SyncEXPERT

We have just posted the following two new samples to the Sync Code Gallery today for Sync Services for ADO.NET v2: Download Only Sync This sample demonstrates two-tier download-only synchronization using Microsoft Sync Services for ADO.NET v2.0. The sample solution is composed of two projects: Client, which includes the UI form, data access code, and synchronization agent code for Sync Services; and SampleServerSyncProvider, which includes server synchronization provider code for Sync Services. For more information, see the code comments that are included in each file.

Sync Adapter Builder
This sample utility demonstrates how to create synchronization commands by using the SqlSyncAdapterBuilder in Microsoft Sync Services for ADO.NET v2. The sample solution is composed of one project that includes the UI form, data access code, and SqlSyncAdapterBuilder code. The SqlSyncAdapterBuilder is typically used at run time to generate synchronization commands, which are in the form of SQL queries. This provides an alternative to writing these commands manually at design time. In this sample, we use the SqlSyncAdapterBuilder to output synchronization commands. You can output commands that work with SQL Server change tracking (available in SQL Server 2008) or a custom change tracking system. Running this application enables you to see how the commands are structured, and to copy those commands for use in applicatons where you will specify commands manually.

Liam

SyncToy 2.0 has just been released to the Microsoft Download center. SyncToy 2.0 for Windows is available as a free download and is an easy to use, customizable application that helps you copy, move, rename, and delete files between folders and computers. SyncToy is powered by Microsoft Sync Framework and is yet another example of how Sync Framework helps to create end-to-end solution for enabling synchronization of any content or data.

Based on the feedback from the SyncToy Forum and Windows XP Professional Photography web site, the following features were added to this release of SyncToy:

• Dynamic Drive Letter Assignment: Drive letter reassignment will now be detected and updated in the folder pair definition. 
• True Folder Sync: Folder creates, renames and deletes are now synchronized for all SyncToy actions. 
• Exclusion Filtering Based on Name: File exclusion based on name with exact or fuzzy matching. 
• Filtering Based on File Attributes: The ability to exclude files based on one or more file attributes (Read-Only, System, Hidden). 
• Unattended Folder Pair Execution: Addressed issues related to running scheduled folder pairs while logged off. 
• Folder Pairs With Shared Endpoints: Ability for folder pairs associated with the same or different instances of SyncToy to share end-points. 
• Command line enhancements: Added the ability to manage folder pairs via the command line interface. 
• Re-Architect Sync Engine: The SyncToy engine has been rearchitected to provide scalability and the ability to add significant enhancements in future releases. 
• Sync engine is also more robust insomuch that many single, file level errors are skipped without affecting the entire sync operation. 
• Sync Encrypted Files: Sync of Encrypted files works when local folder and files are encrypted, which addresses the common scenario involving sync between local, encrypted laptop PC folder and remote, unencrypted desktop PC folder. 
• 64-Bit Support: SyncToy now has a native 64-bit build (x64 only) for 64-bit versions of Windows. 
• Folder pair rename 
• Sub-folder Exclusion Enhancements: Descendents created under excluded sub-folders are automatically excluded. Usability improvements for the sub-folder exclusion dialog. 
• Folder Pair Metadata Moved: Folder pair metadata removed from MyDocuments to resolve any issues with server-based folder pair re-direction setup. 
• Setup Improvements: Integrated setup with single self-extracting archive file and no extra downloads if you already have .NET Framework 2.0 installed. Enabled silent install for the SyncToy Installer file (see readme.txt file for more information).
• Removed combine and subscribe actions.

SyncToy 2.0 is available for download from: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=C26EFA36-98E0-4EE9-A7C5-98D0592D8C52&displaylang=en

Liam

Right on the heels of our launch of Microsoft Sync Framework v1, we have just posted our first CTP for Microsoft Sync Framework for Devices. As of right now, you can download this CTP for Windows Mobile from the Microsoft Download Center.  As we have shown in previous webcasts and conference demos, this is great for enabling synchronization from devices to data stores such as SQL Server Data Services or even corporate web services.  Perhaps even to write an offline SmugMug application for synchronizing your device photos with your SmugMug account.

Not to be confused with the previous CTP release of Sync Services for ADO.NET for Devices (a component of the Sync Framework) that is specifically meant for synchronizing an ADO.NET enabled server database with a SQL Server Compact device database, this CTP release of Sync Framework for Devices includes the Core Sync Framework runtime that gives the ability to exchange information with any data store or file system on the device, and not just SQL Server Compact databases.

This release contains only the core sync engine you would find in “synchronization.msi” in the PC release. Other features such as the metadata store and file sync provider are not included: some of the omitted features don’t necessarily make sense on devices, others will appear in a future CTP. We are looking for feedback on which are which. In particular, we want to know: what are your scenarios for using the different aspects of the Sync Framework on a device?

We also decided to produce the CTP for a limited platform set: Windows Mobile 5 and 6 for ARM processors. Supporting this subset allows us to give a CTP usable by a very large percentage of mobile developers while still limiting the test matrix for this first CTP. We expect to expand the supported devices and platforms for RTM and we are considering the scope of that as we go forward.

So what exactly is in this release?

Microsoft Sync Framework core runtime

• Managed (.NET Compact Framework) and unmanaged/native (ARM)
• Supported platforms are Windows Mobile 5 and 6 (ARM processors only in CTP1)

Installer with Visual Studio integration

• Support for adding a reference to the Sync Framework in a mobile project using Visual Studio 2008

As always, we look forward to your feedback on the Sync Framework Forum.

Liam