I endorse Stu's comments about the dangers of managing multiple copies of a database. While having a network makes what Stu recommends much easier, his comments are just as viable without a network. It is imperative to consider one of the copies the Master file, and all others subordinate. I too have my laptop version designated as the master database because it is where I do most of my updates. When I travel, it goes with me so I can update new research. I commute daily and work on it on the train. I never make changes to the other copies unless there is a compelling reason, and then only after I have made absolutely certain that the latest version of the master has been downloaded to that machine or the flash drive. As soon as I have finished updating a non-master copy, I upload it back to the Master copy so they are back in synch. A friend does this same thing, and to make it clear which copy is the current master, she has a tiny little rubber animal figure that she puts on the machine that contains the current master. By moving the toy figure back and forth between her laptop and her PC she knows which version is the master. You can also accomplish this by having the Last Update date and time displayed in your Explore program. Richard At 09:36 AM 10/11/2005 -0700, Stu White wrote: >Using multiple copies of a database is fraught with danger. I speak from >experience as I have juggled laptops and multiple desktops. Even if you >have synchronization software, you can get yourself caught making changes >or additions to both and end up with a mess. This is more true of >databases where the changes are made immediately. Windows used to have the >briefcase for keeping multiple databases, but it was cumbersome and one of >the first things I removed. > >I use a single database (.paf file) across a network. I have the PAF >program installed on each machine for convenience, but the database is on >the laptop hard drive. I use the laptop drive as I take the laptop to do >research and make changes to the database on the road. I make frequent >backups, both to cd and other drives. This way I only open the one >database with the PAF program on whatever computer I happen to be on and >no matter which machine I am on the changes will be available at all >machines. PAF will not open a database that is already open, so if you >leave it open it cannot be accessed on another computer. > >This works well for me, and I use the network in a similar way for many >applications. > > >Stu > > > >At 07:05 PM 10/10/2005, you wrote: > >>I am using PAF 5 on my PC. First, I want to download the latest version >>to my PC. Then I want to download the latest PAF to my laptop and to a >>flash drive. Do I use the same file name on all, so that I can use back >>up and restore when I add material to one of them. >>I am so confused. Can someone give me baby steps as to how I should proceed. >>Ruth >> >> >>==== PAF-5-USERS Mailing List ==== >>Replying to Posts >>When quoting a post you're replying to, omit signatures and taglines that >>are appended to the post. > > >-- >No virus found in this outgoing message. >Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. >Version: 7.0.344 / Virus Database: 267.11.14/129 - Release Date: 11/10/2005 > > > >==== PAF-5-USERS Mailing List ==== >FreeBMD - Free Access to England and Wales Civil Registration Index >Volunteer as a Transcriber Today! >http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/