Syncing PersonalBrain Databases
<h2>Version 6.x and Higher</h2>
<p>Starting in version 6, PersonalBrain allows syncing your database with a <a href="http://webbrain.com/" rel="nofollow">WebBrain account</a>. At the time of this writing, WebBrain is in Beta, and syncing will require a monthly fee. An announcement on pricing has not been made yet. Benefits of using this for syncing are:</p>
<ol>
<li>It's supported. If an issue does occur, you can contact TheBrain and they will assist you. Corruption due to other forms of syncing are not supported.</li>
<li>It allows you to access a limited version of your brain online. Currently on the online version you can add thoughts, edit notes, navigate, search and open attachments. Adding attachments and more advanced features such as tagging or viewing tags, Thought Types, Advanced Searches and Calendar information are not available on the online version.</li>
<li>You can sync multiple machines and leave PersonalBrain open on them when syncing (this isn't good to do if using dropbox). Changes made on one computer are synchronized to the online version and then when the other instance of personalbrain synchronizes to the online version, changes are copied down.</li>
<li>WebBrain now allows you to download a Brainzip of the database, effectively functioning as an additional online backup.</li>
</ol>
<p>Harlan has also penned an informative thread on synchronizing PersonalBrain databases on the forum <a href="http://forums.thebrain.com/post?id=4785551" rel="nofollow">here</a>.
More information will be added on information synchronized, pricing and WebBrain features as they become available.</p>
<h2>Version 5.5 and Lower</h2>
<h3>Fair Warning</h3>
<p>Several people from TheBrain have come onto the official forum and stated that they don't recommend or support using Sync software with PersonalBrain. This is due to the fact that there's a heck of a lot o' files in there, and there is a much higher chance/probability that your brain may become corrupt if you use it.
Updated 8-18-2010: See Harlan's<a href="http://forums.thebrain.com/post?id=4785551" rel="nofollow"> Syncing Your Brain</a> thread for more information.
I use DropBox <a href="https://www.getdropbox.com" rel="nofollow">https://www.getdropbox.com</a>), and it's one of the best solutions I've found for syncing between both my machines. However I HAVE corrupted my database using it. It occured when I had PersonalBrain open on multiple computers at the same time (yes it was a dumb user issue). I think PB got into a tussle with DropBox about which file should be updated and my Database lost. <img src="/e02d53b6-62ae-5071-bd47-7ef7f2d35448.gif"/>
However, I recognized what I had done immediately, and since I make brainzip backups daily I only lost a few hours work.
I've found the safest general workflow is to start DropBox to sync it, then shut it down. Use PersonalBrain, then when you are done on your computer, start Dropbox again to sync your files. Then shut dropbox down again.
If you do decide to use a syncing solution you are doing so at your own risk, so please make backups!</p>
<h2>How to Sync using DropBox</h2>
<ol>
<li>Create a brain in your ~/Dropbox (mac) or \My Documents\Dropbox (Windows) folder. If you already have a brain you want to sync, drag that .brain file and _brain folder into aforementioned dropbox folder. Change your pointers in PersonalBrain to the new location.</li>
<li>Open PersonalBrain and edit, change, add, whatever.</li>
<li>Close PersonalBrain. Look at the dropbox icon in the menubar. When the icon has changed from a box with blue circle arrows to green with a checkbox, it's synced. Once it has synced, if you are going to leave the computer for a while (for example, go to work) I quit dropbox, as I've found it greatly reduces the chance for database integrity issues.
<b>Note</b>: Closing the dropbox folder is not shutting it down. Quitting the dropbox application is shutting it down.</li>
<li>Fire up your other computer. Start Dropbox. Check the Dropbox icon to make sure the green circle is there, if not it's syncing, so wait until it has completed the green checkbox is there. Once it has synced, shut down Dropbox. </li>
<li>Fire up PB, point it to your dropbox location and the brain you have there. You are good to go. Rinse and repeat steps 2-4 when you go between the different computers.</li>
<li>Never have PersonalBrain open on two computers at once. This is virtually guaranteed to corrupt your database.</li>
<li>Make Brainzips often. Daily. If you use Time Machine (mac), you can relax a bit more. If you do use Time Machine or any other backup solution and need to restore, never do a partial restore. Always restore the whole _brainzip folder and the .brainzip file.</li>
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