Sync Handheld

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.

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:

• Manually by drag and drop
• Automatically based on lists

Manually Adding Files

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

To add files manually to any detected device:

1. In the Action Window, select Sync Handheld.
2. Select the Device (assuming there are more than one).
3. 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:

• 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

Sync Lists

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 have Media Center automatically synchronizes the files on the device with these playlists.

To select what lists you want to sync to a device, open Tools > Options > Handheld. 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).

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 select smartlists the files to be included will be recalculated with every sync to the device.

Media Center's Handheld Options panel.

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.

Please Note: When you've enabled one or more Playlists to sync, files added manually (as described above) will still be included in addition to those included in any selected lists. The easiest way to locate manually added files (in order to remove them from the sync, for example) is to temporarily de-select any Lists you've enabled and then view the resulting Sync Details listing.

Sync Options

• 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.

• 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.

• Descriptions of additional options can be found in the Handheld Advanced Options article.

Syncing and Viewing the Sync Queue

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, 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
• 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.

Showing a device ready to sync in Media Center.

More

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