Sync Center is a Windows feature that allows you to keep information in sync between your computer and files stored on the network. The offline files setting allows you to access copies of your network files even when you can’t connect to the network. However, this setting can cause several problems when using Lacerte or ProSeries, including:
- Not being able to view or modify client files in Lacerte (any year), when others can.
- Options not applying properly in Lacerte (any year).
- Slowness saving client files in ProSeries.
- HomeBase inconsistencies in ProSeries.
- DMS Database corruption or being unable to view the database.
You can resolve these issues by disabling offline files for the PC or a per folder/file basis.
Resolving Sync Center conflicts incorrectly could overwrite a good file with a corrupted one and break the entire network's database. Before attempting the steps below, make sure you have a qualified IT professional on site and back up all of your data to prevent damaging files on the network.
It is important to note that the file that Lacerte looks for, in order to detect if Windows Sync Center is running, will briefly open sometimes when offline files have been disabled. Once you have made sure that offline files are disabled, if you get the message in Lacerte, check Do not show this again. Intuit Hosting users do not need to check that offline files are disabled before checking this box. Rightworks does not have Windows Sync Center enabled.
Follow these steps to disable offline files completely:
- Make sure you're connected to your network.
- Save anything you have open on your computer.
- Open the Control Panel.
- In the Control Panel window, type Sync Center in the search box and press Enter.
- Click Sync Center.
- From the left of the screen, select Manage offline files.
- Select Disable offline files.
- Click OK to close the window.
- When prompted to restart, close any open programs and click Yes to restart.
Follow these steps to disable offline mode on a per folder/file basis:
- Make sure you're connected to your network.
- Open the Control Panel.
- In the Control Panel window, type Sync Center in the search box and press Enter.
- Click Sync Center.
- From the left of the screen, select Manage offline files.
- Click View your offline files.
- Right-click the folder where your data is stored and choose Always available offline to disable this setting.
- Wait for the confirmation window letting you know that the folder/file has been changed so it's no longer available offline.
- Repeat steps 1-8 for each folder/file you want to disable offline use for.
