Sync Handheld: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 06:02, 13 November 2015

To set up sync for your device, go to:

Tools > Options > Handheld

And select your device from the drop-down list at the top of the dialog. If your device isn't detected, ensure that it has been plugged in and drivers have been installed.

If your device shows up as a drive letter, you may need to add it manually as a handheld. You can add any drive or folder on your drives to Media Center as a "virtual handheld". This includes any filesystem location that is accessible to the OS, including those with drive letters and those available by UNC path. Click Handheld > Device Management > Add device to add the location if needed.

Choosing What Files to Sync

Once you've added a device to Media Center, you need to choose which files to sync to it. Do do this, you add files to the device's Sync List, and then you tell Media Center to synchronize it. There are two ways to add files to a device's Sync List:

Manually by drag and drop
Automatically based on Playlists

Manually Adding Files

Drag-drop onto the target area with the arrow pointing down.

To add files manually to any detected device:

In the Action Window, select Sync Handheld.
Select the Device (assuming there are more than one).
Select files and drag them onto the open Handheld Action Window.

Other manual ways to transfer files to your player:

Drag and drop files or playlists onto the handheld device item under Drives & Devices in the Tree
Right-click on the files or playlist and select Send To > Drives & Devices > and select your Device

When you add files manually to your handheld via one of these methods, Media Center adds them to the Sync List for the device. The Sync List is the list of changes Media Center will make to the device on the next Sync.

When you Sync the device, all of the items in this list are then copied over to your device (and optionally converted using the options in the device's Handheld Options panel). This is a one-time operation. After the device finishes syncing, the Sync List is cleared.

You can see what files will be synced, and manage files already on your device, in the Device View for that device. You can access this view by selecting your device under Drives & Devices in the Tree, or by clicking on the Details link in the Action Window. You can also open the Handheld Options panel directly from the Action Window.

Automatically with Sync Playlists

In addition to syncing files manually to a device, Media Center provides a managed approach to maintaining files on your device. You can choose from any of your playlists and Media Center will automatically add these files to the Sync List for the device. This allows you to use Playlists and Smartlists to automatically include files to be synced.

To select what Playlists you want to sync to a device, open the Handheld Options dialog for your device via Tools > Options > Handheld and then select your device from the drop-down menu at the top.

The panel on the right-hand side allows you to select from any of your playlists in MC. It also includes special lists that include all Audio, Video, and Image files (if you want to sync your entire Library to the handheld). To include a particular list in the Sync List for the device, just check the box next to the item you wish to have included. If you select smartlists the files to be included will be recalculated with every sync to the device.

You can both include files manually (as described above) and sync playlists at the same time. Once you've enabled at least one Playlist to sync to the device, you also get the option to Auto-sync on connect, which will automatically re-sync the device any time Media Center detects that it connected to your computer.

Removing and Updating Files

By default, Media Center will only copy files onto the device. It will not update files that have changed in your Library, nor will it automatically remove any files it previously synced that are no longer included in any of your selected Playlists.

You can manually remove files from the device by opening the device's View under Drives & Devices in the Tree, or by clicking the Details link in the Sync Handheld Action Window. This View shows all of the files already on the device, and those in the current Sync List for the device. The Status column shows whether the item is already On Device or In Queue for the next sync. From here, you can select items on the device and right-click to choose Delete, and MC will immediately delete the file from the device. You can also delete In Queue items to cancel them and remove them from the Sync List.

If you wish to let Media Center automatically remove and update files, you must enable the relevant options:

Resync if Date Modified has changed
Delete from handheld any files not in sync list.

For more information on these options, see Handheld Sync Options.

Sync Options

The Handheld Options dialog also contains a variety of settings for how you want the items to be synced to the device. This includes automatic Conversion, settings for file and folder names used, device management, and other settings. Each device added to Media Center can have its own independent settings.

You can access the Sync Options for your device via any of the following methods:

Open Tools > Options > Handheld and then select your device from the drop-down menu at the top.
Select your device under Drives & Devices in the Tree and click the Options button in the view header.
Right-click on your device in the Tree and choose Options.

For a full description of the available options, see:

Handheld Sync Options

Syncing and Viewing the Device Contents

Once you've selected some files to sync to your device you can start the sync on demand by:

Select Sync Handheld in the Action Window, choose your device, and click Sync.
Select your handheld under Drives & Devices in the Tree and click Sync Now.

Viewing the device under Drives & Devices in the Tree will allow you to view what files will be synced to the device, items already on the device, and progress while the sync is underway. You can also manage individual files on the device by selecting their entries and right-clicking. The popup menu provides options including:

Delete: remove the file from the device.
Play: play the file
Transfer to computer: transfer the file from the device onto your computer, and import it into Media Center's Library.

If you've set up any Playlists to sync, you can also force Media Center to re-build the Sync List by clicking on the Recheck Sync button in the header of the view.

Showing a device ready to sync in Media Center.

More

Handheld Advanced Options: information regarding configurable options, including file paths, statistics, and conversion modes.

@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 If your device shows up as a drive letter, you may need to add it manually as a handheld. You can add ''any'' drive or folder on your drives to Media Center as a "virtual handheld".  This includes any filesystem location that is accessible to the OS, including those with drive letters and those available by UNC path. Click <span style="color:#8B4513">Handheld > Device Management > Add device</span> to add the location if needed.
-Check the [[Handheld Advanced Options]] article for further assistance with adding and configuring devices.
 == Choosing What Files to Sync ==
-Once you've added a device to Media Center, you need to choose which files to sync to it.  There are two ways to transfer files to a Handheld/Portable Device:
+Once you've added a device to Media Center, you need to choose which files to sync to it. Do do this, you add files to the device's Sync List, and then you tell Media Center to synchronize it.  There are two ways to add files to a device's Sync List:
 * Manually by drag and drop
-* Automatically based on lists
+* Automatically based on Playlists
 === Manually Adding Files ===
@@ Line 22: / Line 20: @@
 # Select the Device (assuming there are more than one).
 # Select files and drag them onto the open Handheld Action Window.
-This will add the files selected to a persistent queue list for that device. Files in the Sync Queue will be copied to your device every time you sync it. You can view and manage the files on the device, as well as those in the Sync Queue, by clicking on the Details link in the Action Window or by selecting the Handheld under Drives & Devices in the [[Tree]].
 Other manual ways to transfer files to your player:
@@ Line 29: / Line 25: @@
 * Right-click on the files or playlist and select <span style="color:#8B4513">Send To > Drives & Devices > and select your Device</span>
+When you add files manually to your handheld via one of these methods, Media Center adds them to the '''Sync List''' for the device. The Sync List is the list of ''changes'' Media Center will make to the device on the next Sync.
-=== Sync Lists ===
+When you Sync the device, all of the items in this list are then copied over to your device (and optionally converted using the options in the device's Handheld Options panel). This is a one-time operation. After the device finishes syncing, the Sync List is cleared.
+You can see what files will be synced, and manage files already on your device, in the Device View for that device. You can access this view by selecting your device under Drives & Devices in the [[Tree]], or by clicking on the Details link in the Action Window.  You can also open the Handheld Options panel directly from the Action Window.
+=== Automatically with Sync Playlists ===
+In addition to syncing files manually to a device, Media Center provides a managed approach to maintaining files on your device. You can choose from any of your [[playlists]] and Media Center will automatically add these files to the Sync List for the device. This allows you to use Playlists and Smartlists to automatically include files to be synced.
+To select what Playlists you want to sync to a device, open the ''Handheld Options'' dialog for your device via <span style="color:#8B4513">Tools > Options > Handheld</span> and then select your device from the drop-down menu at the top.
+[[File:Handheld-Options-Sync Playlists.png|thumb|none|380px]]
+The panel on the right-hand side allows you to select from any of your playlists in MC. It also includes special lists that include ''all'' Audio, Video, and Image files (if you want to sync your entire [[Library]] to the handheld). To include a particular list in the Sync List for the device, just check the box next to the item you wish to have included.  If you select [[smartlists]] the files to be included will be recalculated with every sync to the device.
+You can both include files manually (as described above) and sync playlists at the same time. Once you've enabled at least one Playlist to sync to the device, you also get the option to ''Auto-sync on connect'', which will automatically re-sync the device any time Media Center detects that it connected to your computer.
+=== Removing and Updating Files ===
-Instead of building your Sync Queue list manually, Media Center provides a managed approach to maintaining files on your device. You can choose from any of your [[playlists]] and have Media Center automatically synchronizes the files on the device with these playlists.
+By default, Media Center will only copy files ''onto'' the device. It will not update files that have changed in your Library, nor will it automatically remove any files it previously synced that are no longer included in any of your selected Playlists.
-To select what lists you want to sync to a device, open <span style="color:#8B4513">Tools > Options > Handheld</span>.  The right-hand side of the Handheld Options panel shows all of your playlists in MC, as well as checkboxes for All Audio, Video, and Image files (if you want to sync your entire Library to the handheld).
+You can manually remove files from the device by opening the device's View under Drives & Devices in the [[Tree]], or by clicking the ''Details'' link in the Sync Handheld Action Window. This View shows all of the files already on the device, and those in the current Sync List for the device. The Status column shows whether the item is already On Device or In Queue for the next sync. From here, you can select items on the device and right-click to choose ''Delete'', and MC will immediately delete the file from the device. You can also delete In Queue items to cancel them and remove them from the Sync List.
-To include a particular list in the sync to the device, just check the box next to the item you wish to have included.
+If you wish to let Media Center ''automatically'' remove and update files, you must enable the relevant options:
-[[File:Options-Handheld.png|thumb|none|720px|Media Center's Handheld Options panel.]]
+* ''Resync if Date Modified has changed''
+* ''Delete from handheld any files not in sync list''.
+For more information on these options, see [[Handheld Sync Options]].
-Once you've selected one or more items to include in the sync, you will get a few new options on the right-hand side including Auto-sync on connect.
-=== Sync Options ===
+== Sync Options ==
+The Handheld Options dialog also contains a variety of settings for how you want the items to be synced to the device. This includes automatic Conversion, settings for file and folder names used, device management, and other settings. Each device added to Media Center can have its own independent settings.
-* '''Auto-sync on connect:''' This will automatically sync to the device using the selected lists whenever you connect the device to the computer while Media Center is running.  This option only appears if you've selected at least one item in the Sync List section to the right.
+You can access the Sync Options for your device via any of the following methods:
-* '''Delete from handheld any files not in sync list:''' By default, Media Center will add new files to your device, but does not remove any files that it already finds there.  If you want Media Center to completely manage the device, and remove any files that don't match the Sync Lists selected, then check this option.  Warning: if you have any files on your device, the next sync can delete files and they may not be recoverable.  This option only appears if you've selected at least one item in the Sync List section to the right.
+* Open <span style="color:#8B4513">Tools > Options > Handheld</span> and then select your device from the drop-down menu at the top.
+* Select your device under Drives & Devices in the [[Tree]] and click the ''Options'' button in the view header.
+* Right-click on your device in the [[Tree]] and choose ''Options''.
+For a full description of the available options, see:
-* Descriptions of additional options can be found in the [[Handheld Advanced Options]] article.
+* [[Handheld Sync Options]]
-== Syncing and Viewing the Sync Queue ==
+== Syncing and Viewing the Device Contents ==
 Once you've selected some files to sync to your device you can start the sync on demand by:
@@ Line 55: / Line 73: @@
 * Select your handheld under Drives & Devices in the Tree and click Sync Now.
-Viewing the device under Drives & Devices in the Tree will allow you to view what files will be synced to the device, and progress while the sync is underway.  You can also manage individual files on the device by selecting their entries and right-clicking.  The popup menu provides options including:
+Viewing the device under Drives & Devices in the [[Tree]] will allow you to view what files will be synced to the device, items already on the device, and progress while the sync is underway.  You can also manage individual files on the device by selecting their entries and right-clicking.  The popup menu provides options including:
-* Delete: remove the file from the device or sync queue
+* Delete: remove the file from the device.
 * Play: play the file
 * Transfer to computer: transfer the file from the device onto your computer, and import it into Media Center's [[Library]].
-You can also force Media Center to re-build the sync list by clicking on the ''Recheck Sync'' button in the header of the view.
+If you've set up any Playlists to sync, you can also force Media Center to re-build the Sync List by clicking on the ''Recheck Sync'' button in the header of the view.
 [[File:DrivesDevice-Handheld.png|thumb|none|720px|Showing a device ready to sync in Media Center.]]
@@ Line 70: / Line 88: @@
 [[category:Options]]
 [[Category:Action Windows]]
+[[Category:Handhelds]]