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Archiver > ROOTSMAGIC-USERS > 2011-04 > 1301953484


From: "Tom Holden" <>
Subject: Re: [RMagic] Dropbox integration with RootsMagic
Date: Mon, 4 Apr 2011 17:44:44 -0400
References: <2042822734.3370989.1301951284852.JavaMail.root@sz0045a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net>
In-Reply-To: <2042822734.3370989.1301951284852.JavaMail.root@sz0045a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net>


Yes, you are missing a couple of points:

1. DropBox does not prevent users sharing the same DropBox folder from
simultaneously working on the same named RootsMagic file. There could be
quite a mixup if you do so you need some kind of protocol to avoid doing so.

2. There were issues before and there appear to be issues again with keeping
a working RootsMagic database file in a DropBox folder. DropBox is
"synchronising" its web folder and every attached computer on every change
to the database file, including such innocuous actions as selecting a
different person to view. That means DropBox is very busy and storing a
version of the database file with every change. That may have an impact on
computer performance, network load, and unnecessarily eat up your DropBox
storage quota.

To avoid these two things, I might suggest that you move your RootsMagic
database file into the DropBox folder when you are not using it and move it
back to your working folder when you need to work on it. That is akin to a
check-in and check-out procedure. Anyone sharing the DropBox folder could do
the same thing. As long as each sharer keeps only the one working file on
their computer, then when one moves it out of the DropBox folder it becomes
unavailable to the others. Moving it to a working, non-DropBox folder
isolates DropBox from the database file and it won't chase every change.
Once finished working on it, close RM and use Explorer to move the file to
the DropBox folder. Then somebody else can take a turn at it.

DropBox will keep a copy of each version that was moved out as well as the
last one as a deleted file for recovery later (up to 30 days with the free
version). Advise everyone to not use Recover, that only the master person
should do that, should somebody screw up and lose the file in a Move
operation or forget to check it back in.

Tom

-----Original Message-----
From:
Sent: Monday, April 04, 2011 5:08 PM
To:
Subject: Re: [RMagic] Dropbox integration with RootsMagic

Margie,

I am not the expert on this (after all the RootsMagician was involved in
this conversation).

Your first paragraph confuses me a little bit since this whole thread
involved using Dropbox for a backup of your RM Database and you refer to
other databases in addition to your RM Database.

Assuming you are speaking about your RM Data it appears this would work
great with your daughter in Dropbox provided you are accessing Dropbox with
the same username and password. Also, if I understand correctly you would
have to be using the latest update of RootsMagic which is 4.1.1.1. Then,
based on the conversation here, you should be able to use the same database.
In addition only one of you at a time would be able to access it so the
loaded data is the latest version.

I am excited to hear about using dropbox in this way. I may set my daughter
300 miles away with her own installation of RootsMagic (yes, purchase hers
for her computer) so we can work on this together. It sounds like a great
family activity!

To everyone else. . . am I missing something here?

John

----- Original Message -----
From: "M. A. Beldin" <>
To:
Sent: Monday, April 4, 2011 10:30:01 AM
Subject: Re: [RMagic] Dropbox integration with RootsMagic

Right now, I am using Dropbox simply to back up my RM database. The banter
here causes me to wonder if I shouldn't use it for my databases as well.

Question: would using Dropbox for my database folder be useful as my
daughter and I are both working on family lines but we live 2 hours apart.
Should I keep our database in Dropbox and then when we are working on it,
all our info would be on the same database rather than having to run the
"Share" feature and upload a gedcom.

I hesitate to do the gedcom routine because even last night I found an
individual with all his facts duplicated. I get so tired of finding
duplicate facts and duplicate notes. I have heard the reasons why this
happens (slight changes, etc.) but there is no indication that this
individual's information was even accessed recently.

Anyway, would Dropbox be more convenient for people working on the same
database than gedcoming changes on a routine basis?

Thanks
Margie

--
Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as
well dance.


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