Big sync problem

[marjoryb98]

Panic time this afternoon - I think I'm relating everything, but a lot happened in a short time.
I did a UBS sync, disconnected the phone, etc; then made changes in Palm and started a sync again. It seemed to complete all right, but when I opened DJO it said it couldn't find the database. At first I just exited DJO, connected phone to PC and checked. Indeed, the data folder was empty or gone.

Took a deep breath, did a restart of the phone, then tried DJO again, and this time allowed it to restore the backup. That was okay, except not having the most recent changes that I had made in Palm. And the Android/data folder was there again.
Did another sync, which ran quite a while, and when it was done and I opened CJO again, I got the same message that it couldn't locate the database. Choices are - Exit, Try again, Restore a backup 1/17/2022 478 KB, and Create a new database.
Chose restore, and again got the data as it was - not reflecting changes in Palm.

This morning I had let the phone do a big update #34; says it has Android 12.0, an "updated user experience, and other enhancements."
It's dinner time here, so I'm going to leave it alone for now, and see what I can do in the morning. By the way, the main folder in the phone is now named Internal storage, instead of Phone.
And right now the CL folder has two databases in it:
companionlink20220117 172505.db and companionlink20220117 180835.db
The coding of the names matches what the times of the files are.
Any suggestions ??

===============================================
(updated this list 1/18/22)
Samsung Galaxy S10e, Android 12, security patch level Nov. 1, 2021; System Update 34, 1/17/22,
DJO 4.4.52, build 1452; CL 9052
Win10 x64, Fall Creator/March 2019 update, v 20H2, 2021-09 update 9/30/21;
2022-01 .NET framework cumulative update for 20H2, 1/13/22;
2022-01 cumulative update for v 20H2, 1/13/22
PalmDesktop 4.2

WiFi or USB sync -- manual syncing, as needed
Not syncing to native Android calendar or contacts

[marjoryb98]

Adding that the newest companionlink.db file in the phone is dated 8:43 am yesterday, which is before the Android update was installed. It should be from the sync I did then. And I just did something dumb that I cannot correct - in writing this, I clicked on the DB file name to copy it here, and it accidentally got renamed just c - it won't let me change or undo it.

And, please remind me how to set CLO to completely reread from Palm to phone, as Palm is current right now.
OR, maybe I should just delete and reinstall DJO in the phone? and then do a fresh sync?

[marjoryb98]

Following up on my own - I finally decided to go ahead, to uninstall DJO on the phone and reinstall it. About an hour later, and 2 different syncs, it's finally back to (what appears to be) normal. First sync with USB, because that's what I'd been using, took about 10 minutes - but when the PC said it was done the sync message in DJO kept spinning. Tapped okay anyway, and it couldn't find the database - that time I took the choice to create a new DB. When I started the sync setup again, I decided it was time to go back to using WiFi and got that set up. Finally started a new sync - it connected well, and took over 40 minutes to complete. (Okay, I have about 25 years of data, going back to my original Palm device.) And, the really good news is that all my data appears to be intact !!!, and I'm a happy camper again.
PS - I did look for and find their instructions online for reinstalling it -

https://www.companionlink.com/support/kb/Moving_DejaOffice_to_a_new_phone

[Thomas]

Marjory,

Apologies for the delay in response. Glad to hear that got it. Just as a note, one of the recent DejaOffice updates did require us to move the DejaOffice Storage folder to a new location within the phone's storage. This was due to Android requiring us to target the latest OS\changes to their storage rules. Previously, the DejaOffice data would be in "Phone\CLUSB", but now it is in "\Android\data\com.companionlink.clusbsync\files\b ackup". If you Upgrade vs a new install it should maintain the older folder, but a new install would shift to this new folder automatically. We notes the new spots in our Restore\Backup guide:

https://www.companionlink.com/support/kb/How_to_restore_your_DejaOffice_for_Android_database

[marjoryb98]

Marjory,

Just as a note, one of the recent DejaOffice updates did require us to move the DejaOffice Storage folder to a new location within the phone's storage. This was due to Android requiring us to target the latest OS\changes to their storage rules. Previously, the DejaOffice data would be in "Phone\CLUSB", but now it is in "\Android\data\com.companionlink.clusbsync\files\b ackup". If you Upgrade vs a new install it should maintain the older folder, but a new install would shift to this new folder automatically.

I had learned about the folder change a month or so ago, as I copy the whole "files" folder to my computer after I do a sync each morning, as an extra backup. The whole path to it in my phone right now is:
PC>Galaxy S10e>Internal Storage>Android>data>com.companionlink.clusbsync>f iles, and then the Backup folder is under that.

The bonus to all this is that I'm back to using WiFI to sync again, which is so much easier than USB. (My summer life involves being away from WiFi most of the time. Then the last couple of months I just hadn't bothered to make the change back to it.)

[marjoryb98]

One more question from this -- since I did the complete reinstall (and it's been fine), there's an extra database file in the phone folder,
PC>Galaxy S10e>Internal Storage>Android>data>com.companionlink.clusbsync>f iles.
Its name is wpd_companionlink_C49099C4B4459801D8BAFEFA8E690584 _2.db
and its date and time are when I did the new installation. Is it all right to delete it in the phone?

[Thomas]

Marjory,

That is a backup copy of the previous sync. Might leave it. If you sync again, it will be replaced on the next sync.

[marjoryb98]

Marjory,

That is a backup copy of the previous sync. Might leave it. If you sync again, it will be replaced on the next sync.

That's interesting - it still has the date as 1/18/22, time 5:02 pm, size 1668 KB, which is the first time I did the complete reinstall and sync that afternoon. When that sync was done, DJO couldn't locate the database, and that time I told it to create a new database. I've synced multiple times since then, and my current companionlink.db file in the phone is 1756 KB.
I'm only noticing it because I copy the whole Files folder to my computer each morning to include in a little backup I do daily of my most essential data - which of course includes DJO.

[MG111]

Same problem here with Samsung A52s since (!) update to Android 12 last week. I synced with USB only till now.

Since I changed from old A5-2017 to A52s a few month ago, sync process did not start, when clicking on "sync" in DO app on the phone. CL on the PC did nothing, even when waiting for minutes. I found out, I have to disconnect USB and plug in again, the the sync process ran.

Today I did the very first sync after update to Android 12. It was the same problem Marjory described:

sync with USB, because that's what I'd been using, took about 10 minutes - but when the PC said it was done the sync message in DJO kept spinning. Tapped okay anyway, and it couldn't find the database

I tried it several times, with restored DB, new DB, completely uninstall DO, other PC, etc. Same behavior. It seems to me, CL is not capable to write the DB back to the phone after sync. When looking into the folder with a file manager, there is no "companionlink.db".

Now I gave WiFi sync a try. I was surprised, that it worked even PC (192.168.10.xxx) and Android (192.168.100.xxx) are NOT in the same network (CL team should update the description of this function). This works for me and I'll test it further.

Nevertheless I ask CL team for having a look at the USB sync function. It seems to be broken at least for Samsung devices with Android 12.

Michael

[Thomas]

Michael,

If your signature is still accurate "CL 6052" this would be the issue:

https://www.companionlink.com/support/kb/Google_Android_Privacy_Changes_impact_CompanionLink_USB_Sync

Wifi will still work fine here. For Wifi sync the PC's IP does not matter only the mobile. If sync worked, they would have to be in the same network. Even if the PC is hardwired, as long as it is connected to the same Router generating the wifi, this is still the same network. Each device connected to the network would have a unique IP, IP's should not ever match with two different devices.

[MG111]

Thomas,

I just updated my signature. ;-)

Even if the PC is hardwired, as long as it is connected to the same Router generating the wifi, this is still the same network

That's an interesting definition of "network". Where does it end and the next network begins? To me one network has the same subnet (192.168.10/24) because in between there is a gateway. But I'm glad that it workes here. Which ports have to be opened for CL sync? My WiFi can't connect to my LAN, but my LAN can connect all devices in my WiFi through the firewall. So I don't have to open any ports from WiFi to LAN, right?

I'm a bit afraid, that there is a open port on my Android. Otherwise it would not be possible for the PC to start sync, would it? So is it really save to have WiFi sync activated? This was the reason for using USB sync till it broke.

michael

[Thomas]

MG,

You shouldn't need to open any ports. We only sync with wifi when both are connected to the same secure network. Wifi sync does not work if say a laptop and phone are connected to a public\hotel wifi. Wifi sync is a little "more direct" than USB sync as we can directly open the Database on the mobile side in DejaOffice. With USB sync, there are the drivers, the cables, we have to copy the database to the PC, update it then send it back to the device. Wifi does not need to do any of these processes so it can be a lot smoother.

[MG111]

• We only sync with wifi when both are connected to the same secure network.
• Wifi sync does not work if say a laptop and phone are connected to a public\hotel wifi.

What's the difference? Even on a public WiFi two devices can have a secured connection like a VPN.

Wifi sync is a little "more direct" than USB sync as we can directly open the Database on the mobile side in DejaOffice. With USB sync, there are the drivers, the cables, we have to copy the database to the PC, update it then send it back to the device. Wifi does not need to do any of these processes so it can be a lot smoother.

So there will be no solution for the USB-sync problem mentioned in this thread? The problem seems to be the copy-back-step.

I still feel more secure, when syncing via cable and to not have my personal data send through the air ... :-|

... and is my Android permanently open on any port for external sync now?
What means "allow sync to start from PC" in DO?

Michael

[DJOCTO]

What's the difference? Even on a public WiFi two devices can have a secured connection like a VPN.

You are still thinking of Wi-Fi connection via TCP/IP to the Internet.

Our Wi-Fi sync never goes to the Internet.

It is my understanding that we make a TCP/IP ad-hoc network.

https://searchmobilecomputing.techtarget.com/definition/ad-hoc-network

This is a feature of Wi-Fi routers that allows one device inside the network to have direct access to another device inside the network. But the router is handling this, and the data never goes out to the Internet. Our DejaCloud Sync is sync using the internet (using a Hosted Server in Newark New Jersey) and this is what all modern Phones and PCs are designed to handle.

For most coffee shops, and also hotels, the Ad-Hoc network capability of Wi-Fi is turned off as a security measure. So CompanionLink Wi-Fi sync works fine with home routers, but not so good for people who travel. For people with a newer CompanionLink, newer laptop and current model phone - Bluetooth is a good alternative.

Wayland