Access application for multiple locations

[uzee]

Hi All,
Please forgive if this is not the correct forum as I'm new here but I couldn't figure out where to post my question.
I'm trying to build an Access application for a health club for membership sign-in, records, attendance and all relevant data. As I understand it, a stand-alone application would not be a problem, I can create the forms and the front end and link them to the tables etc.

What I would like to ask is that , is there anyway to have this application run at 3 or 4 different locations separately with the ability to synchronize at a certain time interval, or automatically on a periodic basis since it would be the same master database.

Any advice and suggestion would be sincerely appreciated.
Thanks very much
Uzee

 

[The_Doc_Man]

Specifically look up in the help files the topics of replication and design masters and design replicas.

As to automating the process, it is possible with vba, but you have to be careful about checking which copy is the master and which ones are satellites. Only one should do the updating.

There is also the issue that to do it with automation, you need a network link to all replicas. If the network is not always available, you could run into a serious problem of replicating when the network is down. In that case, you might well be unable to replicate at all.

But if you have a continuously available network AND your greatest worry is synchronization, you would do better to just let the app reside on a central system and let every user share it. (They still need their own copies of Access.) In this case, I would look into splitting the DB into front/back ends and put the back end on the central system.

 

[shadow9449]

Doc Man:

Do you have any experience putting a FE/BE Access database shared between users in different locations over a wide area network?

If so, what do you find works well in terms of stability and security? VPN? Citrix-based hosting? etc...

SHADOW

 

[sam77755]

Did you consider DAP in a secured location on the cpmpany's web site?

this will make your life alot easier.

 

[uzee]

Thanks for the replies guys and my apologies for a late follow up.

Doc Man: If the locations are in the same city and all have a broadband internet connection, can that be considered a reliable network ? If so and if I understand your solution correctly, then do you suggest to have the db on one server (central server) and all locations can then act as clients running their own instances of Access and sharing the db. Where can I find info on splitting the front end/back end for such a solution as you suggested.

Sam: I apologize but could you please elaborate on the DAP solution you mentioned, or where can I find info on that technique if that proves to be a better solution. By the way, the company does not have a website, but I might be involved in building one up for them.

Many thanks once again
Uzee