Tutorials → Syncing Across Devices & Users

Syncing Across Devices & Users

Keep your TimeNet Law data in sync across multiple Macs, iPhones, and iPads. Whether you work solo on several devices or share a database with your team, this guide covers every setup.

15 min Multi-Device & Multi-User

This tutorial is for anyone running TimeNet Law on more than one device. Maybe you're a solo practitioner with a Mac at the office and an iPhone for court. Maybe your firm has five attorneys sharing one database. The setup is the same: pick a sync mode, follow the steps, and your data stays current everywhere.

In This Guide

Choose Your Setup

TimeNet Law supports two sync modes. Pick the one that fits your situation.

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SCREENSHOT: The File → Configure Network dialog showing Cloud vs Local Network choice

The Configure Network wizard is your starting point

Recommended

Cloud Sync

Use Dropbox, iCloud Drive, or OneDrive to sync across any number of Macs and iOS devices. No file permissions to manage. Automatic remote access. Off-site backup of your database.

Local Network

For Macs on the same office network. Uses a shared folder. File permissions and remote access must be configured manually. Does not support iOS devices.

Mac Setup: Cloud Sync

TimeNet Law is fully compatible with popular cloud syncing services:

Dropbox iCloud Drive Microsoft OneDrive
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VIDEO COMING SOON: Full cloud mode setup, opening Configure Network, selecting Dropbox/iCloud, clicking Finish, data copying to cloud folder

Looping video, no audio, approx. 10-15 seconds

Cloud setup takes about 30 seconds from start to finish

1 Prepare Your First Mac

Make sure you are signed into whichever cloud service you plan to use on this computer first.

If you have already entered data into TimeNet Law, do this step from the computer that has your data.

Open TimeNet Law and select File → Configure Network from the menubar.

Select the Dropbox/iCloud option and click Next.

Pro Tip

Even if you are not using Dropbox or iCloud specifically, select this option to use any other cloud sync service like OneDrive or Google Drive.

2 Choose Your Location

For Dropbox with default settings: Click Finish. TimeNet Law will copy your data to Dropbox automatically.

For other services or custom paths: Click "Choose Another Location" and select your cloud sync folder. Click Finish.

Important

Before continuing, make sure your sync status says "Sync Complete" or "Up to Date" (check the Dropbox/OneDrive icon in your menubar).

! Critical Step: Make Files Available Offline

Many cloud sync providers (Dropbox, iCloud Drive, etc.) default to online-only mode for newly synced folders. You must set your TimeNet Law Data folder to be "available offline" on every computer running TimeNet Law:

  1. Navigate to your Dropbox, iCloud Drive, or other sync folder, find the TimeNet Law Data folder, right-click it and select "Make Available Offline" (or similar).
  2. Wait until a green checkmark appears next to the TimeNet Law Data folder.
  3. Repeat this step on every computer running TimeNet Law.

Skipping this step may cause data sync failures and lost time entries.

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SCREENSHOT: Dropbox Preferences → Sync tab with 'New Files Default' set to 'Available Offline' and the TimeNet Law Data folder right-click menu showing 'Make Available Offline'

The two critical Dropbox settings that prevent sync failures

3 Connect Other Macs

Make sure all other computers are signed into the same cloud service.

You will either need to be logged into the same Dropbox (or iCloud, OneDrive, etc.) account, or have the TimeNet Law Data folder shared to your account.

On each additional Mac:

  • Make sure the TimeNet Law Data folder is on your computer, set to "Make Available Offline" and fully synced
  • Download TimeNet Law and enter your license code
  • Select File → Configure Network
  • Choose the Dropbox/iCloud option
  • Click Finish, or "Choose Another Location" to browse to the TimeNet Law Data folder

Mac Setup: Local Network

1 Set Up the Host Computer

If you already have a properly configured shared folder, skip to step 2.

  • Create a folder on the computer that will store the shared database
  • Turn on File Sharing: System Preferences → Sharing → File Sharing
  • Drag your new folder into the Shared Folders list
  • Create a sharing user account for each user: System Preferences → Users & Groups
  • Create a group containing all TimeNet Law users
Critical Step

Set ACL permissions with Terminal. Open Terminal and run:

sudo chmod -R +a "GROUPNAME allow delete,chown,list,search,add_file,add_subdirectory,delete_child,file_inherit,directory_inherit" SHARED_FOLDER_PATH

Replace GROUPNAME with your group name and SHARED_FOLDER_PATH with the folder path (drag the folder into Terminal to auto-fill).

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SCREENSHOT: macOS System Preferences → Sharing panel with File Sharing enabled, showing the shared folder and user permissions

macOS File Sharing configuration with the shared TimeNet Law folder added

2 Configure TimeNet Law

With TimeNet Law open, select File → Configure Network.

If you don't see Configure Network, hold Option and click the File menu again.

Select the Local Network option, click Next, then Choose to navigate to your shared folder. Click Finish.

3 Connect Other Macs

On each additional computer:

  • Download TimeNet Law and enter your license code
  • Select File → Configure Network
  • Choose the Local Network option and click Next
  • Click Choose and select the TimeNet Law Data folder inside your shared folder
  • Click Finish
About Your Database

The TimeNet Law Data folder contains invisible files. When copying, always copy the entire folder, not just the visible files inside it.

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SCREENSHOT: Finder window showing the TimeNet Law Data folder with visible and invisible files revealed (Cmd+Shift+Period)

The TimeNet Law Data folder. Always copy the entire folder, not individual files.

iOS Setup: iPhone and iPad

The TimeNet Law companion app for iPhone and iPad connects to the same database you set up on your Mac. You can create time entries on the go, and they sync back to your Mac automatically. iOS sync requires cloud mode (Dropbox or iCloud Drive). Local network mode does not support iOS devices.

Before You Start

Your Mac must already be set up with cloud sync (see the Mac Setup section above). The iOS app connects to the same cloud folder your Mac uses.

Choose: Dropbox or iCloud Drive

Both options work well. Use whichever service you already chose for your Mac setup.

Dropbox

  • Most reliable, battle-tested
  • Works across all your devices
  • Your data stays in your Dropbox
  • Automatic token refresh (survives app reinstalls)
  • Best for multi-device setups

iCloud Drive

  • No extra account needed (uses your Apple ID)
  • Built into every Apple device
  • Good for single-user, Apple-only setups
  • Can be slower with large databases
  • iCloud sync timing is controlled by Apple
Pro Tip

If you are not sure, go with Dropbox. It is what most users choose and it has been rock-solid.

Connecting via Dropbox

1 Open Settings in TimeNet Law

Open TimeNet Law on your iPhone or iPad and go to Settings. Tap Connect Dropbox.

2 Sign In to Dropbox

When prompted, sign in with the same Dropbox account you use on your Mac.

3 Select Your Data Folder

Navigate to the folder containing your TimeNet Law database and select it.

4 Wait for Initial Sync

The first sync pulls your full database. Keep the screen on. TimeNet Law prevents your phone from sleeping during sync, so just let it run. Subsequent syncs will be much faster.

5 Done

The sync status card in Settings shows "Connected" with your last sync time. From here on, everything stays in sync.

Connecting via iCloud Drive

1 Open Data & Sync Settings

Open TimeNet Law on your iPhone or iPad. Go to Settings, then Data & Sync, then tap Change Folder.

2 Browse to Your Data Folder

The iOS Files picker opens. Browse to your TimeNet Law data folder in iCloud Drive and select it.

3 Wait for Initial Load

Let TimeNet Law pull in your data. This may take a minute depending on database size.

4 Pull to Refresh

Once connected, pull down on the Today view to grab the latest data. You are synced.

How Sync Works

Understanding the mechanics helps you get the most out of sync, especially on iOS.

Full Sync

Pulls the complete database. Used on first connect and when you tap "Sync" in Settings. Takes longer but gives you a clean, complete copy of your data.

Delta Sync

Only syncs changes since the last sync. Used on pull-to-refresh. Much faster, typically taking seconds instead of minutes. This is what you will use 99% of the time.

Two-Way

Changes made on any device flow to all others. Create an entry on iPhone, and the next sync picks it up on Mac. No direction to configure. It just works.

Conflict Resolution

If the same entry is modified on two devices before sync, the most recent change wins. In practice, conflicts are extremely rare.

Pro Tip

Pull to refresh is your friend. After making changes on your Mac, a quick pull-down on your iPhone triggers a delta sync and you will see the changes in seconds.

Troubleshooting

Cloud Sync (Mac)

"TimeNet Law says it can't find the data folder"

"Data doesn't match between Macs"

iOS Sync

"Sync seems stuck"

"Data doesn't match between Mac and iPhone"

"Dropbox disconnected after reinstall"

Local Network

"Can't connect to the shared folder"

Best Practices

  • Keep your cloud service running on your Mac for seamless background sync
  • Set the TimeNet Law Data folder to "Available Offline" on every Mac. This is the single most common cause of sync issues.
  • Pull to refresh when you switch devices. Walk into the office, pull down on your Mac's Today view. Head to court, pull down on your iPhone. Takes seconds.
  • Avoid editing the same entry on two devices at the same time. Work on one device at a time for any given entry.
  • The initial sync is the biggest. Subsequent syncs are fast because they only transfer changes.
  • If you switch between multiple data files on Mac, make sure your iPhone points to the right one.
  • For local network users: make sure ACL permissions are set correctly. Most connection problems trace back to permissions.

Need Help?

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