Combining two separate databases

[tangentkid]

Hi All,

I'm just starting out on a project that will evolve to include our invoice system, bank system, stock control and purchasing. Initially I plan to build the invoice part and when this is up and running work separately on the stock control.

My question:
If I build and deploy the invoice system and then build the stock system in a separate database will it be possible to combine these two separate databases at some point in the future? I am hoping to be able to mess around with the stock system in a completely separate file while the invoicing system is live. When the stock system is ready for deployment it should be integrated with the invoice system for reasons that you can probably figure out yourselves!

Thanks,
-Andy the Newbie!

 

[PaulJR]

Is there a good reason why you can't design and release your invoice part, and then take a copy of the file for development of the stock system? (this way you still have your separate file to mess around with, and you won't have to integrate 2 systems later).

 

[The_Doc_Man]

Another thought is that there is no reason why you could not have one of them open tables in the other .MDB file. I.e. keep them separate but allow them to see each other.

Linked tables still work fine, or at least that's what I've heard. (I'm not using them right now so who knows what evil lurks..?)

 

[tangentkid]

Hi Paul,

The reason that I didn't want to just take a copy of the Invoice database and build on that is because there are bound to be changes to that, even after deployment. If I was to work it this way then I'd need to update both the live 'Invoice only' database plus my 'Invoices + Stock' with the same changes. While I'd hope that any changes required in the interim would be small that's not necessarily the case.

I was hoping that the answer to my question would be, yes it's easy, just.....

But, if not, then I'll maybe do as you suggest.

Cheers,
- Andy

 

[tangentkid]

Hi Doc,

That's a very interesting idea. It's certainly possible to do this in FileMaker Pro (my background) with good effect. I'll investigate how to do this and see what the general opinion of the online community is of doing it this way.

Thanks for the suggestion.

Cheers,
- Andy