Non-network users

[NSTLouis]

I am designing a db in access97 for several users. Problem is most users work from a field office and are not constantly connected to the network. (don't ask why - this is city government). If I copy the db to each of their laptop hard drives, is there a macro I can give them that will save just their tables to a disk. Then when I get the disks, is the easiest way to dump it all into my main db just by copying their records into my tables?

I know this is not ideal, but they need to be able to enter data even if the network is not up (or from home, etc.) And I need all the data in one place for pulling department reports.

 

[llkhoutx]

If your users add data to the various tables, you're going to have indexing problems, e.g. the new records of each user will start from the same base index number creating duplicates among the various users. Foreign keys in tables will get screwed up. You can code to correct this, but it's a significant effort.

I've never used Access "Replication" but it is supposed to solve that problem (I think).

You can create VBA code to copy tables to a new mdb. I stay away from macros as VBA does everythng I need to do.

 

[ghudson]

Setting your AutoNumber field to a Field Size of Long Integer and Random for New Values should prevent the users from creating a duplicate AutoNumber value.

HTH

 

[llkhoutx]

Random doesn't mean duplicates will not be created by different users.