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Beginner's Guide to the Sync Framework

This page contains resources to help developers get up to speed with the Sync Framework. For additional resources see the Learning Resources page.

Tutorials & Articles

How to Choose a Data Synchronization Technology – Offline & Collaboration
There are a number of synchronization technologies that support offline and collaboration data solutions. This article discusses the key technologies: Microsoft Sync Framework core components, database synchronization providers, and SQL Server merge replication, and helps you choose which technology is right for you.

Introduction to Microsoft Sync Framework
Drill down into Sync Framework and learn how its unique architecture enables information to move between data stores, devices, and services.

Introduction to File Synchronization
Learn about the Sync Framework file synchronization provider, which enables developers to easily synchronize files between folders on servers, desktops, and devices.

Introduction to Database Synchronization
Learn about Sync Framework database synchronization providers, which enable developers to easily synchronize information among ADO.NET-enabled databases.

Introduction to the Metadata Storage Service
Learn about the Sync Framework metadata storage service, which provides a lightweight database that can be used to store common synchronization metadata, and an easy-to-use API for accessing the database.

 

Documentation Highlights

Microsoft Sync Framework Overview
Microsoft Sync Framework is a comprehensive synchronization platform that enables collaboration and offline access for applications, services, and devices. Sync Framework features technologies and tools that enable roaming, sharing of data, and taking data offline. By using Sync Framework, developers can build synchronization ecosystems that integrate any application with any data from any store, by using any protocol over any network.  This section describes the technologies and architecture of Sync Framework and the advantages of using Sync Framework in your applications.

What's New in Sync Framework 2.0
This article describes the new and enhanced features of Sync Framework 2.0, which include improvements to database synchronization providers, the file synchronization provider, and custom providers.

Selecting the Appropriate Sync Framework Components
This article describes the parts of Sync Framework and guides you through selecting the ones that best meet your synchronization needs.

Synchronizing Databases
This section of the Sync Framework documentation describes database synchronization providers (referred to as Sync Services for ADO.NET in previous releases). Sync Framework includes several database synchronization providers. An intuitive and flexible API lets you build applications that target offline and collaboration scenarios for database synchronization. This section provides an easy-to-follow introduction, and how-to and reference topics that will help you to quickly understand and be productive with the API.

Synchronizing Files
This section of the Sync Framework documentation describes the file synchronization provider (referred to as Sync Services for File Systems in previous releases). This provider helps an application to synchronize files and folders in NTFS, FAT, and SMB file systems. The directories to synchronize can be local or remote and do not have to be of the same file system type. This section provides basic conceptual information and how-to topics that include managed and unmanaged code.

Samples & Downloads

Microsoft Sync Framework 2.0 SDK
This download includes Microsoft Sync Framework, which is a comprehensive synchronization platform that enables collaboration and offline scenarios for applications, services and devices. Developers can build synchronization ecosystems that integrate any application and any type of data, using any protocol over any network. The SDK also includes documentation and samples that describe and demonstrate how to use the features of Sync Framework.

Sync Framework Power Pack for SQL Azure November CTP
This download includes the SQL Azure provider for Microsoft Sync Framework, a plug-in for Visual Studio 2008 Professional SP1 and the tool SQL Azure Data Sync Tool for SQL Server, all of which simplify using Sync Framework and SQL Azure together.

Microsoft Sync Framework 2.0 Redistributable Package
This download provides the Microsoft Sync Framework 2.0 redistributables that developers can include with applications that use synchronization. This download also includes bootstrapper packages that can be used with Microsoft Visual Studio to easily redistribute Sync Framework components with your application.

Sync Services for ADO.NET on Windows Mobile (Devices to Server)
Synchronization Services for ADO.NET 1.0, which released with Visual Studio 2008, enabled synchronization between a server database and a SQL Compact 3.5 client database running on a desktop. With this download, you can also synchronize between a server database and a SQL Compact database on a Windows Mobile 5 or 6 device.

Microsoft SyncToy 2.1
SyncToy 2.1 is a free application that synchronizes files and folders between locations. Typical uses include sharing files, such as photos, with other computers and creating backup copies of files and folders. SyncToy2.1 is powered by the latest synchronization engine from Microsoft Sync Framework 2.0 and provides better performance and robustness.

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