Synchronising with MS Access

We use MS Access for our works database and need to use a PDA out and about then sync with the main server when we get back...is this possible & how?

[Skip]

Never used it but can Access CE syncronise with a "normal" Access DB?

Oh and....

Originally Posted by andyb

We use MS Access for our works database

[timwilky]

Replace it with a proper database that supports distributed, federated etc. environments

Don't have a pop at me, it's got nothing to do with me (apart from I have to use it)! Is it possible though as I don't think it will be changed for a 'proper' database anytime soon.

[timwilky]

Not having a "pop". you need to tell your bosses they are taking stupid risks with company data etc. Expecting to be able apply modern working practices with turn of the century personal databases.

Do they have any form of governance, best practices etc. It is a risk I certainly would not take.

i do belive it is possible but you will need somone to maybe write the SQL in order for you to sink the rrequird data.

Its quite complex..and without being able to sit at the machine with the pda i wont be able to offer up the code.

Not sure about this but...

Could you not use SQL 2005 Express? It's free (although it does have it's limitations) and will *possibly* replicate to SQL CE on your PDA's. Never used it though, and you may need a paid for SQL 2005 to get replication working (don't have an overview of the licensing in my head) - but maybe worth an investigation.

The only question in my mind is... Do they use Access as a database, or as a programming language? In which case you would need to rewrie everything in order to move to a new database...

[SoulKiss]

Originally Posted by timwilky

Replace it with a proper database that supports distributed, federated etc. environments

Shame on you Tim for implying that Access is actually a database

Originally Posted by timwilky

Not having a "pop". you need to tell your bosses they are taking stupid risks with company data etc. Expecting to be able apply modern working practices with turn of the century personal databases.

Do they have any form of governance, best practices etc. It is a risk I certainly would not take.

I wasn't being serious Tim, I know it's crap but I have to use it. It's sort of OK to use from my end Cheers so the help, sorry you took my post the wrong way Tim, appreciate the input.

Originally Posted by andyb

I wasn't being serious Tim, I know it's crap but I have to use it. I work for the NHS but the 'database' only holds info about service history for medical eqpt so I don't think they're worried about risk to the data as such. It's the boss' baby but I have been trying to persuade him to change it but wont.

Never mind, it's sort of OK to use from my end Cheers so the help, sorry you took my post the wrong way Tim, appreciate the input.

Have you considered using BlackBerry and a simple data access web page hosted on your intranet to do this?

I work in NHS too and we're developing in-house a method to securely get patient history to a mobile GP's hand by pulling the data directly from our SQL databases. Same would work for Access.