YAT (Yet another tip): A comprehensive guide to solving space sync problems

Mostly you may SUSPECT that one of your spaces is not syncing, but often it is dificult to prove. And even if you can prove it then it is even more disconcerting to resolve. Well here you go with my take on space sync resolution techniques.

Firstly how do you prove there are sync problems? Obviously the starting point is to do an explicit posting and ask others to confirm its existence, and vice-versa. If this does not work then you may have operating system, hardware, firewall or Internet issues. And it may be necessary or worthwhile reinstalling Groove VO. But first do the same test with other people and find out if it is your problem or your colleagues! (Note with this kind of problem it really helps to have three computers so you can decide which is the exception...)

But before you do any of the above dramatic steps the standard starting point is to shut Groove down and run CleanBuffers. I also like to restart Groove with the TrayOnly option. Then rerun your tests.

If you are still not syncing - then review your OS (eg WInXP SP2), Norton Security, ADSL configuration etc etc etc. In this note I do not want to spend time on thee subjects. I want to keep the focus in GVO. And anyway typically if Groove has been working these external influenses should not be where the problem lies.

Now double check your data: space sync problem could occur for a specific period of time. Look for missing data. This is a very difficult thing to check out - since you need to see both computers at the same time (let me kow how it goes!) Anyway the effect you are looking for may be missing entries for a certain time, say a day's worth. Believe me this is possible, I saw a classic instance first hand yesterday. And without taking further steps the situation will never resolve itself. What you are asking yourself here is WAS or IS there a problem, though actually WAS implies IS.

And you can imagine that probably most people (including Groove staff) are in denial that this could be an issue. But it is possible.

And now we are coming to the next steps. And lets take the most important tool - Discussion. Export to XML add a new Discussion tool and Import back from XML Does this work? Does the tool get added properly? Does the import get replicated.

My guess is that if you have continuing space sync probs then neither will happen. And so we come to what may be the turning point. Delete space from this (offending) computer. Then Get Workspace from the "nearest" other good computer. Exit Groove and restart. Groove will tell you about this last step.

My guess is that everything will be fine from this moment onwards & should solve around 99% of space sync problems.

For any remaining issues I recommend creating a new & temporary preview Groove account on the same computer. (Don't delete your existing one - at least not yet). In the new account see if that can replicate properly. If it does then it implies that your computer, operating system and internet connectivity are working. Can the two local accounts talk to each other properly?

If your old account refuses to budge then you need to retire it. If you have any spaces that ONLY exist on that account or you are concerned about some specific spaces then click File, Save Workspace As Archive. Once you have all your data archived go to options->preferences and the account tab. Delete account (from this computer).

Shut Groove down and restart. Note that account deletion ONLY occurs on startup. I know it is wierd, but that's how it goes.

The only final rider is that if you have the same account on multiple computers - and one of the others is working, then upload that to Groove.net and download into this computer and start again.

And that my friends, is everything you need to know.

posted by Andy Swarbrick/PopG at 4:31