How do I manually keep two copies of my database in sync?

My husband is a computer programmer and I just asked him the same question.  He told me about this free software/internet program to keep things in sync between 2 or more computers via a web server space.  It's called "dropbox".  The website is www.getdropbox.com.  You should check it out!  Now I have the file on both computers and whenever I update it on one, it automatically syncs with the file on the web and then will sync with the othr computer when it is turned on - so I always have the same database on both computers without having to copy files back and forth!  Now I can take my laptop on my fundraising trip next week and don't have to worry about copying files when I get back, or even keeping the file on a jump drive or zip drive to share!

Has anybody tried this "dropbox" program as a method to help with a husband and wife who have separate laptops?  Are there any security issues with puting this on the web?

We just got laptop #2 ... we use dropbox for a lot of things but I do think it is pretty insecure. The files are all stored locally on the hard drive so if someone steals (or you lose) your computer, gonzo. So there are security issues with putting this on the web. I'd like to hear a better (more secure, but just as simple ... and free) solution too (not that I'm expecting too much :).

I've been using dropbox successfully to sync between my desktop and laptop.

However as with anything if security is an issue, then make sure you use something like true crypt (http://www.truecrypt.org/) to secure your date on the cloud. One can create a virtual hard drive, hosted on the cloud, mounted locally by truecrypt, without your password, the virtual drive looks like any other random file. with your password + true crypt installation, then you would be able to access your file.

theoretically, one going to a creative access country could set this up using truecrypt + dropbox, upload the sensitive files into your encrypted virtual drive, uninstall both programs, and delete the copy located on the laptop you'll be taking with you to the sensitive location, and after arriving, you could re-install both truecrypt, and dropbox, and have all of your data again - delivered through encryption.

Its on the technical side of things, but your ministries IT staff can help you if this level of security is something you will need.

If you are looking to sign up for dropbox, and use the following link - both you and I will get an extra 250mb.

www.dropbox.com/.../NTE0NTEzMjEyOQ

thanks!

My husband and I use dropbox and it's great!

We keep our tnt database stored in dropbox and then we can each access it. To do that here are the steps:

1. Make a copy of your entire tnt database.

2. Create a dropbox account and add your drop box folder to your computer.

3. Put your new tnt database in the dropbox folder.

4. Your spouse then creates a dropbox account (it's free!) and adds the dropbox folder to their computer.

5.. And finally, you go into your dropbox folder and "share" the tnt database with your spouse.

They can then open the database with Tnt connect on their computer.

It's really easy!

However, only one of us can make changes at a time.  So if we are working together at the sametime, sometimes he uses the drop-box file and makes calls.  And I will look at tnt in read-only mode.  Then if I make some calls, he closes the tnt file and I open it on my computer.  And then he can jump back on in read-only mode.  I know it sounds complicated, but it's actually really easy.  And it's nice to always be looking at the most updated version on either computer.  If you both try to open the database at the same time, Tnt always warns you that someone else is using the file so you never have to worry that you're both making changes at the same time.