SyncEXPERT

A few days ago, a number of people from the Sync Framework engineering team were interviewed by Charles Torre (from Channel 9). He shot a 1 hour video interview where we explained how the Microsoft Sync Framework works internally, some key concepts that developers need to take care of when creating new providers and how the Sync Framework team is focusing on both managed and native developer solutions. The video can be viewed at: http://channel9.msdn.com/posts/Charles/Inside-the-Microsoft-Sync-Framework/ or downloaded directly in the following formats:

• iPod (MP4)
• MP3
• PSP (MP4)
• WMA
• WMV
• WMV (High)
• Zune

I hope you enjoy watching the interview!

Liam

We have a couple more synchronization samples for you to take a look at.  These C# samples are based on Sync101 which is a sample template that allows us to show specific concepts relating to Sync Framework.  All of these samples have been updated to work with the latest v 1.0 release of Sync Framework SDK . I am particularly excited about the remote change application sample (RCA) as it has been a common request to understand how to integrate Sync Framework with technologies like WCF and enable a service to manage the server provider componets of the Sync Framework.   Each of the samples use the the SQL MetadataStore store for the metadata information for each replica database. This greatly simplifies the logic required to implement data synchronization between data stores. In these samples three in memory data stores are used to show how data collaboration can be accomplished and how the Sync Framework helps to minimize P2P complexities such as data conflicts / resolution and data deletions.

The following are the samples that were just added to the Sync Framework Code Gallery.

Sync101 with Metadata Store v1.0
This sample uses the Metadata store to show the basic concepts that are required when building a Sync Framework application and illustrates many of the core concepts such as synchronization providers and the synchronization orchestrator. 

Sync101 RCA with Metadata Store v1.0
Expanding on the previous sample, this samples outlines the “remote change application” (RCA) pattern used over WCF.

Sync101 with Change Units
Expanding on the first samples, this sample illustrates how a data store can use change units to partition data and send only data that has changed. This sample also illustrate explicit transactioning (batched instead of per-update).

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