Tomboy sync using Windows and Ubuntu

For the eclectic folks like myself, that use multiple operating systems, synchronization tasks are always a challenge. The data to be synchronized has to be supported by a multi-platform client.

If we're talking about utilities like Dropbox, it already supports synchronization clients for windows, Mac and Linux.

On this specific case, I wanted a decent note taking application that allowed me to sync between my Windows desktop at work and my Ubuntu laptop at home. A suggestion I found on the Web worked on file based software and Dropbox synchronizing those folders. That might work, but

I found the solution with Gnome's desktop notes application, Tomboy. It's simple, supports sticky notes, search contents and linking between notes. Good enough for some personal stuff.

The first step, if you don't have such an account, is to register on Canonical's Ubuntu One service. It gives you 5GB free storage to sync files, contacts and notes on all your Ubuntu machines. It's meant to support Windows OS soon enough.

The second step is to install Tomboy on the Windows machine. To install Tomboy on Windows, you need .NET framework and gtk-sharp installed before you can install Tomboy:

• Get the .NET runtime


• Get the GTK# runtime


• Get Tomboy

After installing Tomboy, start the application. It automatically sets up an icon on the system tray. Press the right mouse button on it and choose "Preferences".

Go to the "Synchronization" tab and select the "Tomboy Web" service. Ont the server insert the following address: https://one.ubuntu.com/notes/

Choose the interval between synchronizations. press "Save" and you're all done on the Windows box. For the Ubuntu machine, there is this detailed tutorial on notes configuration on the Ubuntu One wiki pages.