Multi-user, offline use for Access database

[Alex]

Hello,

I am running an Access 2003 database, quite modest in size, that is
used by upwards of 5 users.

I need to modify the database such that these users can work
simultaneously and, in some cases, offline.

It is split to front and back ends and works over Citrix. So the
multi-user is working fine.

Offline is a different issue! I have used synchronization in the past
but had problems getting the staff to hook up their laptops so that the
sync could occur - these laptops are only used for accessing the
database at certain times.

Is there another solution to the offline question? (Note: we also run
other databases in SQL Server 2000 so I was debating moving the
back-end over there and investigating replication. However, the Access
database is quite small and non-user intensive so it seems a lot of
work that may not be necessary).

Any advice would be much appreicated.

Thanks,
Alexandra

[Larry Linson]

Unless you implement your own "synchronization" technique, which could be a
daunting task, the solution that Access offers for online and offline use
with synchronization capability is "Replication." Those who are familiar
with Replication will tell you that, done well, it works; but that it is not
a project to be undertaken by the "faint of heart."

Just from my observation, as I have not implemented a project using
Replication, and have only worked on one (which did encounter some
problems), I'd say that means "You have to know what you are doing and it is
not easy for everyone to understand." and that "It is a good deal of work to
implement properly."

Larry Linson
Microsoft Access MVP


"Alex" <db*********@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:11**********************@r2g2000cwb.googlegro ups.com...

Hello,

I am running an Access 2003 database, quite modest in size, that is
used by upwards of 5 users.

I need to modify the database such that these users can work
simultaneously and, in some cases, offline.

It is split to front and back ends and works over Citrix. So the
multi-user is working fine.

Offline is a different issue! I have used synchronization in the past
but had problems getting the staff to hook up their laptops so that the
sync could occur - these laptops are only used for accessing the
database at certain times.

Is there another solution to the offline question? (Note: we also run
other databases in SQL Server 2000 so I was debating moving the
back-end over there and investigating replication. However, the Access
database is quite small and non-user intensive so it seems a lot of
work that may not be necessary).

Any advice would be much appreicated.

Thanks,
Alexandra

[Alex]

Thanks Larry...that is pretty much what I thought. hhhmmm..do data
access pages work offline? Might that be a solution?

Larry Linson wrote:

Unless you implement your own "synchronization" technique, which could be a
daunting task, the solution that Access offers for online and offline use
with synchronization capability is "Replication." Those who are familiar
with Replication will tell you that, done well, it works; but that it is not
a project to be undertaken by the "faint of heart."

Just from my observation, as I have not implemented a project using
Replication, and have only worked on one (which did encounter some
problems), I'd say that means "You have to know what you are doing and it is
not easy for everyone to understand." and that "It is a good deal of work to
implement properly."

Larry Linson
Microsoft Access MVP


"Alex" <db*********@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:11**********************@r2g2000cwb.googlegro ups.com...

Hello,

I am running an Access 2003 database, quite modest in size, that is
used by upwards of 5 users.

I need to modify the database such that these users can work
simultaneously and, in some cases, offline.

It is split to front and back ends and works over Citrix. So the
multi-user is working fine.

Offline is a different issue! I have used synchronization in the past
but had problems getting the staff to hook up their laptops so that the
sync could occur - these laptops are only used for accessing the
database at certain times.

Is there another solution to the offline question? (Note: we also run
other databases in SQL Server 2000 so I was debating moving the
back-end over there and investigating replication. However, the Access
database is quite small and non-user intensive so it seems a lot of
work that may not be necessary).

Any advice would be much appreicated.

Thanks,
Alexandra

[Larry Linson]

"Alex" wrote

Thanks Larry...that is pretty much
what I thought. hhhmmm..do data
access pages work offline? Might
that be a solution?

As a matter of fact, Lyle Fairfield posted some interesting information
about Data Access Pages, which I thought could mean they would work offline.
But if you could use them offline, you still would be updating data on each
offline user's machine, and would still have the problem of synchronizing
updates done offline (possibly by multiple users) with updates done
online -- essentially requiring you to reinvent replication.

Larry Linson
Microsoft Access MVP