Question Personal Database on Two or Three PCs

[fblittle]

I want to enter and edit data into my Access database from my home PC and my work laptop and a tablet that I have. It is a personal database so I am the only user. I travel every week and want access to it on my work PC and also on my home pc when I get home. I tried using OneDrive to have the database updated, thinking that since I was the only user I could avoid corruption. Everything worked well until one day it failed to update the file correctly and my database reverted to the old file (a couple days loss) and I lost some new data that I had entered, and a few modified records reverted.

I need a solution to this without getting too fancy or spending a lot of money. I have considered using a MS Office360 SharePoint subscription for $5/mo but don't know how that will work out in the end after doing all the work to get it there, also I hate the thought of another monthly bill if there is a better solution. SQL hosting is the same story, but I am less familiar with that. I used to use the Replication option on another old database that I have, but now with Office 2013 I can only create mdb files and replicate that way, but then I can't use calculated fields, Attachments, and Links, and some other fields that already exist in the database tables, so I would have to re-work several of my tables to get replication to work, if it would on a2013. I am now using the USB Stick method, and storing the database on a thumb drive and moving it from computer to computer when I use it. This method will work well until I forget the thumb drive somewhere or loose it so I need to find a better solution.

The database is currently small with only about 900 records in the main table, and I expect it to grow to around 10 or 20 thousand records, so it will never be a very large database.

Any Ideas or suggestions?

 

[CJ_London]

have you considered using a product like teamviewer, jumpdesktop etc?

Then from anywhere with internet access you can connect to your home computer as if you were sitting in front of it. Only requirement is your home computer is switched on. Main benefits are much less chance of corruption since you are not transferring data/updating across the web, just screen images - and because it is actually just changes to the screen, it is almost as fast as being at home.

 

[spikepl]

If you have your home computer on standby (not hibernate but standby) it is possible to do a wake-on-lan from WAN, i.e. via the web, so CJ_London's idea would be viable 24/7 without having to have the thing on all the time

 

[JLCantara]

You can also use 'Remote desktop connection' (in Windows services) but make sure you encrypt with password your app (and keep your password secret).

 

[fblittle]

have you considered using a product like teamviewer, jumpdesktop etc?

Then from anywhere with internet access you can connect to your home computer as if you were sitting in front of it. Only requirement is your home computer is switched on. Main benefits are much less chance of corruption since you are not transferring data/updating across the web, just screen images - and because it is actually just changes to the screen, it is almost as fast as being at home.

Yes. My internet connection is terrible! I live in the country and have a wireless antenna that should work to 6Mbps Down, but the connection is on and off for some reason, Up is worse, I'm lucky when it gets 1 Mbps, usually .3 Mbps. I have called numerous times for them to fix it, but they say it is fixed and it operates the same. It is unreliable, it's the price you pay for living in a rural area.

 

[JLCantara]

Before switching to SharePoint make sure you understand what it is for: you will be disappointed! If your internet connexion is that bad, forget about remote access to your app...

 

[CJ_London]

My internet connection is terrible!

if that is the case then forget sharepoint, dropbox and anything that involves transferring data. Teamviewer etc may still be a possibility - it's free to try so try it and see how you get on. Otherwise stick with your usb stick, although I would be tempted to upgrade to a proper external drive (HDD or SSD)