As I mentioned in a previous post I’ve been working on getting the Android application, Shuffle to synchronize with Tracks.
Now that the work has continued this post describes how this feature of Shuffle works. This feature is released with version 1.4.0 of Shuffle and will be available on the Android Market. Special thanks to Andy whom put up with my loads patches.
This feature affects no other features in Shuffle, it simply allows the synchronization between the two systems. If you never configure the synchronization feature it will never affect you.
Configuration
To configure Shuffle to synchronize with tracks start the Shuffle application.
Press menu, and select settings. Select the option called “Change synchronization”
This will open the settings file. Here you can enter the URL to your Tracks installation, username and password. You can also specify the settings for the background synchronization. Simply change the combo box between the different settings.
There is some validation in the settings screen. If you enter a invalid URL the text will change to red to display this.
When you save your settings they are validated by trying to download the contexts from Tracks. If Shuffle cannot get any content from Track with the specified settings it will not save them, but instead display an error message saying that something is wrong with them. You can always cancel.
The Synchronization
Once Shuffle is configured to synchronize with Tracks. You will have an extra button available in the menus across Shuffle. Pressing this will start the synchronization process. To notify that a synchronization is in progress Shuffle will also add a notification message during the synchronization. This is to notify the user that Shuffle synchronizes when doing background synchronization. If you click the notification Shuffle will display the synchronization view.
The synchronization synchronizes the entities in Shuffle in the following order: Contexts, Projects, and Tasks. During a synchronization Shuffle will look at the modification date and select the version of the entity that was latest modified, and merge this entity with the local entity or remote entity, which ever is updated.
Tracks only accept Tasks that have a context set, currently these tasks are excluded from the synchronization process. If you have such task a message is displayed at the end of the synchronization process.
#1 by Robert on March 1, 2010 - 06:59
This is incredible for GTDers with an Android phone. It may take a bit of time to get traction given the RTM and Astrid fame. But, Shuffle integrated with the Tracks is light-years beyond RTM and Astrid
#2 by Morten on March 1, 2010 - 10:15
Thanks! You picked a good day to give positive feedback.
#3 by Maurice on April 25, 2010 - 13:20
I’m syncing now for the first time!
Hopefully this helps me getting my “offline” tasks done.
I do love Tracks, and I like my Android. I capture with jotter (nice, simple tool).
#4 by Maurice on April 25, 2010 - 13:34
Too bad, I guess I will stick with the mobile web view…
It has difficulties with syncing my task lists. Next to that, it doensn’t make a distinction in active, hidden or completed projects and shows them all in one list.
I use the hidden projects as Someday/Maybe and the completed are just there for reference.
Btw, I’m using tracks.morphexchange.com, which is still using tracks 1.6
#5 by Morten on April 27, 2010 - 20:46
Hidden projects is in “the pipe”, but right now I’m having a hard time freeing up time to implement it.
#6 by Jearvewaype on April 2, 2011 - 02:41
Content ease me to create collection
#7 by adwiel on May 22, 2011 - 10:33
I have been searching for a good GTD app on my Android phone for weeks.
FInally I found Shuffle and at the backend Tracks. I didn’t know Tracks at all.
Played first with some public Tracks servers, I now installed my own local Track server.
During the coming weeks I’m going to test Shuffle+Tracks. For now it looks very promissing
Keep up the good work!!