Automatic PBB Sync Via Dropbox

Earlier this week a forum user reminded me that Dropbox might be a useful way to automate the sync process between two computers running Logos. Currently, to view Personal Books on two computers, you must have the current .docx file on both computers to create a build. Additionally, Logos syncs the file path location, so if the .docx file isn’t where Logos thinks it should be, the build will fail.

I decided to investigate for myself and discovered that Dropbox is a great way to keep the files up to date on both machines. Once Dropbox is set up properly on both computers, the sync process is fully automatic. There is no need to manually move files or continually change file paths. If you work on the .docx file on one computer, the file will be updated on the other.

If you have never heard of Dropbox, it is a company which helps users to sync files between computers and even share files with others on the web. The latter is particularly helpful when a file is too large to email someone (only items in the “public” folder are available to others, via a weblink).

1. The first step is to sign up for an account (Dropbox has several accounts, including a FREE account available here.) Then you will download and install the small program.

2. Enter in the username and password you used when you created your account.

3. Unless you want a paid account, click on the first choice (2 GB Free). By the way, you can "earn" more space, up to 8 GB.

4. Click on "Advanced" to create the proper directory path. This is important so that you can have the .docx files in the same path on both computers.

5. Select "I want to choose where to put my Dropbox.

6. On Mac, Navigate to the "Shared" folder under "Users." Note: "Users | Shared" should be on both Mac's by default. (Windows users will need to find an appropriate alternative path which will be identical on both machines.

7. Most likely you will want Dropbox to sync "all of the folders in my Dropbox."

8. Dropbox creates a folder in the path you selected. A "Best Practice" would be to create a new folder within the Dropbox folder. In this case, I created one called PBB Books. (For fun, I changed the folder icon to the Logos 4 Mac one.)

9. You will repeat the process on your second computer, using the same path. Once you have done this, the .docx files will sync automatically between both computers. If you work on a file on your laptop, the next time you jump on your desktop, open PBB and rebuild the book!

Let me know what you think!

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Comments

Rob Kuefner

It would seem that you could pull of the same thing with Windows Live Mesh, which runs on Windows and Mac computers as well. You can choose which folders to sync between devices, so if you creat the PBB file in the same folder which is synced between various devices. I haven't really played around with PBB yet, but I may have to do so and try the Windows Live Mesh option to see if it'd work, and be able to post some lovely screen shots like you have!

JT (alabama24)

Thanks Robert! Is Mesh free as well?

Rob Kuefner

Yes it's free. I use it to sync all of my stuff between home and office computer... here's a link to Live Mesh

http://explore.live.com/windows-live-mesh?os=other

interestingly enough I saw a post on twitter right after I had posted re: Live Mesh that gave it's limitations which is...

List of Windows Live Mesh Limitations/Restrictions #DidNotKnow

·           Number of devices: 30

·           Number of sync folders: 200

·           Sync Objects: 220 (200 folders, 20 application settings)

·           Number of files in each sync folder: 100,000

·           Maximum file size:50 GB

·           P2P Sync File Size Limit: 50 GB

·           Cloud quota:5 GB

·           Devices per user: 30

·           Devices per folder: 300

·           Members per folder: 10 (including the owner)

NB.Mick

Alabama opened this thread as well in the Logos 4 Windows forum, and I asked there about the situation that those two machines to be synced were a PC and a Mac. (see http://community.logos.com/forums/t/37107.aspx )

Any ideas here? I just wrote over there:

Under Windows (actually this feature goes back at least to DOS 2.11, if I recall correct, when folders were still called "directories") there is the SUBST command, whereby you can assign a free driveletter (such as L: or P:) to a folder on your machine. Logos keeps this relative path "L:\mybook.docx" as the location - I just tested this on my Win7-machine by reasssigning the subst-ed drive to another folder which contained a changed document under the same name. Like a charm!
So, by using a subst-ed path, one could rearrange the folders without disrupting the book source location for Logos, have the docx-Files on a network server, or on a memory stick.

As I have no clue, whether there even are driveletters on a Mac (and spend my money on resources [and a nice 24'' monitor lately] rather than buying a mac just for finding out), I'll put this up here - is there a way to have a pathname look alike in Windows and Mac?

curious, Mick

Michael Hatcher

I have used Windows Live Mesh for several years and it works behind the scene and does a very good job. I have used it just as a sync service (one folder is over 32 gigs) and keeping my laptop and desktop files synced. It is a free program and highly recommended.

Dean J

I downloaded Dropbox, but I'm not sure I want to transfer all my primary files into the dropbox folder - what if I decide in the future on another product, and I've been editing all my docs in the dropbox - could I retrieve everything as normal documents unattached to Dropbox again?

JT (alabama24)

Dean - Dropbox is just one solution, albeit a good one (in my opinion). The best way I can explain dropbox is to say that it is kind of like a thumb drive that you always have with you (when you are connected to the internet). If you set up the installation the way I recommended, you will have a dropbox folder on every computer you use Logos with. Additionally, there will be a backup copy "in the cloud." If you decide to use a different product in the future, it is no different than moving the files to a new folder.

By the way, you don't "edit the docs in the dropbox" - you just save them there. And as I said, these files are stored locally on every computer you are running Logos on.

Dean J

I wish I was better informed about all this - but I copied a folder to Dropbox, and tried editing documents in both the original location, and the dropbox location, and changes in one wouldn't show up on the other. Perhaps I did something wrong, but if you don't edit documents in the dropbox document, how do you edit a document so that changes are made in dropbox and other computers?

Doc B

Dean, edit the document in Dropbox only. Changes there will show up on your other computer, for the file *in Dropbox*. Dropbox won't change the original file you left on your hard drive.

(Hoping I understood your question.)

JT (alabama24)

If I understand you correctly, you copied files to the dropbox folder, leaving originals in another location (i.e. "my documents" folder). You then changed the originals in the original location ("my documents" folder) and are wondering why the documents haven't changed in the dropbox folder. Am I understanding your problem correctly? If so, you have not grasped dropbox.

Dropbox is a way to share files among computers and online. When set up correctly, If you create a document on your iMAC and save it in the iMAC's dropbox folder, it will nearly instantaneously appear in your MacBook's dropbox folder; your work Windows dropbox folder, your iPHONE's dropbox folder, and your iPad's dropbox folder. Any changes made to the document will be reflected in the dropbox folder on all the other devices. You can also view these documents on the dropbox website. NOTE: The documents you are working with MUST BE STORED IN THE DROPBOX FOLDER.

The benefit of using the dropbox system for Personal Books (PBB) on Logos 4 is that every computer must have an updated version of the .docx file to compile the book.* This system allows you to work on the .docx file on any computer and have the changes reflected everywhere else as well. If you are creating a new PB from scratch, just save it to the dropbox folder. If you are working with an existing file, save a copy to the dropbox folder. (Note: once you begin working on a personal book, you really should have a dedicated .docx file for that book. A .docx file meant to be compiled in Logos is not meant to be printed out on paper because the tagging would interrupt the flow of the reader. In a personal book, these tagging marks become invisible to the reader in L4.)

* There are some other "techie" ways to move Personal Books between computers, but I don't think these ways are accessible to the average user. In addition, they would still require moving files between computers.

Doc B

Bama,

Where do I find the file to get the icon? (I'm in Windows '07).

JT (alabama24)

Doc B - I do not know much about windows. I wouldn't know where to begin to tell you (I just used the one that comes with Logos). Another user, however, posted an icon from some windows program. Perhaps that would work for you: http://community.logos.com/forums/t/40324.aspx

Doc B

OK, I'm struggling a bit here. I was already a dropbox user, so I can't set it up in a specific location, as it is already set up and way too much trouble (i.e., full of important stuff) to move.

Can I make this work with DB already installed, or do I need to move to one of the alternative services to make this work?

JT (alabama24)

Doc B - I do not know enough about windows to be of much help. The most important thing is to have dropbox installed on both computers. This way, you will always have access to the most up to date files. The second thing of importance is to create the same directory path (if possible). This is not critical, but when Logos goes to look for the file, if it is in the same place on both computers, it will always know where to look. If you don't (or can't) have the dropbox folder in the same path on both computers, it will just mean that you will need to navigate to the dropbox folder on each computer whenever you go to compile the personal book.

Jim Hathaway

This very exciting to me. I am hoping to use this with my android tablet. Do you know if that will work? I am still working through some issues with the android Logos 4 reader.

JT (alabama24)

I am hoping to use this with my android tablet.

Personal books are not yet available on mobile devices. This will require a major investment by Logos to house all the personal files. Bob has said that this will be a future feature, but no time tables have been given.

James Clabaugh

This thread is very interesting - thanks. Now, my next question... I must rebuild one of my computers. Unfortunately, it is my primary study computer and has Logos on it. I know Logos will be rebuilt on my 'new' blank system but where are the PPBs kept? I have been making copies of everything important so I can rebuild the new system but I don't know where to find the Personal Books so I can insert them into Logos once it is rebuilt.

TIA and blessings.

JT (alabama24)

I know Logos will be rebuilt on my 'new' blank system but where are the PPBs kept?

You have two choices. One I can help you with, another you will have to get an answer from someone else or the wiki.

If you want to rebuild your personal books via dropbox (what this thread is about), you don't need to worry about where the personal books are kept. You just rebuild them using the .docx files and the instructions in this thread.
If you DONT want to rebuild your personal books, then you will need the compiled files. I don't know where those are kept. If someone doesn't get back with you, check the wiki or post a new thread related to your subject.