File Sync Order from iPAQ

[dylan619]

Hi. I am trying to figure out a way to set the synchronization priority for file from my iPAQ hp5555 to my desktop. Specifically, I would like the oldest files to transfer first.
I am not 100% sure of the default setting for this, but from some initial tests, it looks like it syncs the newest files first.
Any help would be much appreciated!

 

[Glohamar]

I really do not think there is a way to change how the files get synced. At least not that I have found.

If you don't mind me asking, what do you have in mind that having the sync order changed would be important.

 

[dylan619]

Basically, we have a file that gets transmitted to the desktop from the handheld, and then gets processed by a server. In order to ensure that the first file gets wholly transmitted (that a partial file doesn't start getting processed) we thought that we could have a second marker file that got uploaded afterwards; and then the processing wouldn't start until the second file got uploaded (did that make sense?).

The basic problem is how to make sure that a large file gets wholly transferred before the connection is severed. I was playing around with large word documents, and found that if I cut off the connection in mid-transfer from hand-held to desktop, a "ghost" of the file appeared on the desktop that had a file size of over one MB (the original file is around 3 or 4 MB), but no data in the file at all.

 

[Nelviticus]

Whatever application is moving the file to the server should be able to test for a file lock, or test whether the file is open. This is something that the file system handles. Whenever an application writes to a file - whether new or existing - it asks the OS to open it, does its stuff, then tells the OS to close it.

The file you're talking about will be flagged by the OS as 'open' until Activesync has finished writing to it, i.e. copying it to your desktop.

Nelviticus

 

[dylan619]

Pardon my ignorance, but would that be the case even if the transmission were interrupted (and let's assume, not resumed before the application looked at the file)?

 

[Nelviticus]

It depends on the application (in this case, ActiveSync). What should happen is that when it realises that transmission won't be successful it either deletes the partial file or releases it. Only if it's a nasty unhandled error will it leave a locked file behind.

Nelviticus

 

[dylan619]

OK - one (hopefully) last question. Is this "open" status something that I can see myself? Somewhere in the properties, or advanced?
I am testing this with large word documents, but the actual files that will be transmitted will be sound recordings.

Thanks for all your help so far, Nel!

 

[Nelviticus]

I don't think you can see it unless you write some code. Most of what I've said is theory that I learned on a C programming course and experience I've gained when using VBA; when you open a file at a low level the OS puts a lock on it until you close it again. You sometimes see this when you try to delete a file and you get a message saying that it's in use - this is the OS telling you that it's locked.

What method are you using to move the file to the server? It may be something you'll have to ask about in one of the programming forums.

Nelviticus