Getting started with Syncplicity on Windows is easy. Whether with a Business Edition or Personal Edition account, Syncplicity integrates with your operating system to provide seamless file management, backup, sharing, collaboration, and access to all of your files. There’s nothing complex to learn and it works with all of your existing files and file locations so you never need to move a thing, whether the files are on individual computers, file servers, or cloud applications like Google Docs.
This Getting Started guide will walk you through the process of setting up your PC to work with your Syncplicity account. Before you start, you will need to have a Personal or Business Edition account and know your account’s username and password. If you don’t have an account yet, you will need to ask your company’s administrator to create one for you. If you are not part of a company or are setting up a company account for the first time, click here to create an account.
Installing Syncplicity on your PC
To install Syncplicity, go to www.syncplicity.com and log-in with your e-mail and password.
Click on the Install tab at the top, and then follow the instructions on the page to download and install the Syncplicity client for Windows.
Since Syncplicity integrates with the operating system, if certain system files are in use during the installation, it will notify you that not all functionality will be available until the computer is restarted. We recommend you save your work and restart your computer before continuing.
Running Syncplicity for the First Time
Note: If you have created an account using your Google Apps username and password rather than a Syncplicity username and password, you will not need to enter your username and password below.
Once Syncplicity is installed, it will automatically start and prompt you for your e-mail address and password.
Enter the e-mail address and password corresponding to your account. Enter in a computer name that will help you remember this computer. This can be any name you wish but must be unique between the computers in your account. The computer name is used in screens and messages to help you distinguish multiple computers from one another. Click Next.
Tip: If you are reinstalling Syncplicity on a new computer and want to reuse a previously used computer name, follow the instructions at http://manual.syncplicity.com/Computers to first remove the computer name before entering it here.
Both Syncplicity Personal and Business Editions allow you to backup and sync any single folder or multiple folders on your computer so you don't have to move a single file or folder.
If you select Synchronize and backup my personal folders, your Desktop, Documents, Music, Pictures, and Internet Explorer Browser favorites will all be automatically backed up and synchronized. Select this option if you wish to automatically have the full synchronization and backup across all of your documents automatically once you complete the wizard.
Note: If you signed up for a free subscription, the default storage quota is 2GB which you may exceed quickly if you have lots of data. In this case, it is recommended you manually select the folders you wish to synchronize by selecting the Let me pick folders to synchronize and backup option.
If you select Let me pick folders to synchronize and backup, nothing will be backed up or synchronized by default and you will have the option to add any folders you wish. Select this option if you are a more advanced user and wish to manually select what folders you backup and synchronize with Syncplicity.
Click Next.
Tip: You can always change which folders you synchronize at any time after installation through the Manage and Share Folders window.
A screen with How-To's will appear. Click Next.
If you chose Synchronize and backup my personal folders, click Finish and your computer will automatically begin to backup and synchronize your files. Since you have already selected your folders, click here to learn about your next steps.
If you chose Let me pick folders to synchronize and backup, click Finish to complete registration of this computer with the Syncplicity service. The client will then display a dialog box for you to select exactly which folders you wish to backup and synchronize.
If you choose the Let me pick folders to synchronize and backup option, you are now given the option to choose which of your folders you wish to backup and synchronize. By default, a set of common folders is displayed. To backup and synchronize a folder, simply click on the name of the folder within the folder list on the left, and then click Add this folder on the right to include it.
Depending upon how much data is on your computer and how fast your internet connection is, if you have lots of data or a slower connection, it may take up to a few days to transmit all of your data to the Syncplicity servers. In the meantime, you can continue to use your computer normally and the client will continue to run in the background.
Once you click OK, your changes will be saved and your computer will automatically begin to backup and synchronize your files.
You're now done connecting your computer to your Syncplicity account. Now that you're all set up, here are some things you can do with Syncplicity. For more details on either the features below, or to learn about all of the other features within Syncplicity, browse the User Manual sections in the navigation bar to your right.
Adding, Backing up, Syncing, and Excluding Additional Folders
You can add any folder that you want to be backed up, available through a web browser, and synced to your other computers. To do so, within Windows, right-click on the folder of your choice and under the Syncplicity menu select Add to Syncplicity. The folder icon will update with a Syncplicity logo overlaid on top of it to let you know it has now been added to your Syncplicity account. All files within the folder will now be synchronized up to the cloud and available online. On your other computers where you have Syncplicity installed, they will also display a dialog box asking if you'd like to synchronize the folder to those other computers as well. If you click Accept on those other computers, the folder will synchronize to your other computers as well.
Configuring a Business Edition Company Account
If you are an administrator setting up a Business Edition Company Account and need to add users, set up company shares, and set up policy, visit the Business Edition Administration section of the manual for next steps.
Sharing a File
Files can be shared through creating a Shareable Link. A Shareable Link is a way to share a single file with other people quickly and easily. To share a file, right-click on a file in Windows and select Get a Shareable Link from the Syncplicity menu. A window will appear containing a web URL. Copy and paste this URL into an e-mail, instant message, web page, or any other place where you can place a text web link. Anybody who clicks on this link will be able to retrieve your file quickly and easily. Shareable Links are also kept up-to-date, so if your file later changes, people who download the file via the Shareable Link will always get the latest version.
Sharing folders
In cases where you are sharing more than one file or if you want to be able to collaborate with others, you can share an entire folder with others. To share a folder, right-click on the folder you wish to share. In the dialog that appears, select the permissions you wish to give and enter in one or more e-mail addresses separated by commas. Once you click OK, the folder will be immediately shared with the users you select. Changes that you or any of your collaborators make are immediately synchronized to each other.
Visit our manual section on sharing to learn more about sharing folders and files with others.
