Windows Mobile 6 Standard Edition Supports File Synchronization

Kris Kumar

Can't believe the title? I am still coming to terms with what I have just found out. Not sure if Microsoft has declared this in the Windows Mobile 6 feature list, or if I somehow didn't read the feature list properly and skipped over this much desired feature. Shocked

It is too good to be true. When Microsoft launched the Windows Mobile Smartphone edition, they decided not to include two ActiveSync related features that is available on the Pocket PC edition - file sync and Outlook notes sync. Now with the introduction of Windows Mobile 6 Standard edition, one of this limitation has been removed. WooHoo!

Figure 1: Here is the proof.

In the above screen shot you can clearly see the item called "Files" in the ActiveSync synchronization list. I am using my Dash with Windows Mobile 6 upgrade, and Microsoft ActiveSync 4.5 running on Windows XP. Now, here is the catch; if you are using Windows Vista you are out of luck. Vista's Windows Mobile Device Center does not support file synchronization. Sad

It does support media synchronization using Windows Media Player but not documents and other file types. Hopefully, Windows Vista users will see an update that will fix this and bring it on par with ActiveSync 4.5. Now that Windows Mobile 6 Standard (a.k.a. Smartphone) includes Office Mobile the file sync feature will prove handy for a lot of our readers. Interested in seeing some screen shots? Then continue reading after the break.

Figure 2: During the first-time partnership setup process the user is greeted with this message. Click on the image for the legible version.

Figure 3: Files synchronization is one of the options in the list, along with Contacts, Email and Calendar etc. Click on the image for the legible version.

Figure 4: A shortcut icon is created on the desktop for the My Documents folder on the Windows Mobile device. Click on the image for the legible version.

You can drag and drop files on to the desktop icon, and it will get copied to the My Documents folder on the mobile device's main memory. ActiveSync maintains a mirror image of the device's My Documents folder on the PC. That brings up another limitation, ActiveSync sets up the sync relationship with the My Documents folder in the main memory of the mobile device. I could not find a way to change it to the My Documents on the storage card. So if you have a lot of documents, or want to quickly and easily transfer media files over to the storage card then this file sync will not work for you. Regardless of this limitation, file sync is a welcome addition to the Windows Mobile 6 feature list. Thank you, Microsoft!
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lsainsbury · Smartphone Pupil Joined: 21 Mar 2006 Posts: 10

You can't sync files using Windows Vista / WMDC - the option is not there!

Anyone know how to fix this?

Mike Temporale · Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 6:42 am Post subject:

Mike Temporale · Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 6:44 am Post subject:

AWESOME find Kris Exclamation

Too bad WMDC sucks as much as it does. (Not that AS is much better either. Confused

)

I guess someone at Microsoft was listening when I raised this issue back in 2005. A 3 year turn around kind of sucks, but it's better than nothing. Cool

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"I have no special talents, I am only passionately curious" - Albert Einstein

lsainsbury · Smartphone Pupil Joined: 21 Mar 2006 Posts: 10

onlydarksets · Smartphone Theorist Joined: 19 May 2006 Posts: 307

Well, it is sort of a Weapon of Mass Destruction for your Computer - everything it touches it destroys.

lsainsbury · Smartphone Pupil Joined: 21 Mar 2006 Posts: 10

I was thinking along the lines of Windows Mobile Device Corruptor

Prosper · Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 9:34 am Post subject:

Anybody knows if this works with AS 4.1, too ? I don't wanna switch to 4.5, I'm sure it's gonna break something Laughing

Jason Dunn · Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 11:41 am Post subject:

I'm...stunned. When we were told File Sync was included in Windows Mobile 6, I thought it was a misunderstanding, because I was told for years that people wouldn't really use their smartphones to work with files, so why include file sync? The fact that it's here but only for Windows XP users is bizarre. I can only hope there's a WMDC update coming out soon...?

I sync so infrequently with my desktop PC that in truth this doesn't effect me personally all that much - although I'd probably sync more if I knew that a quick cradle would get me an updated copy of my FlexWallet file rather than the manual drag and drop process we have now. What I really want to see is file sync as part of Exchange sync...

Islanti · Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 11:57 am Post subject:

I think MS forgot to DISable file sync in WM6 Standard, since it's always been a (very stupid) arbitrary restriction anyway.

That said, this is about the most basic level of file sync support possible. Single folder to a single folder. I prefer the vastly superior any-to-any folder (including 1 way sync options) support in Pocket Controller.