For items deleted in either the Briefcase or the main original folder, the Briefcase can create a copy of the missing item. Users can also sync individual items in the Briefcase by selecting the item first and then clicking the Update button instead of Update All. Bring back the briefcase for better file organization ***Post moved by the moderator to the appropriate. Add Windows Briefcase in Windows 10 technical.
- Create New Briefcase Windows 10
- What Happened To My Briefcase Windows 10
- Microsoft Briefcase Windows 10
In Microsoft Windows, the Briefcase is a special folder that supports a simple two-way file synchronization between itself and another folder. The Briefcase is designed for mobile PC users so that they may transfer it to a removable drive and have it synchronize with the computer to which the removable drive is attached. It follows the same metaphor as the file and file folder and then, while the file management tasks are performed by Windows Explorer, the briefcase behaves just like another folder, i.e. with support for copy-paste and drag-and-drop. It has additional functions and toolbar buttons for updating out-of-sync files. The Windows Briefcase was introduced in Windows 95[1] and was
- deprecated (although not removed) in Windows 8 and
- completely disabled (but still present and accessible via modification of the Windows Registry) from Windows 10[2]
- finally removed in Windows 10 build 14942.[3]
Overview[edit]
The Windows Briefcase synchronizes files and folders within itself with those in any other folder, even on a removable writable media or the network.[4] It is intended for users with portable media or multiple computers. To use the Briefcase, users only need to use Windows Explorer and then drag or copy their files into the Briefcase once. Any further changes to either the files on disk or those in the Briefcase are synchronized whenever the user right-clicks on the briefcase and selects Update All.[5]
If there are differences between the copies, the Briefcase shows a dialog box with an icon and a description indicating the action it will take when synchronizing; that is, whether it will replace the copy in the Briefcase with the external file or vice versa. The action the Briefcase will take is configurable by right clicking the icon. For example, users can skip synchronizing individual items by selecting the Skip action upon right clicking the icon. For items deleted in either the Briefcase or the main original folder, the Briefcase can create a copy of the missing item. Users can also sync individual items in the Briefcase by selecting the item first and then clicking the Update button instead of Update All.
The update status of each item is stored in the Briefcase. If any item does not link to any original item outside the briefcase, (for example when the drive containing the briefcase is inserted in a secondary computer, or the original has been deleted in the main computer) it is called an orphan.[6]
Internals[edit]
Most special folders in Windows (such as Briefcase folders) have a hidden file (with 'system' attribute) called Desktop.ini. They may also have Windows Registry entries describing them. The Desktop.ini for a Briefcase contains the following lines:
- The CLSID setting specifies the class identifier of the 'Briefcase' class, which is required for a folder to appear as a Briefcase.
- The ConfirmFileOp setting appears to have no effect.
- The RunWizard setting specifies whether to display the 'Welcome to the Windows Briefcase' dialog when the user opens the Briefcase. This setting is removed once the dialog is displayed for the first time.
Create New Briefcase Windows 10
A second file called 'Briefcase Database', bearing 'hidden' and 'system' attributes, and no filename extension, serves as the Briefcase index. Its fourCC is 'DDSH'.
The Briefcase folder itself must have 'read-only' or 'system' file attributes (default is read-only) in order to display as a Briefcase. The Desktop.ini and Briefcase Database files are not required to have the hidden or system attributes in order for the parent folder to display as a Briefcase.
Limitations[edit]
When a user wishes to sync a file with one in another folder, the filename must be exactly the same. If any item is renamed or moved, it splits from the original, is no longer synchronized and becomes an orphan. If an item is deleted, the associated copy by default is deleted as well when using Update All. If the briefcase medium becomes full during an Update, there will be no space for writing the updated briefcase database. This has the effect of making many of the folders and files orphans, with no easy way to restore their link with their counterparts on the source medium. Such limitations (and others) make briefcase files very brittle, easily corrupted. This limits robustness as a folder and file backup mechanism.[citation needed]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^'How to Install and Use Briefcase'. Support (1.2 ed.). Microsoft. 19 January 2007.
- ^'How to restore the missing Briefcase feature in Windows 8 RTM'. winaero.com. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
- ^'Briefcase - Add to New Context Menu in Windows 10'. tenforums.com. Retrieved 2018-10-13.
- ^'How To Use the Briefcase Feature in Windows XP'. Support (4.0 ed.). Microsoft. 23 September 2011.
- ^'Update Files in Your Briefcase Folder'. PC Magazine. Ziff Davis. 13 June 2001.
- ^'How To Use the Briefcase Feature in Windows XP'. Support (4.0 ed.). Microsoft. 23 September 2011.
Windows Briefcase automatically synchronizes multiple copies of files. If you use a desktop computer at the office but work from home on a laptop, you can synchronize the files between your laptop and desktop using Windows Briefcase. Briefcase updates the files on your desktop to match the modified versions from your laptop when you reconnect the two computers.
Open any folder window on your desktop computer.
For example, open the My Documents window. Or, you can use the desktop.
Right-click a blank spot in the window (or on the desktop) to display a shortcut menu.
Choose New→Briefcase from the menu.
Optionally, rename the Briefcase icon.
The icon is ready to be renamed in Windows Vista; in Windows XP, press the F2 key to give the thing a new name. Otherwise, the name New Briefcase is fine.
You’re done. All you need to do is create a Briefcase folder on your desktop computer. The laptop doesn’t need a Briefcase folder. You can now use the Briefcase folder to synchronize files between the desktop computer and the laptop.
What Happened To My Briefcase Windows 10
Follow these steps to add files to your laptop using Windows Briefcase.
Microsoft Briefcase Windows 10
Click the Briefcase icon that you have created.
Click the Briefcase icon to open the Briefcase window.(Optional) If the Briefcase window is not in Details view, then in Windows Vista, choose Details from the Views button; in Windows XP, choose View→Details.
Details view gives you the most information.
Drag files into the Briefcase window just as you would copy those files in Windows.
You can also drag the icons to the Briefcase icon, or you can copy the files and then open the Briefcase icon and paste things there.
The Briefcase folder itself holds duplicates of the files you copy into it, listing the file’s original location and its status, as shown in the above figure.
Close the Briefcase window when you’re done with it.
After filling the Briefcase with files and stuff you want on your laptop, you are now ready to copy the Briefcase to your laptop.