Allowing Database to go mobile

[Skeletor]

Hi. I have a database for our security business. Traditionally, once a
salesperson returns to the office, all paperwork is given to the office staff
and the database is updated. I would like our sales staff to be able to fill
in the orders via a laptop, while at the customers premises and update the
core database on his/her return to the office.

How do I modify the database so that it can be loaded onto the laptop and
any changes or additions that are made be sychronised by placing the laptop
in a docking station.

Any advice greatly appreciated.
Mike

 

[Arvin Meyer MVP]

If you are using a version if Access prior to 2007, you can use Replication.
Access 2007 no longer supports it. If you are using SQL-Server as a back-end
you can use replication. Or you can "cook" your own by having strictly
separate accounts for each sales person and making sure that he can only see
and update his/her own accounts. When they return to the office, simply have
them run a query to find work for their current period and update the
database.

 

[John W. Vinson]

Hi. I have a database for our security business. Traditionally, once a
salesperson returns to the office, all paperwork is given to the office staff
and the database is updated. I would like our sales staff to be able to fill
in the orders via a laptop, while at the customers premises and update the
core database on his/her return to the office.

How do I modify the database so that it can be loaded onto the laptop and
any changes or additions that are made be sychronised by placing the laptop
in a docking station.

Any advice greatly appreciated.
Mike

This can be done using "Access Replication". Replication is complex and not
for the faint of heart, and has been removed from Access2007 (in the newer
..accdb format), but it's designed for - and works well for - this very
scenario. See
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/190766
and
http://www.mvps.org/access/general/gen0033.htm

and links therein.

If the field users can count on reliable Internet access - and you don't fear
using a very new and still wet behind the ears techology - Access 2007 is said
to interface well with SharePoint. It's not an area in which I have any
experience though, so get more informed opinions before diving into it!

 

[Skeletor]

Arvin,

Thankyou for your reply. Sadly, I am using Access 2007.

 

[David W. Fenton]

If you are using a version if Access prior to 2007, you can use
Replication. Access 2007 no longer supports it.

No, Arvin, A2007 still completely supports replication if you're
using MDB format. MDB is a native format for A2007, and it's only
the ACCDB format (and not the ACE, since it can read/write
replicated Jet 4 MDBs) that omits replication support.

Please inform yourself about these subjects before posting. There
are already too many ignorant people out there making the claim that
A2007 does not support replication (or ULS), and when someone with
your credibility makes the same statement, it makes it hard for
truth to win out in the misinformation wars.

 

[David W. Fenton]

Sadly, I am using Access 2007.

Arvin was wrong. A2007 supports replication if you're using MDB
format for the back-end data file. You can still use ACCDB for the
front end. Unless you're using multi-value fields or storing
graphics files in your data tables, you would be giving up nothing
by converting your ACCDB back end to MDB format.

 

[David W. Fenton]

This can be done using "Access Replication".

There is no such thing as "Access Replication" -- there is only Jet
Replication. The Jet Replication Wiki:

http://dfenton.com/DFA/Replication/

Replication is complex and not
for the faint of heart, and has been removed from Access2007 (in
the newer .accdb format),

It's been removed for the ACCDB format, but the ACE obviously still
has built-in support for it, as the ACE can read/write replicated
Jet 4 MDBs.

but it's designed for - and works well for - this very
scenario. See
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/190766
and
http://www.mvps.org/access/general/gen0033.htm

and links therein.

If the field users can count on reliable Internet access - and you
don't fear using a very new and still wet behind the ears
techology - Access 2007 is said to interface well with SharePoint.
It's not an area in which I have any experience though, so get
more informed opinions before diving into it!

Sharepoint is not by any stretch of the imagination a replacement
for Jet replication. It can allow for certain kinds of data sharing
scenarios, but it requires certain sacrifices because of the
poorly-designed Sharepoint schema.

Sharepoint is actually not new. It's been around since at least
Windows Server 2003. Full integration with Access *is* new in A2007.

For the downside of Sharepoint see this excellent post by Chris O'C:

http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.access/msg/47377f37d1
8dd988

 

[Arvin Meyer MVP]

Arvin was wrong. A2007 supports replication if you're using MDB
format for the back-end data file.

You are correct. I was thinking of the newer format. The same is true of
ULS, it is supported only with the MDB format.

 

[David W. Fenton]

You are correct. I was thinking of the newer format. The same is
true of ULS, it is supported only with the MDB format.

I would word it:

It is fully supported by Access 2007 unless you choose to use the
new format.

Indeed, it's supported by the ACE, which does all the processing of
Jet 4 MDBs in A2007. It's only the particular file format that takes
the capabilities away from you.