Learn Sync Framework

  • Article

Links to documentation, whitepapers, and other learning resources to help you understand how to develop applications that take advantage of the capabilities of Microsoft Sync Framework.

  • How to Choose a Data Synchronization Technology – Offline & Collaboration

    There are a number of synchronization technologies that support offline and collaboration data solutions. This article discusses the key technologies: Microsoft Sync Framework core components, database synchronization providers, and SQL Server merge replication, and helps you choose which technology is right for you.

  • Introduction to Microsoft Sync Framework

    Drill down into Sync Framework and learn how its unique architecture enables information to move between data stores, devices, and services.

  • Introduction to File Synchronization

    Learn about the Sync Framework file synchronization provider, which enables developers to easily synchronize files between folders on servers, desktops, and devices.

  • Introduction to Database Synchronization

    Learn about Sync Framework database synchronization providers, which enable developers to easily synchronize information among ADO.NET-enabled databases.

  • Introduction to the Metadata Storage Service

    Learn about the Sync Framework metadata storage service, which provides a lightweight database that can be used to store common synchronization metadata, and an easy-to-use API for accessing the database.

Documentation Highlights

  • Microsoft Sync Framework Overview

    Microsoft Sync Framework is a comprehensive synchronization platform that enables collaboration and offline access for applications, services, and devices. Sync Framework features technologies and tools that enable roaming, sharing of data, and taking data offline. By using Sync Framework, developers can build synchronization ecosystems that integrate any application with any data from any store, by using any protocol over any network.  This section describes the technologies and architecture of Sync Framework and the advantages of using Sync Framework in your applications.

  • What's New in Sync Framework 2.1

    This article describes the new and enhanced features of Sync Framework 2.1, which include improvements to database synchronization providers, the file synchronization provider, and custom providers.

  • Selecting the Appropriate Sync Framework Components

    This article describes the parts of Sync Framework and guides you through selecting the ones that best meet your synchronization needs.

  • Synchronizing Databases

    This section of the Sync Framework documentation describes database synchronization providers (referred to as Sync Services for ADO.NET in previous releases). Sync Framework includes several database synchronization providers. An intuitive and flexible API lets you build applications that target offline and collaboration scenarios for database synchronization. This section provides an easy-to-follow introduction, and how-to and reference topics that will help you to quickly understand and be productive with the API.

  • Synchronizing Files

    This section of the Sync Framework documentation describes the file synchronization provider (referred to as Sync Services for File Systems in previous releases). This provider helps an application to synchronize files and folders in NTFS, FAT, and SMB file systems. The directories to synchronize can be local or remote and do not have to be of the same file system type. This section provides basic conceptual information and how-to topics that include managed and unmanaged code.