Feature Suggestion: Turn Auto-Synchronizing On/Off

As best as I can tell the 'synchronizing' feature is only useful if I'm running Logos on more than one computer. Since I'm not, I would like to turn it off, The only way to do that, though, seems to be by checking the "No" box in Settings / Use The Internet. This, of course, would mean that Logos doesn't use the internet for all resources. It would be nice if I could still use the internet, but not have Logos synchronize every time I do something.

Could 'Settings' include a separate option for synchronizing? Something like... Use Auto-Synchronize? Yes/No

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J.R. Miller

As best as I can tell the 'synchronizing' feature is only useful if I'm running Logos on more than one computer.

Syncing also serves as a backup of your notes, etc... to the Logos servers so if something were to go wrong on your computer like a hard drive crash, all of your work is backed up and ready to reinstall with one download.

So do you really not want L4 to backup your work?

J.R. Miller

Could 'Settings' include a separate option for synchronizing? Something like... Use Auto-Synchronize? Yes/No

My following comment is just an interesting aside. It is ironic because early on L4 did not have an "off / on" for internet and folks kept asking for it. Then, after the last round of updates, people kept coming to the forum posting things like, "Logos does not work. It wont update my books!" Sure enough, they turned the internet off and had to be reminded, "turn it on to get updates".

I realize this is not the intent of your question, but I can see the future if L4 adds this option.

People turn "off" note syncing.

They spend weeks, months, or even years taking notes and clippings and highlights.

Their hard drive crashes.

They go to reinstall and find all their work is gone.

They post a message, "why didn't Logos back-up all my stuff!".

Someone asks, "did you turn on syncing?".

Answer, "no, I had it off, but should't logos have warned me to turn it on?"

They quickly add a new request, "Can we have a feature that reminds me to turn it on?"

Ahh... the irony of life... Logos pays someone to code two new "user controls" to do the work of no "user control"

LOL

Anyway, I know that is way more than you were asking Michael sorry if I bored you with my ruminations.

Blessings and welcome to L4.

Daniel R. Smith

I think what Michael is asking, and this is something that I would also love, is the ability to hit a sync button when I want to. Just put that icon up there with the two arrow circling eachother, but disable the auto sync. That way, when I'm done with my study session, I can hit the icon, update, and be done, without the pause that auto sync can cuase in the program. I can live without this, but I would sure love to have it!

You know, manual sync, not auto?

Rosie Perera

I think what Michael is asking, and this is something that I would also love, is the ability to hit a sync button when I want to. Just put that icon up there with the two arrow circling eachother, but disable the auto sync. That way, when I'm done with my study session, I can hit the icon, update, and be done, without the pause that auto sync can cuase in the program. I can live without this, but I would sure love to have it!

You know, manual sync, not auto?

Yes, the option of doing manual sync instead of auto would be nice, but Joe's ruminations still apply. Lots of people would forget or wouldn't realize they ought to do it manually if they'd turned off the default auto-sync. They might not have fully understood what the auto-sync feature was for (like our friend who thought it was only for if he was using two computers). And then they'd still be really bummed if their computer crashed and they lost all their notes.

I think perhaps the word "backup" should be used somewhere in the user interface for this feature, because users need that comfort of knowing that all their work is being backed up, and I'm guessing the vast majority of users won't have two computers so the only reason for doing syncing is to back up their notes and things.

Chris Elford

Remember that this also enables you to have a history list throughout a session and to sync to your iPhone/iPod.

There was a discussion in the Beta testing (I think it was then but can't find it) in which Bob asked when we'd want it to synchronize if it wasn't relatively continuously, as it is now. Whenever you open a new resource (so it captures your layout)? When you close (but what about a crash or sleep your computer)? When you remember to do it (that's why MS put automatic backups/syncs in Word)? When you change something in a search (so you can go back to what you had before)? When you close a resource? When you add a note? When you add a clipping? When you move down a page (so it can go back to what you had when you ask it to)?

These would be really complex Yes/No options. They don't want you to lose stuff so have made it pretty continuous. I'd rather have it save/sync too often than not have it recover what I had. I like the fact that I can close my laptop lid and go knowing that it is set to go when I get to the office or home. It is one less thing to remember to have to do - did I turn off the sync???

Chris

Jack Caviness

I can hit the icon, update, and be done, without the pause that auto sync can cuase in the program

I am running L4 on a VM, and I have never seen this pause you mention. I see the synch arrows rotating, but it has not affected operation for me. But then, I have not made extensive use of Notes. Is that what pauses?

Daniel R. Smith

Well friends, I understand your points about auto sync. I would just rather not have it.

I use AutoCAD for a living, and have turned off the auto back up feature. I did the same for MS Word. In fact, as soon as I notice a program that has this feature, it is one of the things that I will immediately disable. I'm a rebel that way. I want to make the choice of when to back up or sync. I have never liked auto backup, and I don't think I ever will.

I understand Logos wanting to insure that we don't lose our material. But I still want the choice of hitting that little sync icon WHEN I want to. It has always had the filling of a nanny-state, if you know what I mean.

This is not a real big issue with me. If this feature is never implanted, I will be happy to just hit the auto-sync icon before it chooses to do it. Hah! Who's in control now, Logos? [:P]

Well, God is in control.

Peace, beloved family of God

JimTowler

As best as I can tell the 'synchronizing' feature is only useful if I'm running Logos on more than one computer.

I thank Rosie for the comments above, but I feel its important that I now add some additional comments here.

Mike. The idea of sync is to backup your data, even if you only have one PC (as I do).

1) My post that Rosie talks about, just above, is an attempt to make Logos4 Sync NEVER-EVER-NOT-EVER, in which case, you have NO BACKUPS of your data, unless you make your own backups of the Logos4 data directories, and know how to restore the whole thing yourself, in the event of a disk crash or major screw-up.
This is ONLY for those that dont want their data on the Logos Servers. I do not recommend the idea except to people where this aspect is important, and they understand the risks, and can backup and protect their own work. Please read the cautions in the other forum thread,

2) If your concern is about limiting data traffic due to bandwidths, cellphone or satellite charges etc, then DO NOT use my above method. Instead, set "Use Internet=OFF" which disabled the automatic use of the internet, but still permits manual use when you ask it. You can use the command "Sync Now" from time to time when it suits you, and before shutting down. That will update the Logos Servers, and provide a level of backup, but without attempting automatic syncs after each time you move down a few lines in whatever you are reading.
If this is what you are after, I recommend adding a command button (see image), and then clicking it from time to time. If you clicked it after any major updates to whatever you are working on, or at least before shutdown, that should give a good level of protection for most users I think.

3) If you sometimes wok online at home using broadband, but sometimes mobile and with no network, or expensive via a GSM card or something, you might also like to make buttons for "Set Use Internet to YES" or "NO" to make it easy to swap back and forwards.

In summary, please note that there are TWO very different ideas being talked about: (A) Control of syncing to suit when you want it, and (B) NEVER SYNC (and no automatic backups to Logos).

I hope this helps. I really dont want people to lose their data because they did not understand what I've been talking about, and why i was attempting to do it.

If you care about your work - in Logos4 and elsewhere - please make backups.

Rosie Perera

Thanks for that clarification, Jim. What Jim has been doing should make everyone very very nervous. But it's a good hack for those techies who are paranoid about Logos storing of any of their notes or prayer lists on their servers (for privacy reasons and legal reasons that some have mentioned here and elsewhere), and who are willing to take the consequences of not doing things the way Logos was designed to work.

Robert Pavich

And one thing that gets lost in discussions like these is this:

One MAJOR DRIVER to L4's design was to lower support costs; those calls to the support desk that take time and money but are easily resolvable (Help! my stuff isn't syncing! "did you turn off syncing?"...whoops...)

A lot of the decisions that are being made have this criteria in mind.

I forgot what the amount of money spent on support per year but it was insane...1 million?

JimTowler

A lot of the decisions that are being made have this criteria in mind

Robert,

You are right, at one level, but sometimes its not actually a net saving. Its just transfered to another party. In some cases, the user.

What if there was only 4 set packages. Level 1, 2, 3 and 4. And it came on a CD or DVD and that was the end of the matter?

Well, thats how it used to be. I purchased "Level 3" about 14 years ago for more than I really wanted to pay, but "Level 2" was too little for what I wanted.