Re: Remote Database Connection with PocketPC/MSAccess Front End
- From: "Ginny Caughey [MVP]" <ginny.caughey.online@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 18 Jul 2007 07:55:46 -0400
Here are several things to consider. What you choose to use will depend on your specific needs:
If you want to allow direct remote access for your Access data, I'd suggest writing a web service which your remote apps could use.
The general problem with mobile access to remote data of any kind (including SQL Server which Windows Mobile devices can access directly remotely) is that sometimes the connection just isn't there. If you naturally want your users to be able to continue to work in this situation, you have the classic occasionally connected scenario. There are several white papers and at least one video by Microsoft's Steve Lasker concerning this topic, but the bottom line is that the most seamless way for your mobile app to work with occasionally connected data is for it to always work with a local cache and have a background worker or process refreshing that data as connection is possible. (This is basically the Microsoft Outlook model, so everybody is familiar with the concept.)
Generally the easiest backend data store to use for this local cache is going to be SQL Server Compact, which supports several sync strategies including the Access Sync Services that your question isn't about. Other options for syncing with SQL Server include RDA and merge replication. (See SQL Compact Books Online for details.) There is also a new product currently in beta called Sync Services for ADO.NET which provides a more general solution. Finally, you could roll your own syncing using web services or a SqlClient connection to SQL Server.
--
Ginny
"YisMan" <yisman@xxxxxxx> wrote in message news:02B6446D-5495-4831-97E0-8FE8646344DD@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hi Everybody,
This is NOT the basic typical MS Access-PocketPC Sync question. My question
is a bit broader so please let me know if I am not in the right group.
I develop MS Access Apps for my clients. My clients started asking me lately
that they want to be able to connect to their database remotely, wirelessly.
What are my options?
This specific client has his office PC where the BE is and also an
ulraportable (OQO) which he carries with him and also a pocketpc. I want to
set him up so that he can perform CRUD operations from his devices while he
his away.
I find that most, if not all of the PocketPC-Access sync packages that I
have researched must be synced from physical proximity. No good. Aside of
that they do not provide for the OQO.
I also checked out MS SQL server 2005 Express & Compact Edition. On the one
hand it seems that it may be the right way to go, but I have not been able to
figure out a few things. namely:
A. I sometimes use SQL Server Express as a backend for my Access apps, can
the same be done with CE? If yes I will be able to put the OQO's App on a CE
backend which will be "occasionally connected" with the main BE back at the
office.
B. Is it possible to have the regular SQL Server on the desktop and use CE
for the devices (OQO, PocketPC) only. that way I get full features on the
desktop and somewhat limited features on the device.
C. Can I have more then one device using CE out roaming, and keeping them
all in sync? cause I might in the end have multiple PPC's wanting to collect
info for the company.
Or maybe I'm ont the wrong route alltogether and there are more fitting
tools for the problem I have
I know I might be mixing things up, cause I'm very new to this "occasionally
conected" business.
I'd appreciate if anybody can clarify this thing for me.
Thankfully,
YisMan
.
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