Syncing between computers
I currently use another product to do much of what Papers seems to do. I am interested in switching, but I can't tell if papers will sync between computers (my desktop and my laptop). This is crucial for me in the way I work. When I look for syncing info, all I can see is syncing to mobile devices, but not computers. Does Papers 2 support this feature in some way?
92 Posted by sanforde on 31 Mar, 2011 04:51 AM
I tried a second time and got a bit further. The syncing operation began this time but after a few seconds Papers2 on the Mac quit unexpectedly. I have the log for the hang and crash, so I am attaching it as a text file.
MacBook Pro 2.66 GHz Core i7, 8GB 1067 MHz, Os 10.6.6
Papers 2.0.3
iPhone 3G, version 4.3, Papers. 1.9.5
Support Staff 93 Posted by mek on 31 Mar, 2011 08:16 AM
We have indeed been made aware of one bug that in rare circumstances causes the iPhone to disappear quickly after clicking it in the source list, we're investigating.
94 Posted by web on 08 Apr, 2011 07:23 PM
If sync between computers is not supported (and I'll not use Dropbox since you made it clear that is not supported) how do I get my library and pdf's onto my laptop from my desktop? Does Export PDF Files and Media provide a means of moving everything including metadata to another computer?
For now I can live without a true sync - but from time to time I just want to make sure I've got my whole papers library on my MacBook Pro (though if I download any new papers while I'm away not sure what the best way of transferring those new ones to my Mac Pro library...
Is there a knowledgebase article about this - I couldn't find one.
Support Staff 95 Posted by charles on 08 Apr, 2011 08:32 PM
The part that we can't support with DropBox is to gracefully handle the cases where you have quit Papers and not waited for sync to be finished before switching to the other machines. Otherwise, it creates big issues with db corruption and confuses Papers if the db is changed underneath it. Outside those caveats (which are true for many other apps as well), Dropbox might still be your best option if you frequently switch computer.
For now, the only way is to copy the entire library. IN the near future, we will support again the import/export of Papers archive, which will be a way to easily move around a bunch of Papers (e.g. the most recently imported ones!). Finally, if you have access to Livfe (which had to be throttled for now to a limited number of users), you could also have those sent over your account (Livfe shares only the metadata, not the PDF, but if it has the URL, it will be easy to download again).
96 Posted by grandbay on 08 Apr, 2011 10:48 PM
For me the problem occurs even when two computers were left running 24 hrs a day.
The reality is you can really only use one library short of manually shifting to a different computer each time.
Support Staff 97 Posted by charles on 08 Apr, 2011 11:45 PM
I forgot to add that in Papers2 you also are better off quitting Manuscripts as well using the 'Disable Manuscripts' menu item in the Papers status menu.
98 Posted by jan on 12 Apr, 2011 09:01 PM
I'm at the moment syncing between my iPad and Papers2.0.3 on my iMac. The first time it canceled because of a communication error. Now the second time it syncs the whole library. Which is less then 1000 PDFs, so not too big.
I have a question about this: I see that I can choose "Bidirectional Sync" to sync between the iPad and Mac. Does this mean I can also sync my iPad with my MacBook and in this way sync between MacBook and iMac? What are the pitfalls in this case? I've not tried it yet.
99 Posted by fresco on 12 Apr, 2011 09:47 PM
@Jan I am fairly certain the answer is no. Your iPad will have a relationship with exactly one OSX computer. I too find the lack of syncing as the most glaring limitation of Papers at this point. I happen to own licenses to Sente and Endnote too. I like Papers despite the clumsy roll out of Papers 2 the best and feel committed to Mekentosj, but wish for them to hear that multicomputer syncing is the feature that is necessary before I invest in additional Papers licenses!
100 Posted by sanforde on 13 Apr, 2011 03:41 AM
April 12, 2011.
So far, no good. Syncing still does not work between my Papers 1.9.5 on iOS G3 iphone and Papers2. The sync begins successfully and then the connection fails. This time the icon for the iPhone remains in the sidebar, so I think that might be an improvement.
Please keep working on your software until it works as advertised. I will stay tuned for improvements.
101 Posted by sanforde on 13 Apr, 2011 03:53 AM
I tried it a second time and this time it worked! So, never mind my previous comment.
102 Posted by oscarbrouwer on 19 Apr, 2011 09:12 AM
To all the sugarsync/chronosync users:
Syncing ('mirroring') the papers2 folder (between computers) seems to still produce the 'reactivation' issue (with papers 2.04).
However; just copying and overwriting the papers2 folder doesn't.
As to why this happens, i don't know.
Anyone else experience this?
Its not the end of the world, but overwriting the papers2 folder just takes a lot longer, and is irriversible (if I'd happen to overwrite in the wrong direction ;-))
Strangely enough this wasn't a problem with papers 1....
103 Posted by Axel on 19 Apr, 2011 09:19 AM
Hey,
for me it is wirking now verry well. But I do not only copy the folder, instead I use rsync for a one way synchronisation. That means that files were deleted (if enabled in rsync) on the copy if were not present anymore in the actual folder. Doing this I can sync two libs with a usb disk as transport medium. Bu you have to keep in mind that only one lib could be the master for a clone. You can' really SYNC two different libs on two computers if you appllied changes to both and try to sync the changes.
regards,
Axel
104 Posted by oscarbrouwer on 19 Apr, 2011 02:42 PM
but don't you have to reactivate everytime you open papers? because 'mirroring' the folder with chronosync is the same thing as one way sync right?
105 Posted by Axel on 19 Apr, 2011 03:00 PM
Hey,
yes I do not have to reactivate Papers after I synced the libs (Same licenese key on both computers. I did not test with my notebook running another license key). I had that problem, but after one of the last updates it works.
I dont know chronosync. Maybe it manage the files like rsync maybe not. In the past I tried another synctool which had problems with the correct deleting of files which were present in the taregt folder but not in the source folder anymore. For my situation this behaviour corrupted the lib. Never had that problem with rsync.
I stored the Papers lib in my Document fiolder and not in the Library folder of my user account. I dont know whether this could be the reason for your problems or not.
Good luck,
Axel
106 Posted by oscarbrouwer on 20 Apr, 2011 06:55 AM
thanks i'll give it a try.
If it doesnt work; its not the end of the world; a 300 mb library is easily copied, I could even use an applescript.
107 Posted by dartagnan32 on 08 May, 2011 05:49 PM
Hi guys, I use dropbox and it seems that my library is synced fine, but collections are not. Is there something else to put in dropbox folder to sync collections?
thanks
108 Posted by Chris on 08 May, 2011 09:09 PM
dear mekentosj team, why not including a "feature" in papers2, that safely inhibits that both macs are using the papers2 database at the same time. Although both of my macs are often online at the same time, I am present only on one computer. Why not including a warning: "no changes to this database are possible at the moment, as another user is using the database". This would enable the use of papers2 with two macs but one user without any problems. Would be enough for most of papers2 users.
109 Posted by Ralf on 09 May, 2011 11:53 AM
@syncing with two computers with iPad
So, for me it works to sync my iMac and the MacBook with "Help" of my iPad and the "bidirectional syn" function. There is only one bug I found so far. If you search for author names in your libary, the number of papers given in the register ist two or three even if you have just one paper of the author. It works because the syncing between papers on the iPad and the Macs is independent of the syncing of the whole iPad via iTunes. The latter one is just possible between a single computer and the iPad.
Support Staff 110 Posted by charles on 20 May, 2011 02:42 AM
We are indeed looking into such a solution, though it's still a bit tricky. Please be patient, and many thanks for your feedback!
111 Posted by skyedoherty on 27 May, 2011 02:44 AM
I have been copying my library between macs to keep Papers up to date. This worked great on Papers1 but on Papers2 it is not working. I have copied my library across but the new files and collections are not showing.
Also, the iPhone sync is not working. I've tried resetting it etc but there does not seem to be any communication.
Thanks
112 Posted by skyedoherty on 30 May, 2011 10:39 PM
Any ideas on this?
I've imported the missing documents again and am no trying to copy the files to another computer. When I do this I get an error saying the operation can't be completed because the item “PDF.spotlightIndex” is in use.
I very much need to be able to move my library around. Please advise.
113 Posted by Norman F on 30 May, 2011 10:49 PM
Since there have been some indications toward eventual Dropbox support, I wanted to add this plea: I wonder if it would be possible to allow two macs AND a mobile device to use the same Dropbox library? As Dropbox importing is already available, would it eventually be possible to import the whole library from Dropbox (essentially syncing through Dropbox)?
Support Staff 114 Posted by charles on 31 May, 2011 06:30 AM
I am afraid at the moment, this is still a long way, but we'd definitely like to have a full sync solution that include the mobile version. Thanks for your patience...
115 Posted by Andrew on 01 Jun, 2011 10:38 PM
Charles,
Syncing everything Dropbox would really be an ultimate feature!
The possible corruption issue could be eliminated by having a permission / text file present that indicates when there is no activity by another device. Papers can rewrite the a 0 = safe vs 1= active every time it uses the database.
Hope you will make this a priority for the next release.
Also I will use this opportunity to beg for the PMID to be put back in the file name.
Support Staff 116 Posted by charles on 04 Jun, 2011 04:53 AM
We are looking into a solution like this to at least warn the user. It's a bit tricky, though, so we need to make sure we do it right. Many thanks for your feedback!
117 Posted by januse72 on 06 Jun, 2011 09:46 PM
Any chance of working with the new iCloud Apple unveiled to give synching across computers and devices? This would really really be amazing, and I know Apple is doing a lot to help developers integrate iCloud into their apps.
118 Posted by web on 06 Jun, 2011 10:27 PM
Presumably with iCloud now announced, this is the only logical way forward for Papers.