Mac OS X v10.6.x and OS X Lion: About Sync Diagnostics assistant

Summary

This article explains when and how to use the Sync Diagnostics assistant, included with Mac OS X v10.6.x and OS X Lion.

Products Affected

Mac OS X 10.6, MobileMe, OS X Lion, iPhone, iSync, MobileMe Sync

The Sync Diagnostics assistant lets you collect information about a sync as it occurs, and email diagnostic information about that sync to Apple. This can be useful in diagnosing and troubleshooting issues when synchronizing data with MobileMe, your iPhone, or a third-party mobile device via iSync.

Opening Sync Diagnostics

Finder

  1. In the Finder, choose Go > Go to Folder.
  2. In the Go to Folder dialog box, type /System/Library/Frameworks/SyncServices.framework/Resources.
  3. In the Resources folder, double-click the SyncDiagnostics file. The Sync Diagnostics assistant appears.

MobileMe Subscribers

  1. Option-click the Sync status icon (two arrows forming a circle) located on the menu bar at the top of your screen. To Option-click, hold the Option key while you click the Sync status icon.
  2. Choose Open Sync Diagnostics from the menu. The Sync Diagnostics assistant appears.

In some cases, the Sync status icon is not displayed in the menu bar. If you don't see the icon:

  1. Choose System Preferences from the Apple menu, then click MobileMe.
  2. Click the Sync tab.
  3. Select the "Show status in menu bar" check box.

How to use Sync Diagnostics

The Sync Diagnostics assistant will walk you through the process of synchronizing and sending diagnostic information to Apple. To learn more about Sync Diagnostics, click the "Learn More..." button.

After the Sync Diagnostics assistant has collected information about your synchronization session, it will ask you if you'd like to see the resulting files in the Finder, or if you'd like to send them as an attachment in Mail. If you choose "Send an Email", Mail will open and create a new message (using the default account in Mail) with the diagnostic information attached as a compressed file named "SyncDiagnostics.tar".

Note: The Sync Diagnostics assistant output file can be very large. If the SyncDiagnostics.tar output file is larger than 20 MB, you should not email it. You can check the size of the SyncDiagnostics.tar file by either dragging it into the Compose window of a new message in Mail and checking the file size listed below the file icon, or select it in the Finder and choose Get Info from the File menu.

To learn more about Get Info, see this article.

Additional Information

About "Reset Sync Services"

Resetting sync services may help when troubleshooting issues related to syncing contacts, calendars, or other data. The "Reset SyncServices" feature performs the same function as Resetting Sync History via iSync.

In Mac OS X v10.6.x and OS X Lion, the Reset Sync Services command appears in the Sync menu bar extra when the Option key is held (just like Open Sync Diagnostics appears when Option is held). In Mac OS X v10.5 or earlier, the iSync application needs to be opened to access the reset sync services.

To learn more about the Sync menu bar extra, see this article.

Opening iSync

You can also open iSync from the Sync menu bar extra. If you have a third-party mobile device that you wish to synchronize contacts, calendars or other data with, use iSync.

Important: Information about products not manufactured by Apple is provided for information purposes only and does not constitute Apple’s recommendation or endorsement. Please contact the vendor for additional information.
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