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As I've alluded to several times, Offline Files and Synchronization Manager are both independent and co-interdependent processes. In other words, when the Offline Files handler is used as a snap-in for the Synchronization Manager, they become co-interdependent.
Offline Files has two possible synchronization modes: Quick Sync and Full Sync. Here's how each works:
Quick Sync At logon, the files that were modified in the local client cache are pushed up to the server. At logoff , only the files that the user actually opened on the server are brought down into the local cache.
Full Sync At logon, all the files the user has in cache are synchronized with the copies on the server. Updated files on the server also come down into the cache. Also, if the user is caching an entire folder, those files come down into the cache. At logoff, the same occurs. That is, all the files the user has in cache and any new files on the server are synchronized in the cache.
For Full Sync, we're mainly concerned with the two options: "Synchronize All Offline Files before Logging off" and "Synchronize All Offline Files when logging on." The key word to focus on in these options is all. You can see these settings in Figure 9.23 earlier in this chapter. Checking either of these options (or both) directs the Offline Files handler to utilize the Synchronization Manager to synchronize all content.
The Synchronization Manager settings (seen in Figure 9.26 earlier in this chapter) control how the Synchronization Manager responds to the "logon" and "logoff" conditions on the computer. If these check boxes are not checked, no Synchronization Manager activity occurs at the corresponding time. These settings apply equally to all handlers registered with Synchronization Managernot just the Offline Files handler.
So that's how they work together: the two dialog boxes' settings are interdependent for how Offline Files will synchronize. Indeed, if the corresponding Synchronization Manager setting is not enabled, the Offline Files setting has no effect.
Table 9.2 describes the behavior at logon.
Synchronization Manager Setting "When I Log on to My Computer" | Offline Files " Synchronize All Offline Files When Logging On " | Resulting Behavior |
---|---|---|
Off | Off | No sync activity at logon |
Off | On | No sync activity at logon |
On | Off | Quick Sync at logon |
On | On | Full Sync at logon |
Table 9.3 describes the behavior at logoff.
Synchronization Manager Setting "When I Log off My Computer" | Offline Files "Synchronize All Offline Files before Logging Off" | Resulting Behavior |
---|---|---|
Off | Off | No sync activity at logoff |
Off | On | No sync activity at logoff |
On | Off | Quick Sync at logoff |
On | On | Full Sync at logoff |
Unfortunately, there is little coordination between the Synchronization Manager and Offline Files user interfaces. However, there is one small interaction: If you enable Offline Files' "Synchronize All Offline Files when logging on" or "Synchronize All Offline Files before Logging off," Windows automatically enables the corresponding Synchronization Manager setting. The opposite is not true.
People often think there is more coordination between Offline Files and Synchronization Manager than there really is. It's not uncommon for people to think that Synchronization Manager is Offline Files. Synchronization Manager is simply a place to host various Synchronization plug-ins (such as Offline Files), a place where those plug-ins can display their items, and a place for users to select specific items for synchronization at specific times (and in response to specific events).
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