Should I use XML as a database for a standalone app?

[Jim Florence]

Hi,

I've just started work on a project where I need to have a tool to allow
people to work offline and then sync data back to a main database when they
come back onshore.

It's a basic app that would allow people to enter timesheet data, record
maintenance on offshore kit and raise requisitions.

I had the idea of exporting the necessary data from the main database as XML
files, using these as a mini database and the writing a procedure to take
the data back in the files at the end of a job.

I've had a quick look at this and have bits working but before I go too far
down the path I was hoping for a sanity check. And any pointers as how to
handle the XML data best in windows forms/grids

Many Thanks

Jim Florence

[Vijay]

Really depends on the volume of Data, if it is small scale, then you are
fine. You don't have much options to load XML files faster.. so beware of
the size before deciding on XML for local files..

Vijay

"Jim Florence" <fl************@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:xM********************@pipex.net...

Hi,

I've just started work on a project where I need to have a tool to allow
people to work offline and then sync data back to a main database when
they come back onshore.

It's a basic app that would allow people to enter timesheet data, record
maintenance on offshore kit and raise requisitions.

I had the idea of exporting the necessary data from the main database as
XML files, using these as a mini database and the writing a procedure to
take the data back in the files at the end of a job.

I've had a quick look at this and have bits working but before I go too
far down the path I was hoping for a sanity check. And any pointers as how
to handle the XML data best in windows forms/grids

Many Thanks

Jim Florence

[Cerebrus]

General considerations :

1. Requirement : High interoperability.
Best option - XML

2. Requirement : High speed, performance.
Best option - Databases.

3. Requirement : Large size updates, database.
Best option - Databases.

4. Requirement : Small updates, network based.
Best option - XML

In your case, I think XML based updates to a main SQL Server database
seem like the best bet.

Regards,

Cerebrus.

[Cor Ligthert [MVP]]

Jim,

Your question is exactly were AdoNet and datasets are made for.

There are more and more disconnected data in the world, think for that on
PDA, webservices, and more stuff.

Every Dataset, even in a PC connected in a network, works disconnected.
Therefore you can save it at any point to any media. For the last you need
to write it with the extra parameter "DiffGram" as long as you don't save
it, by instance on a PDA, you have the same effect of course.

Be aware that the writeXML does not check if the file already exist and if
that stops while writing (power failure) you will lost everything if you
don't make a procedure to prevent that. Therefore I advice you to create at
least a mechanisme as FileCurrent and FilePrevious.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de...classtopic.asp

I hope this helps,

Cor
"Jim Florence" <fl************@hotmail.com> schreef in bericht
news:xM********************@pipex.net...

Hi,

I've just started work on a project where I need to have a tool to allow
people to work offline and then sync data back to a main database when
they come back onshore.

It's a basic app that would allow people to enter timesheet data, record
maintenance on offshore kit and raise requisitions.

I had the idea of exporting the necessary data from the main database as
XML files, using these as a mini database and the writing a procedure to
take the data back in the files at the end of a job.

I've had a quick look at this and have bits working but before I go too
far down the path I was hoping for a sanity check. And any pointers as how
to handle the XML data best in windows forms/grids

Many Thanks

Jim Florence

[Jim Florence]

Cor, Vijay, Cerebrus,

Thanks very much for your extremely helpful replies. The idea at least is
sound now I just need to work out how to do it. :0)

There seems to be a real lack of example code for winforms(non asp) xml for
vb.net, does anyone know of any good places where I can get some grounding
on this ?

Many thanks again

Jim

"Cor Ligthert [MVP]" <no************@planet.nl> wrote in message
news:%2****************@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

Jim,

Your question is exactly were AdoNet and datasets are made for.

There are more and more disconnected data in the world, think for that on
PDA, webservices, and more stuff.

Every Dataset, even in a PC connected in a network, works disconnected.
Therefore you can save it at any point to any media. For the last you need
to write it with the extra parameter "DiffGram" as long as you don't save
it, by instance on a PDA, you have the same effect of course.

Be aware that the writeXML does not check if the file already exist and if
that stops while writing (power failure) you will lost everything if you
don't make a procedure to prevent that. Therefore I advice you to create
at least a mechanisme as FileCurrent and FilePrevious.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de...classtopic.asp

I hope this helps,

Cor
"Jim Florence" <fl************@hotmail.com> schreef in bericht
news:xM********************@pipex.net...

Hi,

I've just started work on a project where I need to have a tool to allow
people to work offline and then sync data back to a main database when
they come back onshore.

It's a basic app that would allow people to enter timesheet data, record
maintenance on offshore kit and raise requisitions.

I had the idea of exporting the necessary data from the main database as
XML files, using these as a mini database and the writing a procedure to
take the data back in the files at the end of a job.

I've had a quick look at this and have bits working but before I go too
far down the path I was hoping for a sanity check. And any pointers as
how to handle the XML data best in windows forms/grids

Many Thanks

Jim Florence

[Cor Ligthert [MVP]]

Jim,

I use Datasets in the most of the samples where connection to a database is
not needed.

If you scroll in the combobox than the pages are showed quick via Ajax.

Most our samples are complete independend, with Access NorthWind or With SQL
Northwind testable as very small applications.

http://www.vb-tips.com/default.aspx?...6-38b5a2f7fdf0

I hope this helps,

Cor
..
"Jim Florence" <fl************@hotmail.com> schreef in bericht
news:wr******************************@pipex.net...

Cor, Vijay, Cerebrus,

Thanks very much for your extremely helpful replies. The idea at least is
sound now I just need to work out how to do it. :0)

There seems to be a real lack of example code for winforms(non asp) xml
for vb.net, does anyone know of any good places where I can get some
grounding on this ?

Many thanks again

Jim

"Cor Ligthert [MVP]" <no************@planet.nl> wrote in message
news:%2****************@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

Jim,

Your question is exactly were AdoNet and datasets are made for.

There are more and more disconnected data in the world, think for that on
PDA, webservices, and more stuff.

Every Dataset, even in a PC connected in a network, works disconnected.
Therefore you can save it at any point to any media. For the last you
need to write it with the extra parameter "DiffGram" as long as you don't
save it, by instance on a PDA, you have the same effect of course.

Be aware that the writeXML does not check if the file already exist and
if that stops while writing (power failure) you will lost everything if
you don't make a procedure to prevent that. Therefore I advice you to
create at least a mechanisme as FileCurrent and FilePrevious.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de...classtopic.asp

I hope this helps,

Cor
"Jim Florence" <fl************@hotmail.com> schreef in bericht
news:xM********************@pipex.net...

Hi,

I've just started work on a project where I need to have a tool to allow
people to work offline and then sync data back to a main database when
they come back onshore.

It's a basic app that would allow people to enter timesheet data, record
maintenance on offshore kit and raise requisitions.

I had the idea of exporting the necessary data from the main database as
XML files, using these as a mini database and the writing a procedure to
take the data back in the files at the end of a job.

I've had a quick look at this and have bits working but before I go too
far down the path I was hoping for a sanity check. And any pointers as
how to handle the XML data best in windows forms/grids

Many Thanks

Jim Florence