<chapter id="synchronization"> <title>Syncing your &handheld; with a PC</title> <para> This chapter describes the synchronization process that &kpilot; uses, focusing on the &kpilot; daemon functionality. You may sync your &handheld; using the <link linkend="conduits">conduits</link>. Conduits allow external applications to interface with the data on your &handheld;. </para> <para> It is a good idea to make a backup of your &handheld; regularly. Other than making backups, it should rarely be necessary to do anything other than drop your &handheld; on the cradle and press the &HotSync; button. The &kpilot; daemon icon in the system tray will flash indicating that a sync is under way. </para> <screenshot> <screeninfo>&kpilot; Daemon Pop-Up Menu</screeninfo> <mediaobject> <imageobject><imagedata fileref="daemon-menu.png" format="PNG"/></imageobject> <textobject><phrase>&kpilot; daemon popup menu</phrase></textobject> <caption><para>&kpilot; daemon popup menu</para></caption> </mediaobject> </screenshot> <para> To set which type of sync &kpilot; will perform next, you can use the main application <link linkend="menu-file"> <menuchoice> <guimenu>File</guimenu> </menuchoice> menu</link>, or right click the &kpilot; daemon icon located in the system tray, and select one of the menu items under the <menuchoice> <guisubmenu>Next Sync</guisubmenu> </menuchoice> sub menu. <tip><para> If you hover over the &kpilot; daemon icon, a tooltip will appear showing you what the type of sync &kpilot; will perform next. </para></tip> </para> <para> In short, the sync types are: </para> <itemizedlist> <listitem><para> <guilabel>HotSync (once)</guilabel>: this option offers a nice balance between speed and data safety. </para></listitem> <listitem><para> <guilabel>FullSync (once)</guilabel>: the safest option, but takes the longest time to complete. </para></listitem> <listitem> <para> <guilabel>Copy Handheld to PC (once)</guilabel>: run all conduits and sync all databases, but instead of merging the information from both sources, just copy the handheld data to the PC. <warning><para>Use with care, as this option erases the changes you made in your PC since the last sync.</para></warning> </para> </listitem> <listitem> <para> <guilabel>Copy PC to Handheld (once)</guilabel>: run all conduits and sync all databases, but instead of merging the information from both sources, just copy the PC data to the handheld. <warning><para>Use with care, as this option erases the changes you made in your handheld since the last sync.</para></warning> </para> </listitem> </itemizedlist> <para> Alternatively, you can change the default syncing behavior of &kpilot; by choosing the most suitable option in the <link linkend="page-hotsync">&HotSync; configure dialog</link>. <note><para> To configure the conduits or the sync process, you do not need to open the main &kpilot; application, as the <menuchoice> <guimenuitem>Configure KPilot...</guimenuitem> </menuchoice> menu item is available on the &kpilot; daemon popup menu as well. </para></note> </para> <sect1 id="sync-s"> <title>Selecting the Synchronization Type</title> <para> There are two ways to sync your &handheld;, <guilabel>HotSync</guilabel>, or <guilabel>FullSync</guilabel>. </para> <para> When you press the &HotSync; button on your &handheld;, &kpilot; will run the default sync operation (usually a <guilabel>HotSync</guilabel>). You can select the default sync operation in the <link linkend="page-hotsync">&HotSync; configure dialog</link>. Alternatively, you can click one of the sync options on the main &kpilot; application <menuchoice> <guimenu>File</guimenu> </menuchoice> menu or on the &kpilot; daemon popup <menuchoice> <guisubmenu>Next Sync</guisubmenu> </menuchoice> submenu. <important><para> Using the <link linkend="page-hotsync">&HotSync; configure dialog</link> is the only way to change the default sync operation. The main &kpilot; application <menuchoice> <guimenu>File</guimenu> </menuchoice> menu items or the &kpilot; daemon popup <menuchoice> <guisubmenu>Next Sync</guisubmenu> </menuchoice> submenu items change only the type of sync that will be performed <emphasis>next</emphasis>. </para></important> </para> <screenshot> <screeninfo>&kpilot; Daemon Pop-Up Menu</screeninfo> <mediaobject> <imageobject><imagedata fileref="daemon-menu.png" format="PNG"/></imageobject> <textobject><phrase>&kpilot; daemon popup menu</phrase></textobject> <caption><para>&kpilot; daemon popup menu</para></caption> </mediaobject> </screenshot> <para> For more information on the sync types, please refer to the descriptions available in <xref linkend="page-hotsync" />. </para> </sect1> <sect1 id="conduits"> <title>Syncing your &handheld; Data Using Conduits</title> <para> Conduits are programs that interface your &handheld; data with <acronym>PC</acronym> applications or sync your &handheld; data with files that can be used by <acronym>PC</acronym> applications. </para> <para> Conduits can be set up by selecting <menuchoice> <guimenu>Settings</guimenu> <guimenuitem>Configure KPilot...</guimenuitem> </menuchoice>, or using the daemon pop up menu and clicking the <guimenuitem>Configure KPilot...</guimenuitem> menu item. </para> <screenshot> <screeninfo>&kpilot; Daemon Pop-Up Menu</screeninfo> <mediaobject> <imageobject><imagedata fileref="daemon-menu.png" format="PNG"/></imageobject> <textobject><phrase>&kpilot; daemon popup menu</phrase></textobject> <caption><para>&kpilot; daemon popup menu</para></caption> </mediaobject> </screenshot> </sect1> <sect1 id="conflicts"> <title>Resolving Conflicts</title> <para> Data records can be changed both on the &handheld; and on the <acronym>PC</acronym>. If one record has incompatible changes in both the &handheld; and the <acronym>PC</acronym> (such as changing a phone number in different ways on both sides), the conflicting change needs to be resolved so that both the &handheld; and the <acronym>PC</acronym> are in sync again. </para> <para> A popup dialog may appear, asking you how to resolve the conflict, or you may have a general rule to automatically handle these conflicts (depending on your <link linkend="page-hotsync">conflict resolution choice</link>). Note that you can define different resolution choices for different conduits in the <link linkend="config-conduits">conduits configuration dialog</link>. </para> </sect1> </chapter>