Using Dropbox with FlightPrep

There are a number of new services out there that take advantage of "cloud computing" that can help you keep your files organized in one place (e.g. SkyDrive, MobileMe, Google Storage, etc.). All offer a way for users to be on the go but still have access to their files when they need them by storing them online. One of the services available that takes advantage of cloud computing is called Dropbox. Dropbox is software that syncs your files online and across your computers that have the Dropbox software installed. If you haven't heard of it check it out at: http://www.dropbox.com/tour. You'll notice that you can get 2GB worth of storage space for free when you sign up and a plan with 50GB of storage space only costs $9.99 per month.

Dropbox is a neat service but why is FlightPrep talking about it? Well you can setup your FlightPrep software to use your Dropbox to sync your FlightPrep flight plans, aircraft data, reports, track files and more between different computers that have Dropbox installed.

Here's an example of how Dropbox can help in your planning: You use FlightPrep software at home but also in the office from time to time. Typically you just use a USB stick or something similar to hold your aircraft data or save a flight plan but don't always have that device with you. You could setup Dropbox on your home PC and office computer and any files that you put into your Dropbox would automatically sync and be accessible on both computers. This of course works for any files that you want to save to your Dropbox, not just FlightPrep info. Dropbox can replace emailing file attachments to yourself and other people, using USB drives to move files between computers, renaming files to keep a history of previous versions, complicated backup software and hardware and more. However, if you setup your FlightPrep software to store its aircraft data and other user information in your Dropbox you will never have to move FlightPrep software items around by hand again.

Once you have Dropbox setup on your computers (more information on that at https://www.dropbox.com/), follow these steps to get your FlightPrep software to look at and use your Dropbox. Please note, you must be using version 6 or later for this to work.

1. Create a new folder in your Dropbox named FlightPrep
2. Start your FlightPrep software and open your preferences by selecting the globe icon on the toolbar of the chart page or by selecting Edit and then Preferences from the menu bar.

3. Select the tab in the preferences window that says "Application Data Folders" then under the Document Folder settings select the "Custom Folder" option.

4. Once you have selected the Custom Folder option the Browse... button will become available, select it and a small selection window should appear.

5. The small window will open and have your file storage locations listed, select your Dropbox\FlightPrep folder and select OK

6. Restart your FlightPrep software and it will flash a message that it is updating your data. This is when the software moves your files over to your Dropbox folder. Once the move is complete your files are all ready to use and you're ready to go on this PC. Depending on your internet connection speed, your Dropbox may take a while to upload your files for other PC's. Typically it only takes a few minutes and the Dropbox service will pop up messages when things are added.

A few people have asked if this works for the Data Folder too and the answer is yes. Having Dropbox sync your data folder would allow you to only have to update one computer and then the others would just automatically sync as long as they were online and Dropbox was running. Please note that the free Dropbox size restriction is 2G and if you have more than 2G of data (ChartCase customers almost certainly do) then you will need to upgrade your subscription with Dropbox to a bigger plan that would allow for 8 to 10G depending on how much data you subscribe to.

Questions regarding Dropbox? Check out http://www.dropbox.com/help. Questions regarding FlightPrep software? Check out http://www.flightprep.com/rootpage.php?page=customerservice or email support@flightprep.com.