You can not select more than 25 topics
Topics must start with a letter or number, can include dashes ('-') and can be up to 35 characters long.
451 lines
14 KiB
451 lines
14 KiB
<chapter id="synchronization">
|
|
<title>Syncing your &handheld; with a PC</title>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
This chapter describes the synchronization process
|
|
that &kpilot; uses, focusing on the &kpilot; daemon functionality.
|
|
You may sync your &handheld; using the <link linkend="builtin">internal
|
|
viewers</link> and / or <link linkend="conduits">conduits</link>, depending
|
|
on your personal preferences. Conduits allow external applications to interface
|
|
with the data on your &handheld;.
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
It is a good idea to make a <link linkend="backup">backup</link>
|
|
of your &handheld; regularly. Other than making backups, it should rarely be
|
|
necessary to do anything other than drop your &handheld; on the cradle and press
|
|
the &HotSync; button. The &kpilot; daemon icon in the system tray will flash
|
|
indicating that a sync is under way.
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<screenshot>
|
|
<screeninfo>&kpilot; Daemon Pop-Up Menu</screeninfo>
|
|
<mediaobject>
|
|
<imageobject><imagedata fileref="daemon-menu.png" format="PNG"/></imageobject>
|
|
<textobject><phrase>&kpilot; daemon popup menu</phrase></textobject>
|
|
<caption><para>&kpilot; daemon popup menu</para></caption>
|
|
</mediaobject>
|
|
</screenshot>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
To which type of sync &kpilot; will perform next, you can use the main
|
|
application
|
|
<link linkend="menu-file">
|
|
<menuchoice>
|
|
<guimenu>File</guimenu>
|
|
</menuchoice>
|
|
menu</link>,
|
|
or right click the &kpilot; daemon icon located in the system tray,
|
|
and select one of the menu items under the
|
|
<menuchoice>
|
|
<guisubmenu>Next Sync</guisubmenu>
|
|
</menuchoice>
|
|
sub menu.
|
|
<tip><para>
|
|
If you hover over the &kpilot; daemon icon, a tooltip will appear showing you
|
|
what the type of sync &kpilot; will perform next.
|
|
</para></tip>
|
|
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
In short, the sync types are:
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
<itemizedlist>
|
|
|
|
<listitem><para>
|
|
<guilabel>HotSync (once)</guilabel>: this option offers
|
|
a nice balance between speed and data safety.
|
|
</para></listitem>
|
|
|
|
<listitem><para>
|
|
<guilabel>FastSync (once)</guilabel>: only sync those
|
|
databases that have conduits.
|
|
</para></listitem>
|
|
|
|
<listitem><para>
|
|
<guilabel>FullSync (once)</guilabel>: the safest option, but
|
|
takes the longest time to complete.
|
|
</para></listitem>
|
|
|
|
<listitem><para>
|
|
<guilabel>Backup (once)</guilabel>: copy all the data from the &handheld; to the
|
|
<acronym>PC</acronym>.
|
|
</para></listitem>
|
|
|
|
<listitem><para>
|
|
<guilabel>Restore from Backup (once)</guilabel>: copy the data from a previous backup from the PC to the
|
|
&handheld;, erasing the data previously held there.
|
|
|
|
<warning><para>
|
|
Use the restore functionality with care, as you can lose all the new
|
|
data entered on the &handheld; since the last backup.
|
|
</para></warning>
|
|
</para>
|
|
</listitem>
|
|
|
|
<listitem>
|
|
<para>
|
|
<guilabel>Copy Handheld to PC (once)</guilabel>: run all conduits and
|
|
sync all databases, but instead of merging the information from both sources,
|
|
just copy the handheld data to the PC.
|
|
<warning><para>Use with care, as this option erases the changes
|
|
you made in your PC since the last sync.</para></warning>
|
|
</para>
|
|
</listitem>
|
|
|
|
<listitem>
|
|
<para>
|
|
<guilabel>Copy PC to Handheld (once)</guilabel>: run all conduits and
|
|
sync all databases, but instead of merging the information from both sources,
|
|
just copy the PC data to the handheld.
|
|
<warning><para>Use with care, as this option erases the changes
|
|
you made in your handheld since the last sync.</para></warning>
|
|
</para>
|
|
</listitem>
|
|
|
|
</itemizedlist>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
Alternatively, you can change the default syncing behavior of &kpilot; by
|
|
choosing the most suitable option in the <link linkend="page-hotsync">&HotSync;
|
|
configure dialog</link>.
|
|
|
|
<note><para>
|
|
To configure the conduits or the sync process, you do not need to open the main
|
|
&kpilot; application, as the
|
|
<menuchoice>
|
|
<guimenuitem>Configure KPilot...</guimenuitem>
|
|
</menuchoice>
|
|
menu item is available on the &kpilot; daemon popup menu as well.
|
|
</para></note>
|
|
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
<sect1 id="backup">
|
|
<title>Backing up your &handheld; data</title>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
On every backup, &kpilot; stores a copy of all your &handheld; data under the
|
|
<filename class="directory">$TDEHOME/share/apps/kpilot/DBBackup/User Name/</filename>
|
|
folder, allowing you to restore that copy later, if needed. The
|
|
<filename class="directory">$TDEHOME</filename> environment variable
|
|
(typically <filename class="directory">/home/Login Name/.kde/</filename>)
|
|
points to the folder that contains your configuration and data for the &kde;
|
|
applications.</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
It is a good idea to backup your data often. To perform a backup, you can click
|
|
the
|
|
<menuchoice>
|
|
<guisubmenu>Next Sync</guisubmenu>
|
|
<guimenuitem>Backup</guimenuitem>
|
|
</menuchoice>
|
|
on the &kpilot; daemon icon popup menu or the
|
|
<menuchoice>
|
|
<guimenu>File</guimenu>
|
|
<guimenuitem>Backup</guimenuitem>
|
|
</menuchoice>
|
|
menu item on the main &kpilot; application menu in order
|
|
to make the next sync a backup. Then, just press the &HotSync; button.
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
</sect1>
|
|
|
|
<sect1 id="restore">
|
|
<title>Restoring Your &handheld; Data</title>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
The restore operation consist of transferring all the data previously saved on
|
|
the <acronym>PC</acronym> to the &handheld;, effectively erasing all the new
|
|
data held by the device by returning it to a previous state.
|
|
<warning><para>
|
|
Use the restore functionality with care, as you can lose all the new
|
|
data entered on the &handheld; since the last backup.
|
|
</para></warning>
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
The data saved on the last backup is located on the <filename class="directory">$TDEHOME/share/apps/kpilot/DBBackup/User Name/</filename>
|
|
folder. The <filename class="directory">$TDEHOME</filename> environment variable
|
|
(typically <filename class="directory">/home/Login Name/.kde/</filename>)
|
|
points to the folder that contains your configuration and data for the &kde;
|
|
applications.</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
The most common use for the restore functionality is to recover from a hardware
|
|
or software failure on the device.
|
|
The restore function can be accessed from the
|
|
main &kpilot; application, and from the &kpilot; daemon. be careful, as
|
|
restoring the data is not a common operation. In order
|
|
to restore the data at the next sync, click the
|
|
<menuchoice>
|
|
<guimenu>File</guimenu>
|
|
<guimenuitem>Restore</guimenuitem>
|
|
</menuchoice>
|
|
menu item, then press the &HotSync; button.
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
</sect1>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<sect1 id="sync-s">
|
|
<title>Selecting the Synchronization Type</title>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
There are three ways to sync your &handheld;, <guilabel>HotSync</guilabel>,
|
|
<guilabel>FastSync</guilabel> or <guilabel>FullSync</guilabel>.
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
When you press the &HotSync; button on your &handheld;, &kpilot;'s will run the
|
|
default sync operation (usually a <guilabel>HotSync</guilabel>). You can select
|
|
the default sync operation in the <link linkend="page-hotsync">&HotSync;
|
|
configure dialog</link>. Alternatively, you can click one of the sync options on
|
|
the main &kpilot; application
|
|
<menuchoice>
|
|
<guimenu>File</guimenu>
|
|
</menuchoice>
|
|
menu or on the &kpilot; daemon popup
|
|
<menuchoice>
|
|
<guisubmenu>Next Sync</guisubmenu>
|
|
</menuchoice>
|
|
submenu.
|
|
|
|
<important><para>
|
|
Using the <link linkend="page-hotsync">&HotSync; configure dialog</link>
|
|
is the only way to change the default sync operation.
|
|
The main &kpilot; application
|
|
<menuchoice>
|
|
<guimenu>File</guimenu>
|
|
</menuchoice>
|
|
menu items or the &kpilot; daemon popup
|
|
<menuchoice>
|
|
<guisubmenu>Next Sync</guisubmenu>
|
|
</menuchoice>
|
|
submenu items change only the type of sync that will be performed <emphasis>next</emphasis>.
|
|
</para></important>
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
<screenshot>
|
|
<screeninfo>&kpilot; Daemon Pop-Up Menu</screeninfo>
|
|
<mediaobject>
|
|
<imageobject><imagedata fileref="daemon-menu.png" format="PNG"/></imageobject>
|
|
<textobject><phrase>&kpilot; daemon popup menu</phrase></textobject>
|
|
<caption><para>&kpilot; daemon popup menu</para></caption>
|
|
</mediaobject>
|
|
</screenshot>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
For more information on the sync types, please refer to the descriptions
|
|
available in <xref linkend="page-hotsync" />.
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
|
|
</sect1>
|
|
|
|
<sect1 id="conduits">
|
|
<title>Syncing your &handheld; Data Using Conduits</title>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
Conduits are programs that interface your &handheld; data with
|
|
<acronym>PC</acronym> applications or sync your &handheld; data with files
|
|
that can be used by <acronym>PC</acronym> applications.
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
Conduits can be set up by selecting
|
|
<menuchoice>
|
|
<guimenu>Settings</guimenu>
|
|
<guimenuitem>Configure KPilot...</guimenuitem>
|
|
</menuchoice>, or using the daemon pop up menu and clicking the
|
|
<guimenuitem>Configure KPilot...</guimenuitem>
|
|
menu item.
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
<screenshot>
|
|
<screeninfo>&kpilot; Daemon Pop-Up Menu</screeninfo>
|
|
<mediaobject>
|
|
<imageobject><imagedata fileref="daemon-menu.png" format="PNG"/></imageobject>
|
|
<textobject><phrase>&kpilot; daemon popup menu</phrase></textobject>
|
|
<caption><para>&kpilot; daemon popup menu</para></caption>
|
|
</mediaobject>
|
|
</screenshot>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
The <guilabel>Conduits</guilabel> tree in the configuration dialog
|
|
collects all the installed conduits available.
|
|
The conduits can be enabled and disabled
|
|
by clicking on the check box to the left of the conduit's name.
|
|
Conduits can have an extensive configuration of
|
|
their own, and may be supplied by third parties.
|
|
Most of the conduits require some initial configuration, so it is strongly
|
|
recommended to check the
|
|
<link linkend="config-conduits">section detailing the default conduits
|
|
configuration</link> before using them.
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
The default conduits are the following:
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<variablelist>
|
|
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
|
<term><guilabel>KNotes / Memos</guilabel></term>
|
|
<listitem><para>
|
|
Synchronizes the Memo Pad application with &knotes;.
|
|
|
|
<important><para>
|
|
The conduit only synchronizes the Memo Pad data if &knotes; is running. If you
|
|
want to enable this functionality, please remember to start &knotes; first, or
|
|
check if it is already running (tip: look for the &knotes; icon in the system tray).
|
|
</para></important>
|
|
|
|
</para></listitem>
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
|
<term><guilabel>Notepad</guilabel></term>
|
|
<listitem>
|
|
<para>
|
|
Exports the free hand notes of the &handheld;'s Notepad application as pictures
|
|
to the PC.
|
|
</para>
|
|
</listitem>
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
|
<term><guilabel>Time Synchronization</guilabel></term>
|
|
<listitem><para>
|
|
Sets the &handheld;'s time to that of the desktop machine.
|
|
Useful for keeping the clock of the &handheld; accurate.
|
|
</para></listitem>
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
|
<term><guilabel>Calendar (KOrganizer)</guilabel></term>
|
|
<listitem><para>
|
|
Synchronizes the Datebook application with &korganizer; or with a iCalendar file of
|
|
your choice.
|
|
</para></listitem>
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
|
<term><guilabel>Palm DOC</guilabel></term>
|
|
<listitem><para>
|
|
Automatically converts, installs and sync text files in the &PalmPilot;
|
|
DOC format, so you can read the text files with most DOC-capable
|
|
applications on the &handheld;. There are many free or open source Palm
|
|
DOC readers, and some Palm DOC editors for your handheld.</para>
|
|
<para>
|
|
Any plain text file can be easily converted. For instance, you can download and
|
|
convert the public domain books provided by the <ulink url="http://www.gutenberg.net">
|
|
Gutenberg Project</ulink> and read them in your &handheld;.
|
|
</para></listitem>
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
|
<term><guilabel>Addressbook</guilabel></term>
|
|
<listitem><para>
|
|
Synchronizes the Address application with &kaddressbook; or with a vCard file of
|
|
your choice.
|
|
</para></listitem>
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
|
<term><guilabel>System Information</guilabel></term>
|
|
<listitem><para>
|
|
Writes information about your &handheld;, (such as OS version,
|
|
RAM available, and the list of databases) to a file. Useful mostly for
|
|
debugging purposes.
|
|
</para></listitem>
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
|
<term><guilabel>ToDo's (KOrganizer)</guilabel></term>
|
|
<listitem><para>
|
|
Synchronizes the Todo list application with &korganizer; or with a iCalendar file of
|
|
your choice.
|
|
</para></listitem>
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
|
<term><guilabel>MAL (AvantGo) Conduit</guilabel></term>
|
|
<listitem><para>
|
|
Synchronizes your &handheld; with the &AvantGo; server. The &AvantGo; server
|
|
offers general content (news, guides, stock quotes, &etc;) in a format that is
|
|
suitable for reading in a &handheld;. To use this conduit, you need to register, subscribe
|
|
the channels you select and install the &AvantGo; software on your &handheld;.
|
|
</para></listitem>
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
|
<term><guilabel>Mail</guilabel></term>
|
|
<listitem><para>
|
|
Sends mail written on the &handheld; through &kmail;.
|
|
There is no provision for receiving mail, however.
|
|
</para></listitem>
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
|
|
<varlistentry>
|
|
<term><guilabel>Perl</guilabel></term>
|
|
<term><guilabel>Python</guilabel></term>
|
|
<term><guilabel>NULL</guilabel></term>
|
|
<listitem><para>
|
|
These conduits are intended as a programming demonstration,
|
|
and serve no practical purpose during a &HotSync;.
|
|
They are not normally listed, but you may see them on some systems.
|
|
</para></listitem>
|
|
</varlistentry>
|
|
|
|
</variablelist>
|
|
|
|
<screenshot>
|
|
<screeninfo>The Conduit Setup Dialog</screeninfo>
|
|
<mediaobject>
|
|
<imageobject><imagedata fileref="setup-conduit.png" format="PNG"/></imageobject>
|
|
<textobject><phrase>The Conduit Setup Dialog</phrase></textobject>
|
|
<caption><para>The Conduit Setup Dialog</para></caption>
|
|
</mediaobject>
|
|
</screenshot>
|
|
|
|
|
|
</sect1>
|
|
|
|
<sect1 id="conflicts">
|
|
<title>Resolving Conflicts</title>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
Data records can be changed both on the &handheld; and
|
|
on the <acronym>PC</acronym>. If one record has incompatible changes
|
|
in both the &handheld; and the <acronym>PC</acronym>, (such as
|
|
changing a phone number in different ways on both sides),
|
|
the conflicting change needs to be resolved so
|
|
that both the &handheld; and the <acronym>PC</acronym> are in sync again.
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
A popup dialog may appear, asking you how to resolve the
|
|
conflict, or you may have a general rule to automatically handle these
|
|
conflicts (depending on your <link linkend="page-hotsync">conflict resolution
|
|
choice</link>). Note that you can define different resolution choices
|
|
for different conduits in the <link linkend="config-conduits">conduits
|
|
configuration dialog</link>.
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
</sect1>
|
|
</chapter>
|