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Synch Process

R

RampagingHoardes

Well-known member
Can LWD explain how the synchronization process works in depth? (If this is already somewhere pls point me to it as I didn't find it)

What I really need to understand is, is this a one way process? If not how does it know which to use is it just by timestamp or size or change etc? If I lose my pc and all my data at my end or I had to do a restore what data will I end up with if the server file and my backup are different? Will the server bring the last files from the sync down? I am starting to put a lot of information in RW and want to make sure I don't bone myself out of years of entries at some point.

thanks
 
RampagingHoardes said:
Can LWD explain how the synchronization process works in depth? (If this is already somewhere pls point me to it as I didn't find it)

What I really need to understand is, is this a one way process? If not how does it know which to use is it just by timestamp or size or change etc? If I lose my pc and all my data at my end or I had to do a restore what data will I end up with if the server file and my backup are different? Will the server bring the last files from the sync down? I am starting to put a lot of information in RW and want to make sure I don't bone myself out of years of entries at some point.

thanks
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One thing I know for sure, because I just had this happen to me, is if it detects a conflict between your cloud data and your local data, it will ask you which version you want to keep. This is a realm level decision, but for that specific realm, it is an all-or-nothing scenario. You cannot drill-down to specific objects.

You can, however, cancel out so that no decision is made until you investigate further.
 
When we synch, it's by realm, not the whole database of all realms you have created.

I don't know whether synch is actually fully implemented yet but a conversation long ago was that only the bits that change would by synched. I would think this is driven off of local version so if you add or delete from local, that change would be flagged and the next time you synch to cloud those changes would be made. But it could be timestamp on the realm.

Our data files are getting bigger and bigger. Sound and graphic files add to the size considerably. So synching only those things that have changed would reduce synch overhead considerably. Bandwidth is undoubtedly a concern for LoneWolf as it costs $$$ so I'd reckon tuning of synchs will be a higher priority.
 
If you lose your PC, or just completely delete Realmworks, then next time you sync to the server you will be given the entire realm that is stored on the server. There is no reason to try and restore a local backup of the database since everything is on the server (at least everything up to when you last synced with the server).

As EightBitz said, syncing is a one-way process: either you sync your local copy by downloading the latest updates from the server, or you upload your local changes to the server. The direction of sync is automatically chosen based on which database has the most recent changes.
 
Farling said:
If you lose your PC, or just completely delete Realmworks, then next time you sync to the server you will be given the entire realm that is stored on the server. There is no reason to try and restore a local backup of the database since everything is on the server (at least everything up to when you last synced with the server).
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If you're not paying for cloud services then you absolutely need to restore a local backup after reinstalling and doing the initial connection.

This will become important to some folks in another month or so.
 
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Parody said:
If you're not paying for cloud services then you absolutely need to restore a local backup after reinstalling and doing the initial connection.

This will become important to some folks in another month or so.
Click to expand...


Yep.

Because I'm certainly not interested in paying $40 a year for nothing other than sync.

I don't believe I've received "a $24.99 value" for my 6 months, over and above the $50 I paid for the program.

I'll be backing off and waiting for quite a few more features before I pay any more money.

I keep hoping that LWD will come forward and say "Here's another free 6 months until we get the marketplace and web stuff working!".
 
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MaxSupernova said:
Yep.

Because I'm certainly not interested in paying $40 a year for nothing other than sync.

I don't believe I've received "a $24.99 value" for my 6 months, over and above the $50 I paid for the program.

I'll be backing off and waiting for quite a few more features before I pay any more money.

I keep hoping that LWD will come forward and say "Here's another free 6 months until we get the marketplace and web stuff working!".
Click to expand...

Ok now I am confused. Are you saying that we are already using our "cloud" service from the time of purchase? I thought this started when they got the online store? If that is the case then my stuff isn't backing up when it says it is? Am I misunderstanding the conversation here? It's late :P
 
Sync is not necessarily a 1 way street, especially if you use RW on multiple computers. If you are doing work on multiple computers, I believe the best practice would be to sync your work both before you switch computers and once your done working in RW on a particular computer in order to avoid conflicts.

Anyway, if your using RW on multiple computers under a single account then you need to pay more attention to your syncing habits because you could theoretically have new information in some data on computer A and have new information on another section in computer B and if you sync, you'll have to decide which updated data goes bye bye and you have to recreate it.

The Players Edition is the only place that I can see being a one way sync and even that comes into doubt once Player Notes, Comments and group discussions in RW become fully available.
 
RampagingHoardes said:
Ok now I am confused. Are you saying that we are already using our "cloud" service from the time of purchase? I thought this started when they got the online store? If that is the case then my stuff isn't backing up when it says it is? Am I misunderstanding the conversation here? It's late :P
Click to expand...

Our cloud storage time started counting down when sharing was made available and not the store. I don't remember for sure, but I think it started when we were able to invite others with the GM edition to start looking at each others work, although it could of started the day the Player Edition went up for sale. Anyway, your included 6 months of cloud service has been counting down for a little while.
 
Viking2054 said:
Our cloud storage time started counting down when sharing was made available and not the store. I don't remember for sure, but I think it started when we were able to invite others with the GM edition to start looking at each others work, although it could of started the day the Player Edition went up for sale. Anyway, your included 6 months of cloud service has been counting down for a little while.
Click to expand...

Really not happy about this if this how it is. Maybe I misunderstood but I was under the impression that it didn't start until the store was open. Are we seriously going to have to pay just to back up our data? I thought that was considered an original part of RW when I paid for it. I understood the cloud services was going to be the buying and selling of stuff. My household has purchased two copies of this I sure don't want to have to shell out just to back up and to share data amongst my own copies. Anyhow I really hope this isn't the case.

Also - Since we bought two it would be nice not to have to pay for two Cloud accounts as well if we end up wanting to do the buying and selling (maybe they can work with us here?)
 
I assume that the Web-based players access will only be available to those who have the cloud service. That could be worth it and for me is more important than the content marketplace. My group meets for long sessions, but only once a month, so it would be nice to give everyone access to info from prior sessions without them all having to buy and install the players edition—especially those that would prefer to access it on the Mac or, more likely, and iPad.

I like the cloud sync for backup but I don't know that 24 a year is worth it. I use SpiderOak for cloud backup and there are other great and cheap products like Crash Plan that can back up your data to the cloud and even synch via shared directories.

It is an interesting business model to charge people access to your store. If it were my company, I would give free access to the content store, because I want people to buy content. If they buy over $X amount in content, I would throw in a year's worth of web-based players view and sync/online backup.
 
RampagingHoardes said:
Ok now I am confused. Are you saying that we are already using our "cloud" service from the time of purchase? I thought this started when they got the online store? If that is the case then my stuff isn't backing up when it says it is? Am I misunderstanding the conversation here? It's late :P
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Your cloud service time started November 19, 2014 or when you purchased and set up your RW GM Edition account.

If you only have the free six months you have until mid to late June to decide if you want to keep paying for cloud backups and whatever else.

I thought it had started earlier, but I was incorrect. Sorry.
 
Sorry about that. Thanks for correcting me. I still might pay the 40 if the Web version is nice and if my subscription allows me to share my realm with all my players via the Web version without them needing to buy a players license.
 
In my opinion $40 a year just for backing up my data and sharing is outrageous. I really like RW, but that is so off-putting I don't recommend it to others. I can't imagine that I will be willing to pay $40 a year plus the purchase price of whatever module or rule set I want to purchase. RPG Now stores all my purchases in their cloud for free! I get that we get more service from LWD than simple file storage. We get the ability to share our material with players. However, a lot of us don't use that feature at all. I don't use the sharing feature and don't think simple storage is worth anywhere near $40 a year. Charging me for the opportunity to buy stuff from them makes me want to reject the whole thing on principal. If that is the model they use I may just self RW and move on. I think LWD is making a terrible miss-step on this one. Of course, I may be totally wrong and they have it nailed -- time will tell.
 
@meek75 if the Web version allows as many players as you want to view your realm without them needing to install software and being able to access it from tablets at the table, then it would be offering value beyond a marketplace and backup. For me, that could make it worth it.

Also, if the subscription comes with access to a good amount of high-quality content that doesn't cost extra, that could make it worth it, if you use that content.

We'll have to wait and see.
 
I will wait for final prices & finished products before ranting over and over again. Since nothing is set in stone yet I will make up my mind when the features are delivered.
 
meek75 said:
In my opinion $40 a year just for backing up my data and sharing is outrageous. I really like RW, but that is so off-putting I don't recommend it to others. I can't imagine that I will be willing to pay $40 a year plus the purchase price of whatever module or rule set I want to purchase. RPG Now stores all my purchases in their cloud for free! I get that we get more service from LWD than simple file storage. We get the ability to share our material with players. However, a lot of us don't use that feature at all. I don't use the sharing feature and don't think simple storage is worth anywhere near $40 a year. Charging me for the opportunity to buy stuff from them makes me want to reject the whole thing on principal. If that is the model they use I may just self RW and move on. I think LWD is making a terrible miss-step on this one. Of course, I may be totally wrong and they have it nailed -- time will tell.
Click to expand...


I have to agree with a good part of this. I love realm works but for me I thought the backup was part of it, even though I was apprehensive at first about doing it.

I don't want to stop using RW though but really hope they reconsider this. I shouldn't have to pay a high fee just too back up my data. To me the price was a bit high for this product but I do love it.

Also what happens to my data if I don't pay the fee right off - or for some time? Do you delete what you have after my 6mos freebee is up? What if I don't pay and crash the next day can I still get restored or am I SOL? (Maybe LWD can chime in here)

Not everyone has the cash for this kind of expense. I have a lot of health issues and my finances are strapped. Now with 2 copies that will be 100 bucks a year that's absurd for me. I loved this product so much that I got a second copy for our household to avoid issues with 2 ppl entering content, but now I am thinking it may have been a mistake.

I thought our free trial time was so we could try out the store and see if it is worth getting (although I think charging to get into a store is a bad idea as well).

Also checking out the new site for RW (wasn't up when I bought that I know of) it says that this pricing is for a "standard tier" so does that mean things will be increased more? It also mentions it can hold enough data for a Pathfinder Adventure Path? Does this mean I am limited on my world size? This could be very problematic depending on how big this cap is.... Hopefully someone (LWD) can answer this?

Again, I really hope LWD reconsiders their strategy on this.
 
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