Allow OmniFocus to Sync to work computer

[SpiralOcean]

This may be a good option for syncing the data to work.
http://www.markspace.com/synctogether.php

I think you would need to make OmniFocus compatable with sync services.

[Tim Wood]

Sadly, it seems to require that the computers are on the same LAN, "It's easy to set up and use across a local area network"

If I have my laptop with me, sure. But if I want to sync between my desktop at home and at work... maybe some VPN tricksies could make the discovery work or maybe their software really does work across wider networks.

[tacartwright]

Yes, please comment on how OmniFocus will sync with other instances of itself and with other software and devices.

Also, as I brought up in detail in another thread, are there any plans to support some sort of web-based or other platform-neutral means of accessing data? To be a truly trusted system, I must know that I can at least view my data anywhere.

[michelle]

Synchronization will be automatic, but at the same level as Kinkless. For 1.0, we will synchronize with other devices (Palm, phone) by going through iCal. There will be no built-in support for synchronizing computers, but we will include support for storing the database on a thumb drive or remote file server.

We understand your desire to access the information anywhere at anytime. At Omni, we not only develop the application, but we use it and have the same desire. We're trying to make it as painless as possible :)

[JasonI]

Since you can sync the file, would it be possible to tag the items you would like others in a workgroup to have, make a smart folder to retreive those items, and have the other workgroup members just import the items collected by the smart folder?

Jason

[SpiralOcean]

Sadly, it seems to require that the computers are on the same LAN, "It's easy to set up and use across a local area network"

If I have my laptop with me, sure. But if I want to sync between my desktop at home and at work... maybe some VPN tricksies could make the discovery work or maybe their software really does work across wider networks.

Hmm... I was assuming it could sync to an external web server, and then my work could sync to that computer.

Local Area Network (LAN) connection between shared Macs OR for remote syncs the user must know the physical IP address of all the computers being synchronized and have Internet access.

Support for IP and name addressing
If you can ping a Mac, then SyncTogether can sync with it.

Password protection and data transfer encryption
A password must be provided before a Mac can join a SyncTogether group. Data is transmitted securely with SSL encryption, so it stays safe.

http://www.markspace.com/synctogether_features.html
Information from other applications
SyncTogether can synchronize certain types of information belonging to third-party applications that also support Sync Services. SyncTogether currently supports Bare Bones Software Yojimbo; Chronos SOHO Contacts and Calendar; Llamagraphics LifeBalance; Microsoft Entourage 2004; Panic Transmit and others. As more applications employ Sync Services, SyncTogether will handle more types of information.

Looks like more research is in order.

[john0720]

I use a laptop @ work and a desktop @ home (and sometimes a 2nd laptop). I make extensive use of .Mac sync services to keep the machine as similar as possible. I even keep NetNewsWire sync'd via .Mac.

OmniFocus would be infinitely more useful for me (I've only had it for two days now and I can see how I won't be able to give it up) if I can keep the database sync'd between my various machines.

So, add my vote for .Mac syncing!

[yucca]

Synchronization will be automatic, but at the same level as Kinkless. For 1.0, we will synchronize with other devices (Palm, phone) by going through iCal. There will be no built-in support for synchronizing computers, but we will include support for storing the database on a thumb drive or remote file server.

Since I am not an alpha tester, it is not clear if the database is composed of one file or several (or many) related files. If the former, then it is very easy to manually sync the file. However, if there are multiple files, can we configure OF to use a dedicated folder for all the files that compose the database? If so, then we are in good shape to help ourselves with the sync issue - ChronoSync FTW!

Also, while it may be pie-in-the-sky type stuff, has Omni given any thought to scaling OF (and OP!) for workgroup use? If so, please consider the needs of workgroups that are scattered across the Internet; and, to a lesser extent, the needs of workgroups that will have non-Mac group members.

[brianogilvie]

Since I am not an alpha tester, it is not clear if the database is composed of one file or several (or many) related files.

The database is composed of several files in a package.

[brab]

Sadly, it seems to require that the computers are on the same LAN, "It's easy to set up and use across a local area network"

If I have my laptop with me, sure. But if I want to sync between my desktop at home and at work... maybe some VPN tricksies could make the discovery work or maybe their software really does work across wider networks.
I synchronize remote computers. This requires enabling this on one side, and specifying the ip address on the other side (no Bonjour magic). But it works great after this setup.

[Wild Rye]

Synchronization will be automatic, but at the same level as Kinkless. For 1.0, we will synchronize with other devices (Palm, phone) by going through iCal. There will be no built-in support for synchronizing computers, but we will include support for storing the database on a thumb drive or remote file server.

We understand your desire to access the information anywhere at anytime. At Omni, we not only develop the application, but we use it and have the same desire. We're trying to make it as painless as possible :)

I tried to share the database between computers by exporting it to a thumbdrive. However, there doesn't seem to be a good way to use the exported file at my office computer.

How does Omnifocus support storing the database on a thumb drive (ie what is the correct procedure?)

[AmberV]

The good news is that OF is just a bundle with a bunch of XML files; the bad news is that they are binary, which means tools like SVN cannot properly synchronise them. The Scrivener project has recently provided an option to use plain text XML for synch compatibility, at the expense of speed. I wonder what the performance impact would be in an application that uses so many XML files, and if it would be worth it to have a similar option?

[AmberV]

How does Omnifocus support storing the database on a thumb drive (ie what is the correct procedure?)

I've been moving the OF file back and forth by just copying it out of ~/Library/Application Support/OmniFocus, and placing the file into that directory on the other machine. If you keep an alias to that folder somewhere handy, it isn't too hard.

[Wild Rye]

Heh. I finally figured that one on my own. Not for the faint of heart, as they say.

[AmberV]

Heh. I finally figured that one on my own. Not for the faint of heart, as they say.

That is true, but if you have your backups set to trigger upon close, it isn't drastically dangerous.

[Lizard]

I tried to share the database between computers by exporting it to a thumbdrive. However, there doesn't seem to be a good way to use the exported file at my office computer.

How does Omnifocus support storing the database on a thumb drive (ie what is the correct procedure?)

Here's one approach that has worked for me, and a few other people around here. If you're brave (in a Terminal-using way, not a Focus alpha-using way), you can move your Focus file (the real thing, not a backup archive) to your thumb drive and then just create symlinks to it on each computer.

Machine 1: (where Focus is up-to-date)
0) Insert thumbdrive
1) Quit Focus
2) Browse to [user name]>Library>Application Support>OmniFocus
3) If there's a file ending in ".lock", you didn't do step 1. There should only be one file in this folder.
4) Move the OmniFocus.ofocus file to your thumb drive.
5) Open up a terminal window, and cd to the same folder as in step 2.
6) Create a symlink to the Focus file on your thumb drive.
ln -s /Volumes/ThumbDrive/OmniFocus.ofocus .
(Note that you'll need to change that path to match the real path to your thumbdrive.)

Machine 2: (which has no Focus data that isn't also on Machine 1)
0) Insert thumbdrive
1) Quit Focus (if ever launched)
2) Make sure that [user name]>Library>Application Support>OmniFocus exists and is empty
3) Repeat steps 5 and 6

This only transfers the data. You may want to do a similar thing for your Focus preferences file as well.

[WLWEsq]

Porting around the files on a thumb drive may be a viable option for now, but if that thumb drive gets lost--ouch!

This is my first post, and I've had the sneaky-peak alpha/pre-beta for a few days now.

I can't say enough how excellent it is. It gets the job done, it has a simple interface, and yet there's power under the hood if you need it. Absolutely wonderful.

I'll cast my vote for .Mac syncing as well, or even just being able to put the data out on the iDisk would work for me.

Thanks, OmniFolks! You guys rock!

[uncleroscoe]

I use a laptop @ work and a desktop @ home (and sometimes a 2nd laptop). I make extensive use of .Mac sync services to keep the machine as similar as possible. I even keep NetNewsWire sync'd via .Mac.

OmniFocus would be infinitely more useful for me (I've only had it for two days now and I can see how I won't be able to give it up) if I can keep the database sync'd between my various machines.

So, add my vote for .Mac syncing!

My set up is exactly like john0720's and .Mac sync services are vital to me because I'm constantly shuttling back and forth between my iMac and PowerBook. To have that syncing ability would make my life so much easier.

QUESTION TO OMNI STAFF: As a work-around, what I've been doing in the case where an application can't sync between two Macs, I put the actual file in a .Mac folder and can access that file from any Mac that has the application installed and access to .Mac. That way every time I access the file from any Mac it is always updated and there is no syncing necessary.

Is this possible in the current version of OmniFocus? If so, what file would I put upload to my .Mac? If not, can it be?

[laner19]

I just got my invite to OF a couple of days ago and I am very impressed with the clean interface. Nice work so far!!!

I am moving from iGTD which is also a nice app. One of the nicest features it has is .mac syncing. I have two main macs that I use (one for work and one for home). Since my GTD app contains both work and home tasks I frequently switch between the machines.

I have been using iGTD for a few months now and the .mac syncing is flawless. With my limited knowledge of what is going on behind the scenes I can see that there is one sql file that gets updated and merged when accessing between the machines. I can also see that I have a .mac file and local file for offline access in iGTD.

I am sure I can find a way to manually do this but I would like to ask the Omni team if they can look at the iGTD implementation and see if it is something that can be implemented for 1.0 release. This is an extremely important feature for me and I am assuming other users with multiple macs.

[mbeattie]

Could the OmniFocus.ofocus file be placed under version control and manually synced that way?

I had limited success attempting that with OmniOutliner files.

[Lizard]

QUESTION TO OMNI STAFF: As a work-around, what I've been doing in the case where an application can't sync between two Macs, I put the actual file in a .Mac folder and can access that file from any Mac that has the application installed and access to .Mac. That way every time I access the file from any Mac it is always updated and there is no syncing necessary.

Is this possible in the current version of OmniFocus? If so, what file would I put upload to my .Mac? If not, can it be?

You want the OmniFocus.ofocus file in [user name]/Library/Application Support/OmniFocus. An easy way to check that you're using the right one is to launch OmniFocus and then command-click on the document icon in the main window. This will show you the folder it's in, and you can click on that folder to open it in the finder.

[the doug]

I tried storing the OF file on my iDisk, but since it syncs the individual files of the OF file bundle, it was taking forever (and I just gave up).

This is what I am doing now to sync my home desktop, laptop, and work desktops:

I wrote Automator scripts to 1) ZIP the OF data file and put it in my iDisk (I call this one "Upload OmniFocus data to iDisk", and 2) UNZIP the archive from the iDisk and move the result into the appropriate Application Support folder.

Now, after I quit OF on one machine, I run the Upload script on that machine and wait for .Mac to sync before putting the machine to sleep. When I wake up another machine, I wait for .Mac to sync and then run the Download script on that machine and start up OF.

I'm attaching a ZIP of my Automator workflows - you'll have to change file settings appropriately. NOTE: the pause I've inserted in the Download script allows the Unzipping to finish before moving the result into the Application Support folder.

I welcome any improvements!

[olderbrother]

Lizard explains how to store the data file on a thumb drive (using sym links). The doug explains how he transfers a zipped version to and from his iDisk. Can you guys tell me if this method could work?:Store the actual data file on my iDisk, and use sym links on each of my computers to access it. Would that eliminate the long iDisk syncing time that the doug was talking about?

Never done sym links before, and I'm new to OF (as we all are) and iDisk. Thanks for whatever you can tell me!