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View Full Version : Windows Mobile 6 Standard Edition Supports File Synchronization


Kris Kumar
05-14-2007, 11:05 AM
Can't believe the title? I am still coming to terms with what I have just found out. Not sure if Microsoft has declared this in the Windows Mobile 6 feature list, or if I somehow didn't read the feature list properly and skipped over this much desired feature. 8O It is too good to be true. When Microsoft launched the Windows Mobile Smartphone edition, they decided not to include two ActiveSync related features that is available on the Pocket PC edition - file sync and Outlook notes sync. Now with the introduction of Windows Mobile 6 Standard edition, one of this limitation has been removed. WooHoo! <img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/WM6FileSync3.jpg" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/> <i>Figure 1: Here is the proof.</i>In the above screen shot you can clearly see the item called "Files" in the ActiveSync synchronization list. I am using my Dash with Windows Mobile 6 upgrade, and Microsoft ActiveSync 4.5 running on Windows XP. Now, here is the catch; if you are using Windows Vista you are out of luck. Vista's Windows Mobile Device Center does not support file synchronization. :( It does support media synchronization using Windows Media Player but not documents and other file types. Hopefully, Windows Vista users will see an update that will fix this and bring it on par with ActiveSync 4.5. Now that Windows Mobile 6 Standard (a.k.a. Smartphone) includes Office Mobile the file sync feature will prove handy for a lot of our readers. Interested in seeing some screen shots? Then continue reading after the break. <!> <a href="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/WM6FileSync1.jpg"><img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/WM6FileSync1sm.jpg" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/></a><i>Figure 2: During the first-time partnership setup process the user is greeted with this message. Click on the image for the legible version.</i><a href="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/WM6FileSync2.jpg"><img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/WM6FileSync2sm.jpg" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/></a><i>Figure 3: Files synchronization is one of the options in the list, along with Contacts, Email and Calendar etc. Click on the image for the legible version.</i><a href="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/WM6FileSync4.jpg"><img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/WM6FileSync4sm.jpg" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/></a> <i>Figure 4: A shortcut icon is created on the desktop for the My Documents folder on the Windows Mobile device. Click on the image for the legible version.</i>You can drag and drop files on to the desktop icon, and it will get copied to the My Documents folder on the mobile device's main memory. ActiveSync maintains a mirror image of the device's My Documents folder on the PC. That brings up another limitation, ActiveSync sets up the sync relationship with the My Documents folder in the main memory of the mobile device. I could not find a way to change it to the My Documents on the storage card. So if you have a lot of documents, or want to quickly and easily transfer media files over to the storage card then this file sync will not work for you. Regardless of this limitation, file sync is a welcome addition to the Windows Mobile 6 feature list. Thank you, Microsoft!

lsainsbury
05-14-2007, 12:16 PM
You can't sync files using Windows Vista / WMDC - the option is not there!

Anyone know how to fix this?

Mike Temporale
05-14-2007, 01:42 PM
You can't sync files using Windows Vista / WMDC - the option is not there!

Now, here is the catch; if you are using Windows Vista you are out of luck. Vista's Windows Mobile Device Center does not support file synchronization. :( It does support media synchronization using Windows Media Player but not documents and other file types. Hopefully, Windows Vista users will see an update that will fix this and bring it on par with ActiveSync 4.5.

Yeah, that's something that Kris noticed and mentioned in his post. Right now, there's no information on why it's missing or how to enable it, or even if it's possible. :?

Mike Temporale
05-14-2007, 01:44 PM
AWESOME find Kris :!: Too bad WMDC sucks as much as it does. (Not that AS is much better either. :? )

I guess someone at Microsoft was listening when I raised this issue back in 2005. A 3 year turn around kind of sucks, but it's better than nothing. 8)

lsainsbury
05-14-2007, 03:15 PM
Yeah, that's something that Kris noticed and mentioned in his post. Right now, there's no information on why it's missing or how to enable it, or even if it's possible. :?

Ahh yeah! :oops: Must have glanced over that! Oops!

So - we have ActiveStink....anybody care to give WMDC a nickname? :D

***long quote trimmed by mod JD***

onlydarksets
05-14-2007, 03:25 PM
Well, it is sort of a Weapon of Mass Destruction for your Computer - everything it touches it destroys.

lsainsbury
05-14-2007, 03:32 PM
I was thinking along the lines of Windows Mobile Device Corruptor

Prosper
05-14-2007, 04:34 PM
Anybody knows if this works with AS 4.1, too ? I don't wanna switch to 4.5, I'm sure it's gonna break something :lol:

Jason Dunn
05-14-2007, 06:41 PM
I'm...stunned. When we were told File Sync was included in Windows Mobile 6, I thought it was a misunderstanding, because I was told for years that people wouldn't really use their smartphones to work with files, so why include file sync? The fact that it's here but only for Windows XP users is bizarre. I can only hope there's a WMDC update coming out soon...?

I sync so infrequently with my desktop PC that in truth this doesn't effect me personally all that much - although I'd probably sync more if I knew that a quick cradle would get me an updated copy of my FlexWallet file rather than the manual drag and drop process we have now. What I really want to see is file sync as part of Exchange sync...

Islanti
05-14-2007, 06:57 PM
I think MS forgot to DISable file sync in WM6 Standard, since it's always been a (very stupid) arbitrary restriction anyway.

That said, this is about the most basic level of file sync support possible. Single folder to a single folder. I prefer the vastly superior any-to-any folder (including 1 way sync options) support in Pocket Controller.

onlydarksets
05-14-2007, 07:08 PM
What I really want to see is file sync as part of Exchange sync...

How would that work? With the public folders?

Tim Williamson
05-14-2007, 07:21 PM
I sync so infrequently with my desktop PC that in truth this doesn't effect me personally all that much - although I'd probably sync more if I knew that a quick cradle would get me an updated copy of my FlexWallet file rather than the manual drag and drop process we have now. What I really want to see is file sync as part of Exchange sync...

Flexwallet does autosync if you have the desktop component set up.

The thing I'm happy about is I had always used my PPC with Excel to keep track of gas mileage, but until now I haven't had Excel on my Dash so I've just been saving up the receipts, but now I can enter my mileage again right at the pump, yay! :D

Jason Dunn
05-14-2007, 07:30 PM
How would that work? With the public folders?

Maybe...or it might require a completely different approach, perhaps using something like FolderShare. But it would open up a LOT of interesting possibilities.

Jason Dunn
05-14-2007, 09:47 PM
Flexwallet does autosync if you have the desktop component set up.

Yeah, I know, but I don't like having another thing running all the time for the rare occasions when I do connect and sync.

Tim Williamson
05-14-2007, 11:16 PM
Flexwallet does autosync if you have the desktop component set up.

Yeah, I know, but I don't like having another thing running all the time for the rare occasions when I do connect and sync.

I don't think it has to be running in the background or at all...I think it just initiates when Activesync does its thing.

Kris Kumar
05-15-2007, 02:23 AM
One thing that I just thought of - if WMDC does not support File Sync for Standard devices, what about Professional (aka Pocket PCs)? Are they also affected?

Kris Kumar
05-15-2007, 02:27 AM
So - we have ActiveStink....anybody care to give WMDC a nickname? :D

How about Windows Mobile Device Crippler? :lol:

Kris Kumar
05-15-2007, 02:35 AM
What I really want to see is file sync as part of Exchange sync...

Hmm, that would be cool. I know WM6 email Inbox + Exchange 2007, allow the download of files embedded in email links. I am eagerly waiting for our Exchange server to be upgraded. I get a lot of emails with links to documents on our corporate SharePoint server and fileshares. Exchange 2007 and WM6 will pull it down to my smart phone. 8)

I want Microsoft to fix the Outlook Notes sync for the Smartphones/Standard.

scottb
05-15-2007, 01:00 PM
Flexwallet does autosync if you have the desktop component set up...
Mine used to autosync but it just stopped one day. Now I have to manually start the sync.

123frank
11-07-2007, 05:55 AM
That brings up another limitation, ActiveSync sets up the sync relationship with the My Documents folder in the main memory of the mobile device. I could not find a way to change it to the My Documents on the storage card.

I remember that a previous version needed some registry changes to adjust the File save location on your computer and putting files on the storage card. I imagine there is something similar that can be done for the newest version? I finally broke down and got an HTC, but might be regretting it...
:confused:

stribble
06-12-2008, 09:51 AM
I think MS forgot to DISable file sync in WM6 Standard, since it's always been a (very stupid) arbitrary restriction anyway.

Maybe this is right! Because it seems like it doesn't work in XP SP3. At least it works fine on my XP Pro SP2 machine and not at all on my XP Home SP3 one. Is this generally true or have I messed up somewhere?