Using Briefcase

If you use two computers to work on the same files, it is easy to become confused about which copies are the most current. Briefcase helps you make sure files remain identical on both computers.

For example, if you have a computer at work and a portable at home, you can save the files you want to work on at home in your Briefcase folder. Then you can move Briefcase to a floppy disk and edit the files on your laptop. When you take the floppy disk containing Briefcase back to your office, you can instruct Briefcase to update the files on your hard disk, according to the latest date and time stamp.

If you want to update files without using a floppy disk, you can do your update over a network or use Windows XP’s Direct Cable Connection application with a serial or parallel cable.

Adding Files to Briefcase

Once you’ve decided what files you need to take with you, it’s easy to add them to Briefcase by using the Briefcase window, as shown below.

To add files to Briefcase:

1. Go to the folder where the files exist that you want to share with another computer. Then right-click an empty space in the folder and choose New, Briefcase.
2. Right-click the folder name ‘New Briefcase’ and choose RENAME. Type a name for the Briefcase. Something meaningful in connection with the files, for example 'Work to do at home'
3. Drag the files you want from the folder in to the Briefcase folder. You can also use My Computer or Windows Explorer to drag files into the Briefcase folder.

Note: Delete files in the Briefcase folder the same way you do in Explorer or My Computer - select the file and press Delete. This does not delete the ACTUAL (original) file, which remnains in its original location.

Moving Briefcase Files

After you have copied your files to the Briefcase folder, you simply move the Briefcase folder to a floppy disk for use on your portable.

To move briefcase files:

1. Open Explorer or My Computer.
2. Use the right mouse button to drag the Briefcase folder icon to the Explorer or My Computer floppy drive icon.
3. Release the mouse button.
4. From the shortcut menu, choose Move Here.

Editing Briefcase Files

Once you have moved the Briefcase folder to a floppy disk, you can access the files for editing on your portable computer. You can do this by copying the Briefcase folder to the portable’s hard disk, or you can work directly from the floppy disk. When you save an edited Briefcase file, Windows XP automatically saves the file back into the Briefcase folder.

To edit a Briefcase file on the floppy disk:

1. On the portable computer, in My Computer, double-click the floppy drive icon.
2. In the floppy drive window, double-click the Briefcase folder icon.
3. In the Briefcase window, double-click the name of the file you want to edit.
4. Edit the file.
5. Save the edited file.

To edit a Briefcase file on the portable computer’s hard disk:

1. On the portable computer, in My Computer, double-click the floppy drive icon.
2. From the floppy drive window, drag the Briefcase icon on top of the hard drive icon in the My Computer window.
3. In the My Computer window, double-click the hard drive icon.
4. In the hard drive window, double-click the Briefcase icon.
5. In the Briefcase window, double-click the name of the file you want to edit.
6. Edit the file.
7. Save the edited file.
8. Close the Briefcase window.
9. From the hard drive window, drag the Briefcase icon back to the floppy drive window.

Updating Files with the Briefcase

When you return the Briefcase to your desktop computer, Windows XP compares the files it contains with the originals on the hard drive. If differences are found, you will be given the options to update, as shown in Figure M1-6.

To update files in the Briefcase:

1. On your desktop computer, open My Computer and move the Briefcase icon from your floppy drive to your desktop.
2. Double-click the Briefcase icon.
3. From the Briefcase menu, choose Update All.
4. In the Update dialog box (shown in Figure M1-1, choose Update.

In the following exercise, you’ll assume that you have brought the floppy disk containing the Briefcase back to your desktop computer, where you’ll update your hard disk files.

1. In My Computer, open the floppy drive window
2. In the floppy drive window, right-click and drag the Briefcase to your desktop The shortcut menu appears.
3. From the shortcut menu, choose Move Here The Briefcase is moved to the desktop.
4. On your desktop, double-click the Briefcase icon, The Briefcase window opens, and the status of the file Printing in Windows XP reads Needs Updating.
5. From the Briefcase menu, choose Update All The Update dialog box appears.
6. In the Update dialog box, choose Update
The file Printing in Windows XP is updated on your hard drive, and the file’s status changes in the Briefcase window.
7. Close all open windows
8. Remove the floppy disk from its drive

Separating Briefcase Files

If you do not want the original files on your hard drive updated when your Briefcase files are edited, you can split the connection. Files that have been split will display as Orphan under the Status column in the Briefcase window, and these files will not be compared when the Update function is selected.

To split a Briefcase file from the original:

1. In the Data folder, open the Briefcase window.
2. In the Briefcase window, select the file you want to split.
3. From the Briefcase menu, choose Split From Original.
4. In the Confirm Split from Original dialog box, choose Yes.

In the following exercise, you will split a file in Briefcase from its original file on the hard drive.

1. In the Data folder, open the Briefcase window
2. In the Briefcase window, select the file Thoughts on software classes
3. From the Briefcase menu, choose Split From Original The Confirm Split from Original dialog box is displayed.
4. Choose Yes Orphan appears in the Status column for the file Thoughts on software classes.
5. Close the Briefcase window