How to share BCM (Outlook 2007) Between 2 Users

[UriSchneider]

OK. So I have enjoyed BCM w/ Outlook 2003 for a while - and now I
have upgraded to 2007 w/ BCM. I operate a small business (mental
health practice) and do not have an established office network
established. I use one laptop and my assistant uses another, and we
both work off-site often, and do not always have computers powered on
w/ internet connections.

I tried utilizing an online Exchange account (via 1and1) only to find
out that that they do not support BCM in their Exchange accounts.

1. What are my options to share/sync the db between our two laptops,
manually when we meet in person weekly?

2. Would an ad0hoc network work? Could I be the administrator of the
db on my computer and then sync with the offline db on my assistant's
computer - thereby syncing the db when we meet?

Please advise...

Uri

 

[Lon Orenstein]

Uri:

You need to have the same User Accounts on both of your laptops with the
same passwords.

Then, when in the office, connect both laptops to the same peer-to-peer
workgroup using a hub or switch. Decide which laptop will be the "master".
The other laptop will then go into BCM, choose Business Contact Manager,
Database Tools, Create or Select a Database. Enter the OTHER laptop's PC
name in the field and click the Connect button. That will display a list of
databases on that laptop in the dropdown. Choose which database you want to
connect to and click Next.

Now, you're given choices to take an Offline Copy with you on that laptop.
Go through the Sync Options and BCM will create a copy of the "master" on
the laptop. Now, when you're disconnected you have data and when you get
back together on the LAN, BCM will sync with the other laptop.

You could sync more often by adding a VPN connection to the PC with the
"master" on it, and the other laptop would connect from afar and can sync
that way.

HTH,
Lon

___________________________________________________________
Lon Orenstein
pinpointtools, llc
(e-mail address removed)
Author of Outlook 2007 Business Contact Manager For Dummies
Author of the eBook: Moving from ACT! to Business Contact Manager
800.238.0560 x6104 Toll Free (U.S. only) +1 214.905.0401 x6104
www.pinpointtools.com