Autocopying files in the nanny state of corporate IT

October 15, 2007 3:32 PM

My group at work needs access to a file which I maintain and vice versa. We'd like to keep the files on our own laptops so we can edit them whenever, but maintain a regularly updated copy on a server share to which we all have access.

Now the sticky parts: We would like to keep these file in regular directory structures rather than put them into briefcase.

It would be best if this was automatic, either at a given time, or whenever I edit the file or when we dock our laptops.

And the kicker - getting a piece of software that isn't on the special approved software list that was handed down to our IT deparment by the Gods is virtually impossible. So this pretty much has to be done from within Windows XP.

posted by Kid Charlemagne to computers & internet (6 comments total)

Subversion, Perforce, CVS, and Git are all version-control systems, which is exactly what you're looking for here. Are any of them approved by your overlords?
posted by chrisamiller at 3:35 PM on October 15, 2007

docs.google.com allows you to create documents, spreadsheets and presentations within folders and share them between people all online via the comfort of your web browser. Firefox- and IE-compatible, it probably also supports any other major browser you'd like to be using.
posted by MaxK at 3:47 PM on October 15, 2007

Why not leave it on a single machine and edit it via a remote desktop solution where everyone has access to it?
posted by wile e at 3:53 PM on October 15, 2007

FolderShare does directory tree file synchronization, takes care of most firewall issues and it is free.

The other option is if your server share is set to use the "Offline Files" feature of XP.

Both provide options that would allow you to prevent someone from overwriting a file they aren't supposed to be editing and having that overwritten version propagated to everyone else.
posted by Good Brain at 4:02 PM on October 15, 2007

Another vote for google documents. Simple, no software to install and works beautifully.
posted by Joh at 10:24 PM on October 15, 2007

Windows XP Offline files is simplest & easiest. You may encounter conflicts with this, and then version control software (Subversion etc) would work great. The downside of those is a) the IT dept would have to setup such a system and b) it might require additional training for users.
posted by bxg at 11:46 PM on October 15, 2007