New feature
Syncdocs 6.711 – improved Google Drive sync
We’re happy to announce the Syncdocs 6.711 update with improved compatibility and bug fixes.
Here’s a list of changes:
– Improved compatibility with the latest Google Drive API changes
– Fix the allow AOuth login on Linux Google Drive sync under Wine.
– Fix for OAuth login on Windows Server 2008 and 2012 R2 with some security policies
– Fix for auto-updater (wyUpdate) problems on start in Windows 10
– Fix for local moves of .gdoc and .gsheet link files not mirrored correctly online.
– Fix for slow Google causing servers “Bad Google changes feed” and “Doc list incorrect” warnings.
– Faster encryption to secure Google Drive files.
How to Update
The upgrade is free and will happen automatically. The old Syncdocs version should ask if you want to update automatically in the next few days.
To update now, right click on the Syncdocs taskbar icon, go to Preferences -> Advanced -> “Check for Updates”.
You can also download the new version and install it over the old one.
http://www.syncdocs.com/download-syncdocs
The 64 bit and portable (USB memory stick) versions are also updated to version 6.711
Syncdocs – minor Google Drive sync update
We’ve just released a minor update of Syncdocs. This version has the following fixes:
1. Improved compatibility with the new Google Photos service, Google has tweaked the API and Syncdocs supports these tweaks. We are still working on allowing user-specified compression levels.
2. Fix for minor error: Fix for case where unshared Google Drive file was deleted by user A then wiped from trash by non-owner user B on Google Drive and deleted locally while Syndocs was not running. Then Syncdocs was run, error would be shown that the file could not be deleted.
We are still on track to release the next major version of Syncdocs (version 6) with many improvements next month.
How to Update
The upgrade is free and will happen automatically. The old Syncdocs version should ask if you want to update automatically in the next few days.
To update now, right click on the Syncdocs taskbar icon, go to Preferences -> Advanced -> “Check for Updates”. (Note that the update might not be immediately available if the server load if high.)
You can also download the new version and install it over the old one.
http://www.syncdocs.com/download-syncdocs
The 64 bit and portable versions are also updated to 5.988.
– The 64 bit version bypasses the memory limitations and lets you sync an almost unlimited number (hundreds of billions) of files to Google Drive.
– The portable version lets you run from and sync to files on a USB memory stick.
How to Reliably Sync to Google Photos
Google’s new Photos service allows you to store and share photos. It has just been spun out of the Google+ social network, and relies on Google Drive for storage.
How to enable Google Photos
This is a two step process. Firstly, in Google Drive, click on Google Photos in the left hand panel:
Secondly, Click on “OK” when asked to create the the Google Photos folder.
That’s it! It might take a while for Google to sync your existing Google Plus photos to Google Drive/Photos.
Any photos you upload to your local Google Photos folder will automatically be copied up onto Google’s photo’s service. All your Google Photos online can be synced back to your hard drive as a safe backup.
You can create folders in your Google Photo’s folder and these will be turned into Albums by Google Photos online.
Syncdocs can sync external drives, so you can mount your DSLR SD or CF memory card and have the images uploaded to Google Photos.
Syncdocs can reliably upload your photo collection. It is more reliable than using a web browser to upload as it supports resume, and works faster with bigger photos and video files.
Note that photos bigger than 16 MPixels and large video files count towards your drive quota, which is 15GB for free users. To check the contribution of Google Drive/GMail/Google Photos to your space usage, click on the quota usage menu in Syncdocs.
Syncdocs update and .NET library
The new Syncdocs requires some Microsoft Operating System patches from 2011. If you have not kept your OS up-to-date, or are running under Wine in Linux, you might need these patches.
.NET 4.0 required
The new Syncdocs version 5.98 uses Google features that require Microsoft .NET 4.0
For users of Windows XP this should be installed if Windows XP was allowed to automatically update. If not, it can be installed from Microsoft.
2011 update required
If you are running an old or non-updated version of Windows, Microsoft patch KB2468871 is also required.
Syncdocs should auto-install it if missing. You will see the following message if it is missing.
Syncdocs will pop-up the web page to download it.
Double click on the file on the bottom left to run it.
Wait a few minutes while the upgrade installs.
When it is done – re-run Syncdocs, by double clicking on the icon.
How to sync multiple Google Drive accounts concurrently
A new feature of Syncdocs is the ability to sync multiple Google Drive accounts at the same time. Previously you were limited to one account per sync.
Why would I want multiple accounts?
You might want to keep your work Google Apps and personal Google Drive accounts separate.
If you are running a backup server, you might want to sync everyone on your Google Apps domain to the server, but keep their Google Drive data synced to separate folders.
Perhaps you are a web-designer or consultant and work with various different customers at the same time, and need to keep their data in sync.
How to setup multiple account Syncing
Previously Syncdocs only let you sync one account at a time. You could switch accounts, but not use both concurrently.
To setup multiple Syncdocs, do the following.
1. You’ll need Syncdocs version 1.23 or later. If you don’t have it, download and install the latest version
2. In the Preferences -> Account Tab there are two new buttons, marked “Make Shortcut” and “Use Now”
3. Select the other account you want to use.
4. “Use Now” button runs that other account concurrently when you press the button.
5. “Make shortcut” button makes a shortcut. This shortcut runs the other account. The shortcut is put on your desktop, but you can move it where you want. The shortcut is shown below. It is given the title of your gmail account (“syncdocs.test” in this case) so you can distinguish it.
You’ll see a different colored shortcut icon on the taskbar for this other account.
You can have as many accounts running concurrently as you wish.
Things to watch out for with multiple accounts
Watch out for confusion with multiple accounts running at the same time.
Right click uploads are always the first account
The context menu items that are shown when you right click on a file in Windows explorer (like “View in Google Docs” ) are linked to the first (main) instance of Syncdocs that is run.
Identifying accounts
If you hover your cursor over the secondary taskbar icons it will show you the account name, and the name is also shown at the top of the menu:
The name of the account is also shown at the top of the status menu:
New Google Drive Sync version 5 Released
We are happy to announce the release of version 5 of Syncdocs today:
What’s new:
– Enhanced drag and drop support. You can now drop files onto Syncdocs from almost any app to sync them to Google Drive.
– Right click syncs folders from anywhere on your PC without making a copy. This saves space.
– Local file times mirrored on Google Drive
– Many more command-line options, giving advanced users more control.
– Support for fully automated Google Drive installation, all options pre-configurable
– Fix for Google Server moving files and ex-shared folders to root
– Version pruning enabled on all files by default, so old versions of no longer take up Google Drive space.
Enhanced Documentation
The Syncdocs FAQ has been updated with many new Google Drive questions answered.
The how-to guides have new articles.
How to Update
The upgrade is free and will happen automatically. The old Syncdocs version should ask if you want to update automatically in the next few days.
To update now, right click on the Syncdocs taskbar icon, go to Preferences -> Advanced -> “Check for Updates”
You can also download the new version and install it over the old one.
http://www.syncdocs.com/download-syncdocs
New portable version
The portable (USB memory stick) version of Syncdocs has also been updated.
How to automate Google Drive installation using Syncdocs
The Syncdocs installation wizard asks the user for various settings about their PC and Google Drive account during setup.
If you are deploying Syncdocs for your users, you can do a fully automated installation without your users having to set up anything. No wizard is shown.
It is also easy pre-configure all the settings for your users.
Installation steps
An automated installation script typically has these steps:
1. Installing the Syncdocs.msi package on the target PC
2. (Optional) Setting advanced features in the appsettings.xml file
3. Running Syncdocs with installation parameters set on the command line.
So a simple batch file to install Syncdocs will be:
msiexec /I Syncdocs.msi /QB-
syncdocs.exe -user my_user_name@gmail.com -oauth -syncfolder C:\GDrive -IacceptTerms
The first line installs Syncdocs without asking the user for any options in the setup wizard.
The second line starts Syncdocs, specifying the username, security method (OAuth), the main sync folder to use and the acceptance of the licence terms.
More details on command line options
Specifying User and Password
-user username@domain.com specifies the user
-password secret specifies the user’s Google password as “secret”
-oauth specifies that OAuth should be used instead of the password.
OAuth will pop up a browser window asking the user to log in to their Google Account to give Syncdocs the Google Drive and Docs access. This way Syncdocs is only given the rights it needs and the Google account password does not need to be disclosed in the command line.
Note that -user is optional when -oauth is used, as Syncdocs will get this data from Google.
Agreeing to the licence terms
-IAcceptTerms To agree to the licence terms on behalf of your users, so they are not shown a dialogue asking them to.
To specify the main sync folder
-syncfolder option will set this. This will set the main sync folder to what you specify.
for example:
-syncfolder “C:\Users\My Google Drive”
or
-syncfolder “%USERPROFILE%\Some Google Files”
To add other folders (links)
To sync folders outside the main sync folder, add them via the Syncdocs menu, or specify the folders in file.
To create the links, you’ll need two things: a file with the folder names for the links and the -addpaths command:
-addpaths “C:\Install Files\links_file.txt”
links_file.txt is a standard text file with the folders you wish to link to on each line. For example it can contain these lines:
c:\Python
"c:\Users\User Name\Scanner\Images"
\\ServerName\ShareName\FolderName
%USERPROFILE%\GDrive
this will create links to these folders in your main sync path, equivalent to adding them via the menus.
Notes:
- Make sure you specify the full path of this file, “C:\Install Files\links_file.txt” not just “links_file.txt”.
- Adding links to folders that are already symlinks or junction points is not recommended.
- Do not use a trailing slash after the folder name.
- Links folders that don’t exist will just be skipped, but the user will be shown a warning.
Putting it together
Simple examples
Here are some example install scripts.
msiexec /I Syncdocs.msi /QB-
Install using OAuth, main folder is “d:\tmp\test one 2 3”, add the additional folders in “d:\tmp\links\links_file.txt”
Syncdocs.exe -oauth -syncfolder "D:\tmp\test one 2 3" -addpaths "d:\tmp\links\links_file.txt" -IacceptTerms
As above, but using a specified password. This will result in a completely prompt-free install for the user.
Syncdocs.exe -user my_user_name@gmail.com -password secr3t -syncfolder "D:\tmp\test one 2 3" -addpaths "d:\tmp\links\links_file.txt" -IacceptTerms
Advanced Syncdocs Settings
Not everything can be specified by the command line. The Syncdocs config, appsettings.xml , contains many more settings.
For example, to set Syncdocs as the default office suite on the system, during step 2 above in the installation, replace the line
<DefaultOfficeSuite>false</DefaultOfficeSuite>
with
<DefaultOfficeSuite>true</DefaultOfficeSuite>
Automated install tools like Altiris, or a simple find and replace on the appsettings.xml file can change these settings.
You may also with to copy a pre-configured appsettings.xml file during step 2 of the installation.
Notes
- A sample install script is shown below.
- This sample and a sample uninstall script and config file are available here.
- Make sure that the user has access to destination folder.
- You need Syncdocs version 4.27 or above.
- Syncdocs is a .NET app. If it is the first time a .NET app like Syncdocs has been run on the PC, it may take a few seconds for Windows to initialise it.
- Environment variables are supported on the command line and in the links file.
- Syncdocs needs access to the Internet in order to work. You may need to setup a fire wall rule via “NETSH advfirewall firewall add rule name …” in order for it to work.
A sample install script
rem Batch File to demonstrate installing Syncdocs
rem The script has 3 stages:
rem 1. Install the msi package without any user intervention
rem 2. Optional. Copy the config files with any pre-configured settings
rem 3. Set user, password, agree to TOS and run Syncdocs
rem Stage 1
rem Run the installer in quite mode.
msiexec /I Syncdocs.msi /QB-
rem For “all users” on the PC: msiexec /I Syncdocs.msi /QB- ALLUSERS=1
rem Syncdocs is now installed on the PC, but not set-up. If no previous setup
rem is available, then it will ask the user for account settings etc when
rem first run, unless it is pre-configured by copying the appsettings.xml
rem file as shown below:
rem Stage 2 – optional copy advanced settings file
rem If you want to pre-configure settings for user1, fill in the xml fields
rem you want in appsettings.xml and then copy appsettings.xml for user1,
rem for example:
xcopy \\server\share\syncdocs\user1\appsettings.xml %APPDATA%\Syncdocs\user1@gmail.com\
rem For Windows XP, use “%APPDATA%” instead of %APPDATA%
rem Use a text or xml find-and-replace util or AutoIT or Altiris to set
rem the values in the appsettings.xml file to your desire
rem Stage 3
rem Now run Syncdocs
rem For Windows 7/Vista/Server 2008, the path is %LOCALAPPDATA%\Programs\Syncdocs\Syncdocs.exe
rem For XP this will be “%ProgramFiles%”\Syncdocs\Syncdocs.exe
%LOCALAPPDATA%\Programs\Syncdocs\Syncdocs.exe -user my_user_name@gmail.com -password secr3t -syncfolder “D:\tmp\test one 2 3” -addpaths “d:\tmp\links\links_file.txt” -IacceptTerms
rem If you wish to use OAuth (Google authentication) to give Syncdocs permissions
rem then use -oauth instead of -password:
rem %LOCALAPPDATA%\Programs\Syncdocs\Syncdocs.exe -oauth -IacceptTerms
rem Troubleshooting
rem In stage 1, make sure you have uninstalled the old version first.
rem If you see the setup prompt after stage 3, then some settings in
rem appsettings.xml are not valid for this PC (typically paths that do not exist).
rem or you are installing and older .msi file, Syncdocs version 4.27 or above is
rem required.
Syncdocs supports new Office file formats and OAuth
We’re happy to announce a new version of Syncdocs, version 4.1.
What’s new?
Google recently announced that they will be dropping support for exporting older Microsoft Office formats. Syncdocs has been updated to reflect this Google change.
Syncdocs also now supports the Google OAuth 2 protocol. This means that you can authenticate/de-authenticate Syncdocs using the standard Google permissions console.
Syncdocs will also now support single-sign-on (SSO) solutions like OneLogin and SSOEasy.
How to upgrade
As usual your old version should ask if you want to update automatically in the next few days, if you want the fixes now, right click on the Syncdocs taskbar icon, go to Preferences -> Advanced -> “Check for Updates”
You can also download the new version and install it over the old one.
http://www.syncdocs.com/download-syncdocs
USB Portable versions
This have also been updated. Grab the version that runs from a USB stick here.
The new 64 bit portable version is still undergoing testing with Office 64 bit.
How to set up OAuth
During installation, simply click on the link shown below, rather than entering your credentials into Syncdocs:
How to switch to OAuth
In the Syncdocs Preferences, Account tab, click on the checkbox shown below:
New Syncdocs Release has Notifications, Hybrid search
We’re happy to announce a new version of Syncdocs.
What’s new:
– Hybrid search combines local PC and Google Drive search results. You can open local files or Google Docs directly from the search results.
– Pop-up notifications. See taskbar notifications for new shared files, or for changes by others to files you have shared.
– Your Google Contact list is backed up once a day.
– The low bandwidth mode uses less bandwidth and now only syncs every 30 minutes despite local changes.
– Syncdocs can execute an external program at the end of the sync.
– some small user interface changes and bugfixes
How to upgrade
As usual your old version should ask if you want to update automatically in the next few days, if you want the fixes now, right click on the Syncdocs taskbar icon, go to Preferences -> Advanced -> “Check for Updates”
You can also download the new version and install it over the old one.
http://www.syncdocs.com/download-syncdocs
USB Portable versions
These have also been updated. Grab the version that runs from a USB stick here. There is also a 64 bit portable version.
Syncdocs version 3 – Even better Google drive syncing and backup
We’re happy to announce a major new version of Syncdocs, Syncdocs version 3
Improvements and New features:
– Strong encryption of files to Google Drive for enhanced privacy and security. Easily encrypt folders in Google Drive just by right clicking on the folder in Windows.
– Clearer menu options. User interface improvements bring commonly used features to main basic preferences menu, no longer confusingly hidden away.
– Very robust handling of all sorts of errors ensures your files are synced.
Minor improvements and fixes:
– mp3 playlist format compatible with more smartphone audio players.
– One click sharing of files works with Google Drive for goo.gl\xxyxx type URLs
– Better handling of files that are locked or that user is not authorized to read. These files are now just skipped with a warning and will be retried later.
– Better handling of file names with unprintable characters in them
– SSL errors from Google Drive are not interpreted as critical, and Syncdocs tries to work around them more smoothly.
– Editable sizes of files converted to Google Docs format increased to 50MB for presentations and 20MB for docs and sheets.
– New wyBuild automatic updater component, fixes update loops.
How to Update
The upgrade is free and will happen automatically. The old Syncdocs version should ask if you want to update automatically in the next few days. To update now, right click on the Syncdocs taskbar icon, go to Preferences -> Advanced -> “Check for Updates”
You can also download the new version and install it over the old one.