Can I Replicate Access 2007?

[Jason]

Access 2007 database, small sales agency. Database is currently split, Back
End on server accessible for all through VPN. My Goal is for reps (<10) to
be able to travel with database on laptops when disconnected from VPN (allow
them to view/update information as needed), then when reconnected to VPN have
information sync to BE so we all see updates.

I've read its recommended to replicate the backend to their laptops so they
can see the most current info when traveling (most current before
disconnecting). Is it possible to replicate using 2007? If not, should I
consider Windows Breifcase?

[Charles Wang [MSFT]]

Access 2007 itself does not contain built-in synchronization feature for
replication. You can use Windows Breifcase for file synchronization, but if
you are on vista or windows 7, I strongly recommend that you use Windows
Sync Center to synchronize files. By using sync center, you can manage data
synchronization between PCs, between PCs and servers, and between PCs and
devices like windows mobile devices. For more information, you can refer
to: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-vista/features/sync-center.aspx
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/windows-vista/Sync-Center-frequently-aske
d-questions
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-vista/Working-with-network-files-
when-you-are-offline

Best regards,
Charles Wang

[Jason]

We are using Windows XP Professional. Is Breifcase the best option?

""Charles Wang [MSFT]"" wrote:

> .
>

[David W. Fenton]

chan...@online.microsoft.com ("Charles Wang [MSFT]") wrote in
news:O3XVL2f4...@TK2MSFTNGHUB02.phx.gbl:

> Access 2007 itself does not contain built-in synchronization
> feature for replication.

THIS IS COMPLETELY WRONG.

WRONG

WRONG

WRONG

WRONG

Don't post about things you are ignorant of!

Access 2007 fully supports Jet Replication with MDB file format. The
ACE (the new version of Jet) fully supports replication with the MDB
file format.

It is only the ACCDB file format that has been crippled so that
there is no replication availabe (nor any user-level security).

It's a file-format issue, not an Access or database engine issue.

> You can use Windows Breifcase for file synchronization, but if
> you are on vista or windows 7, I strongly recommend that you use
> Windows Sync Center to synchronize files.

This is TERRIBLE advice for databases. Databases are not like other
files, and using file-based synchronization with multiple users
(which may not even be possible) will corrupt your data
irretrievably.

Convert your back end to MDB and then you can use Jet replication
for it. Be advised, though, that you really don't want to
synchronize with direct replication (the type available from the
Access UI) except when the users are back in the office and
connected directly the LAN. That is, synching direct over WAN, VPN
or WiFi is extremely dangerous and can lead to corruption of the
remote partner in the synch, which in turn almost 100% of the times
leads to loss of replicability when it doesn't corrupt the replica
in any worse way.

For information on Jet Replication that all still applies to Access
2007 (and 2010) see the Jet Replication Wiki:

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

BTW, Briefcase Replication is worthless and not worth contemplating.
It's also not designed for multiple users, but only for a single
person with two computers, so it would never possibly have worked
with a multi-user scenario.

--
David W. Fenton http://www.dfenton.com/
usenet at dfenton dot com http://www.dfenton.com/DFA/

[David W. Fenton]

=?Utf-8?B?SmFzb24=?= <Ja...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
news:81098BB0-F79A-4F66...@microsoft.com:

> Is Breifcase the best option?

No. See my other post.

The person you are replying got EVERY SINGLE FACT completely WRONG.
Ignore everything he suggests as it is all based on massive
ignorance of the subject at hand.

[David W. Fenton]

=?Utf-8?B?SmFzb24=?= <Ja...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
news:0943C505-35DD-4B97...@microsoft.com:

> I've read its recommended to replicate the backend to their
> laptops so they can see the most current info when traveling (most
> current before disconnecting). Is it possible to replicate using
> 2007?

Yes, but the back end has to be MDB format.

> If not, should I
> consider Windows Breifcase?

Never -- Briefcase uses Jet Replication for Jet databases, so it's
not gaining you anything at all that you don't already have with
Access. But, worse still, it never really worked well for even
single users trying to synchronize two PCs, and can't possible work
with multiple users and a single data file.

If you have any questions about implementation just ask. Remember
that the users can't synch with the Access UI while in the front
end, because the front end isn't replicated. They either have to be
smart and reliable enough to open the back end and manually synch
using the Access UI (which I wouldn't recommend), or you have to
program a synch process in the front end. It's not complicated at
all, though.

Also, synching via the Access UI is a direct synch and should only
be done across a wired LAN. That means you'd likely want to have
your synch code check that the users are connected to the home
office LAN. Unfortunately, there's no real way to distinguish a LAN
connection from a VPN or WiFi connection, both of which are
unsuitably dangerous for direct synchs.

[Charles Wang [MSFT]]

I am sorry for my previous answer.It is my fault of omitting the JET
Replication feature in Access.
Thanks David for your clarification. You showed a great answer.