have so many
items needing manual resolutions? As you probably know, there will only be
a conflict if the same item (contact, calendar, file, etc.) is changed on
BOTH the PC and the device between syncs. The simple solution, IMO, given
the current state of WMDC and it's lack of options, is to sync often, so
such conflicts don't have a chance to occur. For example, mostly out of
habit, I enter virtually all PIM data on my device- very rarely on my PC,
mostly because the device is always with me, particularly in situations
where I'm swapping contact info or business cards. The chance of me having
a conflict with PIM information is next to nil.

With files, since the device only syncs with the WinMo sync folder on the
PC, it's a dead giveaway when you're editing a file on the PC that will sync
with the device, since you had to go to the "<name of the device> My
Documents" folder to open it. In those cases, you should sync before and
after (or cradle it continuously during) any session you'll be editing a
syncable file. That way, changes made on the PPC since the last sync will
transfer over first, and changes made on the PC will transfer over after you
save the edited file.

Microsoft, IMO, is dumbing down the sync software to make it easier for new
users. [If anyone on the WMDC team is listening, we never asked for simple.
We've been asking for reliable!] ;-)





I've been using Pocket PCs for nearly a decade, and can probably count on
the fingers of one hand the number of times I've had to manually resolve a
conflict, and I've always had Activesync set to resolve manually "just in
case" until they took the feature away with WinMo 5 back in 2006.

>> ...still using AS 3.8 or earlier. That was arguably the most stable
and feature rich version of AS released, IMHO. <<

second that, although, at the time 3.8 was the current version, don't
think there was an mvp or many users who would have even dreamed saying
that ;-)

3.8 was available the last time I looked at
http://www.hpcfactor.com/support/syncsoft/activesync but it only
supports versions prior to WM5 and will not run under Vista

Beverly Howard

We have every 3.x version up at HPC:Factor if anyone ever needs it for some
reason. Just follow the link Bev provided.


--
Clinton Fitch, MVP-Mobile Devices
http://www.clintonfitch.com
http://www.hpcfactor.com



"Beverly Howard" <Bev@NoSpamBevHoward.com> wrote in message
news:#iNqEQ8tJHA.4980@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> >> ...still using AS 3.8 or earlier. That was arguably the most stable
> and feature rich version of AS released, IMHO. <<
>
> second that, although, at the time 3.8 was the current version, don't
> think there was an mvp or many users who would have even dreamed saying
> that ;-)
>
> 3.8 was available the last time I looked at
> http://www.hpcfactor.com/support/syncsoft/activesync but it only supports
> versions prior to WM5 and will not run under Vista
>
> Beverly Howard
>
>
>
>
>

"TomCon via PocketPCJunkies.com" <u50688@uwe> wrote:

>Just got a new computer, with Vista, so stuck with WMDC, instead of the XP
>sync environemnt.
>
>In XP, for all conflicts, a dialog was borought up, and for each item, you
>could decide whether to accept the copy on the desktop or the PPC. It was
>very clear, with an arrow pointing in the direction you wanted the
>copy/replace to go.
>
>In WMDC, i find just one setting, under "manage a partnership", then a
>dropdown for "If there is a conflict", and you can choose, "replace items on
>device" or "replace items on desktop".
>
>But, this is not at all adequate. I cannot state one global rule for this
>delicate situation. I want to decide each case, just like XP let me do.
>
>Am I missing something? Is there any way to get the same control i had in XP,
>so that i could choose for each item individually, as to if the desktop or
>the mobil version is the one to keep?
>
>This is super-dangerous. I might lose valuable information by having it
>overwritten! My answer to the conflict quesiton is not always the same
>answer, for all cases, in all situations.

You aren't missing anything. WMDC seems to have been designed for
someone that would think conflict resolution questions are too
complex to address.

I routinely back up the "My Documents" folder on my phone before
docking for fear a more recent file on the device will be
overwritten by an older file on the PC even though both may have
changed after the last sync.

Somehow in making WMDC "easier" my experience got more complex.
--
__________________________________________________ ________________________________
Ed Hansberry (Please do *NOT* email me. Post here for the benefit of all)
What is on my Pocket PC? http://www.ehansberry.com/
Microsoft MVP - Mobile Devices www.pocketpc.com
What is an MVP? - http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/

I have to be curious too. While I always set the option to ask, it was rare
to ever get a conflict pop-up. I assume it was because I typically used my
PPC as a retrieval device and mostly made adjustments on the desktop.
Wouldn't get conflicts that way. If I did make changes 'in the field' I just
made darn sure I stuck the PPC in the cradle as soon as I got back to the
PC, so that sync would happen. I know there are those out there that don't
sync for a week, and so run the risk of making changes to the same item on
both platforms, between syncs, but it would seem an easy issue to avoid.
When the partners get into the same room, connect them before doing anything
else, or at least do so if you have been making changes to things that sync.

When I did get conflicts, it could easily be attributed to having multiple
devices, sync'd to multiple PCs, and just losing track of what I had sync'd
to what.

"Ed Hansberry, MS-MVP/Mobile Devices"
<spamfree-silvernino********.spambegone.com> wrote in message
news:02unt4lonsihq55223p5uejf9o75moqj0o@4ax.com...
> "TomCon via PocketPCJunkies.com" <u50688@uwe> wrote:
>
>>Just got a new computer, with Vista, so stuck with WMDC, instead of the XP
>>sync environemnt.
>>
>>In XP, for all conflicts, a dialog was borought up, and for each item, you
>>could decide whether to accept the copy on the desktop or the PPC. It was
>>very clear, with an arrow pointing in the direction you wanted the
>>copy/replace to go.
>>
>>In WMDC, i find just one setting, under "manage a partnership", then a
>>dropdown for "If there is a conflict", and you can choose, "replace items
>>on
>>device" or "replace items on desktop".
>>
>>But, this is not at all adequate. I cannot state one global rule for this
>>delicate situation. I want to decide each case, just like XP let me do.
>>
>>Am I missing something? Is there any way to get the same control i had in
>>XP,
>>so that i could choose for each item individually, as to if the desktop or
>>the mobil version is the one to keep?
>>
>>This is super-dangerous. I might lose valuable information by having it
>>overwritten! My answer to the conflict quesiton is not always the same
>>answer, for all cases, in all situations.
>
> You aren't missing anything. WMDC seems to have been designed for
> someone that would think conflict resolution questions are too
> complex to address.
>
> I routinely back up the "My Documents" folder on my phone before
> docking for fear a more recent file on the device will be
> overwritten by an older file on the PC even though both may have
> changed after the last sync.
>
> Somehow in making WMDC "easier" my experience got more complex.


I've pretty much sworn off Activesync/WMDC. I use Funambol (a sort of "poor
man's Exchange") for over-the-air PIM sync, and I'm using Live Mesh to sync
the important folders on my device (My Documents, Storage Card\My Documents,
etc.) to the Mesh nightly, and back to my desktop.

I replaced my desktop PC about two months ago, and haven't even bothered to
setup an Activesync partnership with my device yet- I doubt I will. The
only thing I can't back up with Funambol and Live Mesh is Mobile Favorites,
and I still remember your line about that: "the only reason to sync your
favorites with Activesync is if you have too many and need to randomly
delete some of them..." I still laugh at that everytime I see "Favorites"
staring up at me from Activesync. I just back my favorites up to my storage
card's My Docs folder occasionally and let them ride up to the Mesh.

On Mon, 06 Apr 2009 06:58:46 GMT, "TomCon via PocketPCJunkies.com"
<u50688@uwe> wrote:

>Just got a new computer, with Vista, so stuck with WMDC, instead of the XP
>sync environemnt.
>
>In XP, for all conflicts, a dialog was borought up, and for each item, you
>could decide whether to accept the copy on the desktop or the PPC. It was
>very clear, with an arrow pointing in the direction you wanted the
>copy/replace to go.
>
>In WMDC, i find just one setting, under "manage a partnership", then a
>dropdown for "If there is a conflict", and you can choose, "replace items on
>device" or "replace items on desktop".
>
>But, this is not at all adequate. I cannot state one global rule for this
>delicate situation. I want to decide each case, just like XP let me do.

I can't offer a way to do this. I can offer a possible alternative.

First, back up all the relevant files, etc. on your _desktop_ before
you connect a device, at least the first time (before you've had a
chance to setup a partnership).

Second, do all your editing on the desktop and treat devices as
read-only. This works well for me, and should work well for other
folks who don't collect many new contacts or other info on the road.
Sven's suggestion to be careful about synchronizing might work well
for folks who have a stronger need to edit data on devices.


-----------------------------------------
To reply to me, remove the underscores (_) from my email address (and please indicate which newsgroup and message).

Robert E. Zaret, eMVP
PenFact, Inc.
20 Park Plaza, Suite 400
Boston, MA 02116
www.penfact.com

Heh, everybody, thanks for all the replies. I'm glad i just wasn't missing
it, tho i am apalled that MS is making things so much worse, and apparently
intentionally. I'll check out some of the third party options mentioned.
Some people asked why i needed to resolve conflicts so often. Not
necessarily that often, but really IMPORTANT when i did. Spreadsheets was
the biggie, sometimes edit on the PC, sometimes on the PPC. Some of those
changes would be REALLY BAD to lose, and the way Microsoft has it, you risk
LOSING DATA. Thats why i'm surprised they would not make things safer for
their customers. So, it may not be often that you need to manually resolve a
sync, but its like insurance, you want it there for the cases where it is
needed.

Thanks much to all! - tom


TomCon wrote:
>Just got a new computer, with Vista, so stuck with WMDC, instead of the XP
>sync environemnt.
>
>In XP, for all conflicts, a dialog was borought up, and for each item, you
>could decide whether to accept the copy on the desktop or the PPC. It was
>very clear, with an arrow pointing in the direction you wanted the
>copy/replace to go.
>
>In WMDC, i find just one setting, under "manage a partnership", then a
>dropdown for "If there is a conflict", and you can choose, "replace items on
>device" or "replace items on desktop".
>
>But, this is not at all adequate. I cannot state one global rule for this
>delicate situation. I want to decide each case, just like XP let me do.
>
>Am I missing something? Is there any way to get the same control i had in XP,
>so that i could choose for each item individually, as to if the desktop or
>the mobil version is the one to keep?
>
>This is super-dangerous. I might lose valuable information by having it
>overwritten! My answer to the conflict quesiton is not always the same
>answer, for all cases, in all situations.
>
>Thanks,
>tom

--
Message posted via http://www.pocketpcjunkies.com

"TomCon via PocketPCJunkies.com" <u50688@uwe> wrote:

>I'm glad i just wasn't missing
>it, tho i am apalled that MS is making things so much worse, and apparently
>intentionally.

I don't think they made it worse intentionally. I think their
intention was to make it less complex. Unintentionally, it made
it worse.

Now, removal of network syncing from ActiveSync 4 and WMDC, that
was making it worse intentionally. ;-)
--
__________________________________________________ ________________________________
Ed Hansberry (Please do *NOT* email me. Post here for the benefit of all)
What is on my Pocket PC? http://www.ehansberry.com/
Microsoft MVP - Mobile Devices www.pocketpc.com
What is an MVP? - http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/

You need to understand though that there was no good answer for your case,
other than don't sync these. You would lose either the changes you made on
the desktop or the PPC, since picking one, just overwrites the other. With a
spreadsheet conflict (or any other) to avoid losing info, you would have to
not sync, and then compare the two files for differences and manually update
both. You could just update one and try to sync, but you would still have a
conflict. If you deleted the older one, the new one would be deleted by a
sync; delete wins. It gets pretty user intensive to not lose some info when
there is a conflict, and you used to just get to choose what you lost, item
by item, rather than wholesale.

Best option is don't let conflicts happen. If you must create a conflict,
i.e. edit on both devices, save with a new name on one.


"TomCon via PocketPCJunkies.com" <u50688@uwe> wrote in message
news:9460a9f58dc9a@uwe...
> Heh, everybody, thanks for all the replies. I'm glad i just wasn't
> missing
> it, tho i am apalled that MS is making things so much worse, and
> apparently
> intentionally. I'll check out some of the third party options mentioned.
> Some people asked why i needed to resolve conflicts so often. Not
> necessarily that often, but really IMPORTANT when i did. Spreadsheets was
> the biggie, sometimes edit on the PC, sometimes on the PPC. Some of those
> changes would be REALLY BAD to lose, and the way Microsoft has it, you
> risk
> LOSING DATA. Thats why i'm surprised they would not make things safer for
> their customers. So, it may not be often that you need to manually
> resolve a
> sync, but its like insurance, you want it there for the cases where it is
> needed.
>
> Thanks much to all! - tom
>

There are other ways to sync to a phone without activesync or wmdc. For example, here is how I sync my contacts: Get contacts on a windows mobile phone without sync | NeatAnswers Tips