Manual Synchronization

If you've set up your .Mac Sync preferences to Automatic, Every Hour, Every Day, or Every Week, your computer will automatically synchronize your data on the schedule you've set. If you've set it to Manually, however, you'll have to be the one to initiate a sync.

To Perform a Manual Sync

1.	From the Apple menu, choose System Preferences. The System Preferences application launches, and the main System Preferences window opens.
2.	Click the .Mac icon. The .Mac pane opens, with the Account tab selected.
3.	Click the Sync tab. The .Mac Sync preferences load.
4.	In the lower right corner of the .Mac Sync preferences, click the Sync Now button (Figure 8.13). Figure 8.13. Clicking the Sync Now button causes a synchronization to happen immediately. Your Mac synchronizes your information with your .Mac account.

Tip

• If you've checked the "Show status in menu bar" box, you can choose Sync Now from the Sync menu to initiate a sync (Figure 8.14).

  Figure 8.14. If you elected to have Sync in the menu bar, you can perform a synchronization at any time by selecting Sync Now from that menu.

  

What .Mac Sync Synchronizes

You may be curious about what each of those check boxes in the .Mac Sync preferences represents. After all, it's good to know what information gets synchronized to your .Mac account. Here's a rundown:

• Bookmarks Your Safari bookmarks

• Calendars Your iCal calendars

• Contacts Your Address Book contact information

• Keychains Your Keychain-managed login information (including passwords)

• Mail Accounts Your Mail account information for all accounts

• Mail Rules, Signatures, and Smart Mailboxes Rules, signatures, and any Smart Mailboxes that you've set up