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All of the information, instructions, and recommendations on this Web site are offered on a strictly "as is" basis. Remember "Murphy's Law." Please take the proper precautions before attempting any of the tips or modifications listed here.

Contents

• Vista Breaks Briefcase
• Disable Briefcase Database Replication for Microsoft Access
• Langa Letter: Little-Known Options For Syncing Files In Windows
• How To Use the Briefcase Feature in Windows XP
• Computer Tips Index

Vista Breaks Briefcase

Windows Briefcase, on Windows Vista, no longer supports synching between multiple computers using removable media.

With Windows XP you can sync with computer A and a USB Flash Drive, then sync the USB Flash Drive with computer B. This allows you to modify your work on the hard drive of computer A or computer B and then sync with the USB Flash Drive that you can then use to sync with the other computer.

With Windows Vista you can sync with computer A and a USB Flash Drive, but if you want to modify your data using computer B, you'll have to modify them on the Flash Drive. You are no longer able to sync with the hard drive on computer B.

Sync Center is designed for synchronizing with a network, not for removable media.

Try Allway Sync, SyncToy, or SyncBack.

None of them allow you to drag and drop like you can with Briefcase. And they all work at the directory / folder level, so you can not select individual files that you want to sync.

Check out these articles on the issue of synchronizing files and directories on Windows Vista:

Disable Briefcase Database Replication for Microsoft Access

Summary

When using Briefcase to synchronize files, with non Microsoft Access files, Windows does a comparison based on the date/time stamp of the files and then copies the newer file replacing the older file.

With Microsoft Access files (*.mdb), Windows will prompt to modify the database to add replication data.

The additional replication data that is added to the database doubled the size of one database I tried it on.

Microsoft Briefcase Replication will not work with password protected Microsoft Access databases.

With Microsoft Office 97 Professional, you can do a custom install and unselect "Microsoft Briefcase Replication" from Office tools.

During a custom installation of Microsoft Office 2000 Professional, "Microsoft Briefcase Replication" cannot be configured to "Not available."

Resolution

1/20/2002

The key is MSRCLR40.DLL. This is the "Microsoft Jet Briefcase Reconciler Library." If Microsoft Office is already installed you can disable MSRCLR40.DLL by using the steps below:

1. Open a command prompt
2. Change to the Windows or winnt directory
3. regsvr32 /u msrclr40.dll

A dialog box with the title, RegSvr32, should open with the following messge:

DllUnregisterServer in msrclr40.dll succeeded

Once you've unregistered msrclr40.dll, Briefcase should treat Microsoft Access files the same as any other. i.e. Synchronize, using Briefcase, based on date/time stamp and not require replication fields be added or passwords removed.

ACC2000: Regsvr32.exe Available in Download Center (Q267279)

Explanation of Regsvr32 Usage and Error Messages (Q249873)