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How can I share my TntMPD database with my spouse over the Internet?

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First published by:
Troy Wolbrink
on 21 May 2010
Last revision by:
Troy Wolbrink
on 15 May 2012
26 people found this article useful.

100% of people found this useful
How can I share my TntMPD database with my spouse over the Internet?

One solution you might consider is "Dropbox"  (www.dropbox.com).  It provides a free service up to 2 GB of data, and it works with both Macs and PCs.

TntMPD can help you use a service like this effectively by helping you to make sure only one person is in the database making changes.  Under the Tools menu, click on Options to turn on "Dropbox Mode".

If you try to open the database when your spouse is in it, you'll get this prompt:

You can still open your database, just as read-only.  By preventing you and your spouse making changes at the same time, you can ensure you stay in sync with each other.

Tip: If you're not sure where your TntMPD database file is, read this FAQ article.

What if two people change data in TntMPD at the same time?
Even with TntMPD's "Dropbox Mode" this is possible.  If you or your spouse's computer is not connected to the Internet, TntMPD's "Dropbox Mode" won't be able to know that the database is in use by your partner.  Dropbox handles this situation of both people making changes in a way that no work is lost.

I've tested some other similar services, and in my experience they were not a safe option for TntMPD.  If two computers would both open the TntMPD database at the same time, the last person to close TntMPD would overwrite any changed made by the other.  Therefore I haven't felt comfortable using a service like this for my data.  But Dropbox handles conflicts like this differently.

If you open your TntMPD database on your computer while someone else has it open on theirs, and both of you make changes to the database, Dropbox will create 2 copies of the database (naming them according to the users who saved them).  This is good, because it means no changes are lost, but you would then have to use TntSync to merge any changes.

Combined with TntSync
If you are a husband and wife team and want the ability to work offline at the same time, you might consider using TntSync.  To do this, copy the original TntMPD database to a non-Dropbox folder and then make whatever changes you want.  When you're finished and online again, synch it with the TntMPD database in the Dropbox folder.  This will make your changes available to your partner, who has also been making changes and can then sync her changes to the database as well.

Another approach to consider if TntSync is too technical for your spouse, than you could setup your spouse to open TntMPD directly off the Dropbox drive.  You could have a database stored on your local hard drive that is not associated with Dropbox that you'd use when you're in TntMPD.  You'd have to run TntSync occasionlly to sync changes between your local database and the database in Dropbox.  This has the advantage of allowing your spouse to not deal with TntSync at all.  Plus it allows simultaneous use of TntMPD.  The only time the database in Dropbox could possible be used by both you and your spouse is if you try to run TntSync when your spouse is in TntMPD.  But TntSync also gets this new feautre, so it will also warn you if your spouse is in the database.

Other Benefits
Another benefit to using Dropbox, is that it saves a copy of everything in your folder to the cloud and on your other computer.  So it also serves as a back-up solution for your database and any other MPD files you keep in the Dropbox folder.

Recent Comments

By: Jeremy Sink Posted on 31 Jul 2010 11:58 AM

It help to have some step-by-step directions on how to locate the database file and share using dropbox.  I'm brand new to both TnT and to dropbox.  Thanks!

By: Troy Wolbrink Posted on 31 Jul 2010 2:22 PM

Check out my response to you here:

www.tntware.com/.../9704.aspx

By: Russ Posted on 30 Sep 2010 8:48 AM

I have dropbox mode enabled.  However, I am getting a "The Database file is in use by another user.  Would you like to open it in read-only mode?" error.  

It's not actually open on any other machine.  How do I tell TntMPD to unlock the database and let me open it up?

By: Troy Wolbrink Posted on 1 Oct 2010 11:47 PM

@Russ, make sure you're on the latest version of TntMPD on all computers.  It has enhanced support to clean up the .lock file if TntMPD crashed on the previous session.  If that doesn't work, just delete the .lock file manually.  It will be right next to the database.

By: AshleyZimmerman Posted on 1 Apr 2011 2:56 PM

My husband and I are trying to follow this method and are running into problems.  When we sync our data, history and tasks do not sync over.  How do we make our sync complete?

By: Troy Wolbrink Posted on 12 Apr 2011 1:31 PM

It sounds like you're using 2 different copies of the database.  Click F8 to see the name and location of the database you are using on each computer and make sure they are referring to the exact same file.

By: Chuck McArthur Posted on 18 Apr 2011 3:56 PM

I'm so close I can taste it. I moved TNT into my dropbox but when I click on dropbox/tnt on the other computer it says "no database is currently open". What shall I do? Thanks!!

By: Troy Wolbrink Posted on 22 Apr 2011 9:42 AM

Chuck, if TntMPD says "No database is currently open", under the "File" menu, click on "Open" and select your database file.  If you're not sure where it is, search your entire hard drive for "*.mpddb".

By: Noah Posted on 19 Jul 2011 3:49 PM

Hi Troy,

I can't click on the Dropbox Mode option because it's grayed out, along with the two options above it.  Any idea why that might be?

Thanks.

By: FrancesTagaloa Posted on 23 Jul 2011 12:29 AM

This was very helpful for me and my husband who both use TnTMPD.  Thanks.

By: AmyLeskowski Posted on 12 Aug 2011 12:58 AM

where can i download tntsync for my new computer?

By: Troy Wolbrink Posted on 12 Aug 2011 2:41 PM

Noah, these options are only available to those who are allowed to "manage other user accounts".  Under the "File" menu, click on "Switch User" and login as someone else (who has this ability).  Then under the "File" menu, click on "Manage Users" to add this setting to your own account.  Then you can (File|Switch Users) to go back to your account.

By: Troy Wolbrink Posted on 12 Aug 2011 2:42 PM

Amy, TntSync comes with TntMPD.  It's under the "Tools" menu in TntMPD.

By: bwilliamson Posted on 24 Apr 2012 9:54 AM

I'm assuming the Dropbox Mode isn't really Dropbox exclusive?  Microsoft just amped up SkyDrive/Mesh and I'm hoping to accomplish the TntMPD DB share via that platform, plus get the "in use" warning if my wife has the file open.  Hope to test it out tonight...

By: Troy Wolbrink Posted on 25 Apr 2012 11:56 AM

It's not Dropbox exclusive.  "Dropbox Mode" is just an easy to describe nickname for the setting.

Although I am fond of Dropbox because if TntMPD's Dropbox Mode fails, and if both people make changes, Dropbox creaes a copy of the database that doesn't win the sync conflict, so that you can reconcile it later w/ TntSync.