Can I Synchronize My Bookmarks and Highlights Across Devices?

[digital_dreamer]

6 hours ago, leoperales said:

Is this possible in Android, or something similar to this?

I think Apple's iTunes software (which was used in this case) will only work on its iOS devices, like iPads and iPhones, not Google's Android.

So, for Android devices one would have to use a third-party app, like Helium (said in squeaky voice ), to access those app support files in the file system.

 

(I just noticed that you have already used Helium to transfer your highlighting data on your Android device successfully.)

[timpin]

On 5/3/2017 at 11:01 PM, youthintheministry23 said:

Okay. For meetings, I have been using the JW Library app on my iPad for the last 3-4 years.

Over the years I had been able to highlight much of most of the publications. Even with the Bible, a lot have been highlighted. My bible teach and teach us book are completely studied as well. 

 

Recently, I brought a new iPhone. This however meant that JW Library app on my phone is completely empty of notes. I thought it was okay but I recently found a cool way for apple users.

 

When you connect your iDevice to iTunes on the computer, go to that device and select Apps. Under apps, you can see app data. If you tap on JW Library- you can find personal data. Move that file over to your computer.

 

I then connected my other device to iTunes, deleted the personal data file on that device and instead swapped it for the personal data file from my iPad.

 

Now, my iPhone now has all the highlighting that has been built up over the years from my iPad. I'm so happy it worked! 

 

 

(I know the above doesn't seem like clear instructions, I could perhaps do a more clear and accurate instructions later)

after doing this, will this now be synced automatically or must it be done each week?

 

is this the feature that was discussed in the May 2017 JWB as coming soon ?   ...   https://www.jw.org/en/online-help/jw-library/ios/

[jayrtom]

8 hours ago, timpin said:

after doing this, will this now be synced automatically or must it be done each week?

 

is this the feature that was discussed in the May 2017 JWB as coming soon ?   ...   https://www.jw.org/en/online-help/jw-library/ios/

What feature are you referring to? In that page just says 'Not now' for backup and synchronization options

[Nzer133]

14 hours ago, timpin said:

after doing this, will this now be synced automatically or must it be done each week?

 

is this the feature that was discussed in the May 2017 JWB as coming soon ?   ...   https://www.jw.org/en/online-help/jw-library/ios/

It is not the feature that was mentioned in either the broadcast or online. I'd imagine it would be more "user-friendly." 

 

Also, this way doesn't automatically sync. But it's good if you would like to transfer your highlighted publications to a different device. Like in my case, all of my publications on my iPad were studied and I wanted to bring them over to my new phone.

[digital_dreamer]

Yes, this procedure is just a one-way copy. There is no sync in the strictest sense of the word. A actual sync would take changes from either devices and apply them to the other.

 

So, for now, we can just do our highlighting on one device only, then copy to the other. Any new highlighting done on the other device will be overwritten by this copy.

 

MAJ

[Guest Scotchie the Kid]

For Android, Play Books does a beautiful job of syncing highlights and notes.  However, study notes from the study Bible does not appear.

[Gimestr]

You can sync EVERYTHING from one device to another, but it is a manual process. 

 

You will need a cloud account (google drive, onedrive, dropbox etc...) on both devices.

 

1) Click Personal Study

          

2) Go to top right and click Backup and Restore

          

3) Click "Create a backup"

          

4) Select cloud storage of choice, and navigate to folder of choice.

          

5) Follow steps 1 & 2 on the second device.  then hit "Restore from backup" on the second device.  Navigate to folder and hit ok.

          

 

Everything is now transferred to new device.  All of your notes, and highlights.  

 

 

 

 

Edited April 9, 2019 by Gimestr

[Good-O]

3 hours ago, Gimestr said:

You can sync EVERYTHING from one device to another, but it is a manual process. 

 

You will need a cloud account (google drive, onedrive, dropbox etc...) on both devices.

 

1) Click Personal Study

       ................................

 

Everything is now transferred to new device.  All of your notes, and highlights.  ...................

 

 

 

 

Will that happen only for that particular study or will it stay the same at all times after that?  

[Gimestr]

4 hours ago, Good-O said:

Will that happen only for that particular study or will it stay the same at all times after that?  

this will restore everything on that device.  Using the word sync is incorrect as it will delete anything on the second device and replace it with the backup.  I use my windows 10 app as my main.  so i create backups of my windows 10 JW lib app and then load that into my phone, tablet, and work computer.  So if you make highlights on your tablet but then load the backup from another device, it will delete the highlight.

 

When I study at work, i first load the backup.  highlight the article, then create a backup.  so that I can load that on the main pc.  But I try to not do that. I try and just study everything on 1 pc to keep the backup/restore process easy.

 

Tomorrow, I will have to prepare my meeting at work, so I am making a backup now, calling it "4-9-2019 Home PC" on my google drive.  Tomorrow at work, i will load that file.  Study and highlight it.  then create a backup called "4-10-2019 Work PC".  So next time I get home, I can load that backup into my home computer.  This way I never lose any of the highlighting, and notes I have worked on. 

Edited April 10, 2019 by Gimestr

[Tortuga]

JWMerge will merge multiple backup files into one file that you can restore to any device.

 

I study on a PC and two Android devices. Once a month I will backup my JWL study notes and use JWMerge to merge all three files, then I restore that file to all three devices. Each device will then have the same highlights,  bookmarks and notes in JWLIBRARY. 

[Gimestr]

17 minutes ago, Tortuga said:

JWMerge will merge multiple backup files into one file that you can restore to any device.

 

I study on a PC and two Android devices. Once a month I will backup my JWL study notes and use JWMerge to merge all three files, then I restore that file to all three devices. Each device will then have the same highlights,  bookmarks and notes in JWLIBRARY. 

awesome. where do i get it?

 

[Tortuga]

 

JWMerge does require a PC.

[Gimestr]

5 minutes ago, Tortuga said:

 

JWMerge does require a PC.

Awesome, just downloaded and installed.  I just used it.  I am in love.

[Tortuga]

Just now, Gimestr said:

Awesome, just downloaded and installed.  I just used it.  I am in love.

Tell your friends where you heard about it...😁

[leoperales]

FYI, JWL Merge came out with an update about a month ago. v. 1.0.0.25.

[Tortuga]

On 4/9/2019 at 8:54 PM, Tortuga said:

JWMerge will merge multiple backup files into one file that you can restore to any device.

 

I study on a PC and two Android devices. Once a month I will backup my JWL study notes and use JWMerge to merge all three files, then I restore that file to all three devices. Each device will then have the same highlights,  bookmarks and notes in JWLIBRARY. 

I started a new topic for any new members that are looking for a way to synchronize the JWLibrary Personal Study information across multiple devices.

 

https://jwtalk.net/topic/51709-synchronizing-jwlibrary-personal-study-information-across-multiple-devices/

 

Edited April 3, 2022 by Tortuga

[➕👇 ꓤꓱꓷꓠꓵ🎵Tone]

JWL Merge has been discontinued.  See previous post (link) for info.

[Tortuga]

2 hours ago, ➕👇 ꓤꓱꓷꓠꓵ🎵Tone said:

JWL Merge has been discontinued.  See previous post (link) for info.

Oh no! I loved JWMerge!

 

Per the developer:

"Note that this project is no longer compatible with the latest version of the JW Library. In July 2023 the database schema was changed from v8 to v13 and I will not be updating JWLMerge to support the new version. In Jan 2023, the JW Library licence agreement was strengthened, but it also gave opportunity for 3rd party developers to apply for official permission to do the sort of work that is present in JWLMerge. I made an application in January but have not received permission, and in these circumstances feel it best to archive the project at this juncture. Thank you for your understanding, and for your valuable input and feedback on the project over the last 6 years."

[Dages]

Awww... The best app ..