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# 4.10 Multi-Device Sync Configurations

Because of restrictions imposed by web browser publishers and device manufacturers, no single app or service can sync bookmarks between all browsers and devices. But Synkmark or BookMacster can be used in conjunction with other services to the job, and using multiple services gives you workarounds in case one of them fails. The information in this section will empower you to sketch out a system that works for you.

Major web browser publishers now provide proprietary sync services for your bookmarks among their browsers on multiple devices. They do not talk to one another. Synkmark or BookMacster can be the missing bridge among them.

Unless you’re starting from scratch, which is rare, syncing among multiple devices or browsers requires a little thought to get all of your bookmarks in the correct place before you start checking boxes. We recommend sketching it out.

If you only use one web browser, such as only Safari, and want it synced among multiple [devices]90, we recommend using Smarky, Synkmark or BookMacster only to sort and otherwise manage your bookmarks, but do not enable Syncing or Agents. Instead, switch on the proprietary syncing service which is built into the web browser. These services are able to sync not only bookmarks but open tabs, history and other data.

To illustate what is possible, we describe two examples.

## 4.10.1 Example 1: One Synkmark or BookMacster on One Bridge Mac

In this example, Synkmark or BookMacster is only one Mac, serviing as the bridge between Safari, Firefox, and Chrome, which are synced to the Safaris, Firefoxes, and Chromes on the other devices via the proprietary services: iCloud, Firefox Sync, and Sign In to Chrome (Google). We call the one with Synkmark or BookMacster the Bridge Mac.

Just be careful not to create a Sync Loop.

## 4.10.2 Example 2: Synkmark or BookMacster via an Online File Syncing Service

You can install Synkmark or BookMacster on more than one Mac, using a single synced Bookmarkshelf Document, meaning one that you’ve placed into a synced folder, one synced by a Online File Syncing Service, and then Synkmark or BookMacster will not only bridge among browsers but also among Macs. You activate the browsers’ proprietary services only as needed to branch off to any non-Mac devices where Synkmark or BookMacster can’t go.

We maintain a web page with our current evaluations of various services.

Again, be careful not to create a Sync Loop. Connecting more than more than one Mac to one of these syncing services, if the Macs are also connected via Synkmark or BookMacster, will create a sync loop.

Instead of connecting Firefox Sync on one Mac and iCloud on another Mac as in the picture, you could again choose a Bridge Mac and connect both services to it.

## 4.10.3 What Will Work for Me?

Example 1 has the advantage of syncing not only bookmarks but other browser data (open tabs, history, etc.) within each browser. Safari open tabs on one device will sync to Safari open tabs on another device. Safari open tabs will not sync to Firefox open tabs. Method 2 does not support syncing of open tabs or other data, because it relies on Synkmark or BookMacster between devices, and the app syncs only bookmarks.

In general, if you have a Mac which you leave on, or at least use regularly, that should be the Bridge Mac which connects to iCloud, Firefox Sync, and/or Sign in to Chrome (Google). The key consideration is that lines going through Synkmark or BookMacster can only sync when that Mac is on, and you are logged in. (Agents do not require Synkmark or BookMacster to be running, but they do require you to be logged in to your Macintosh user account.) If all of the Macs with Synkmark or BookMacster are always left on and logged in, syncing will occur within minutes regardless of which example you follow.

For an example of how syncing may be delayed in Example 1, look at the Example 1 picture and say that you add a bookmark on the iPad in Safari, the Bridge Mac is off, and then you start using Chrome on that iPad. The new bookmark will not be present in Chrome until after that Bridge Mac is turned on for a few minutes.

Turning to the Method 2 picture, say that you add a bookmark to Chrome on the MacBook Air at the lower right. It will appear within minutes in Safari on that iPad, but wlil not appear in Firefox on the PC at the top of the picture until the iMac at the lower left comes online.

One might be tempted to bypass the off Mac by activating more of the other services on more devices. But don’t do that because it will create a Sync Loop when all devices are on.

## 4.10.4 Bookmarks on a Local Network

Because a Bookmarkshelf Document (.bkmslf) file is just a document file, if you don’t want to synchronize over the internet, you can get the same effect as synchronizing by simply accessing this file from multiple Macs. The following figure shows three ways to do that. Note, however, that in all cases here your Bookmarkshelf file is stored on only one device. Therefore, whichever device is hosting your .Bookmarkshelf file should have some kind of backup system, Apple’s Time Machine™ for example, in case the device fails or suffers some natural or man-made disaster.

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