Take my database offsite and back?

[bugleboy]

Solution Found!!!Take my database offsite and back?

Howdy all.

I need to take my database 50 miles to a factory site so that an engineer and I can review/modify all the records, ~450 so far.

Can I copy the front end and back end files to my laptop, review edit the data offsite, and then overwrite the back end file on my server when I get back? Are there any issues with doing that?

Thanks,

bugleboy

 

[GohDiamond]

Replicate and Synchronize

Replicate the database and synchronize after any and all changes have been made offline.
Per the MS Access Help:
Synchronization is the process of updating two members of a replica set (replica set: The Design Master and all replicas that share the same database design and unique replica set identifier.) by exchanging all updated records and objects in each member. Two replica set members are synchronized when the changes in each have been applied to the other. Conflicts can occur if data has changed in the same field of two replica set members that have been synchronized (synchronization: The process of updating two members of a replica set by exchanging all updated records and objects in each member. Two replica set members are synchronized when the changes in each have been applied to the other.).

Does this something sound like what you want to do?

 

[bugleboy]

Yes, this makes sense, although I thought it would be OK to just overwrite the back end file with the updated (edited) back end file after the offsite meeting/edit. I was worried there might be some kind of weird linking issues if I overwrote the back end file.

Can anyone tell me why I have to synchronize a replicated back end file versus just replacing the backend file with an updated (edited) version of the same back end file?

Thanks,

bugleboy

 

[RuralGuy]

As long as no one is updating the BackEnd at home while you are gone then simply replacing the BackEnd when you return will work just fine! The suggestion was in case both BackEnds were being altered while you had your copy elsewhere.

 

[bugleboy]

That's what I thought! Thanks for the response!!!

bugleboy

 

[bugleboy]

Oops! Created replica set from local FE instead of master!

Well, now what?!

I was so excited to create a replica set and try it out that I created it from my local FE instead of the master FE on the server (doh).

Also, I just realized that when I do a database backup, it only appears to backup the FE, not the BE! Is that the way it is supposed to work?

How can I get back to square one so I can create my replica set from the master FE?

Thanks,

bugleboy

 

[GohDiamond]

If the BackEnd is on a server that is backed up regularly there is no need to do manual backups for the BackEnd. Otherwise, go directly into the BackEnd and use the Backup utility. Save the backups to a folder you can create either in the directory where the BackEnd is stored or a level up.

Go to the Master Front End. MAKE A BACKUP COPY OF FRONT END FIRST then use Replication on the Master Front End. This becomes your "Design Master" for Queries, Forms, Reports, Macros, and modules; but not for the tables. the tables are in the BackEnd and the links to them are replicated.

Why replicate the Front End? So that the Design Master can be changed without requiring exclusive user rights; this allows others to continue working while someone is editing objects that would otherwise be considered in use; and then all replicas can be sync'd with the Design Master so that the edited front end will update for each user.

As Previously mentioned:
if no one else is working in the database while you're using a copy then you should be able to just replace the BackEnd with the latest data in the same directory as you got it from; as long as you don't change the table names the front end won't care.

 

[bugleboy]

Got it. Thanks for the sanity check, GohDiamond!

bugleboy

 

[bugleboy]

Can't get local replicated FE and BE to work on laptop

Well, I replicated the database so I could take the FE and BE offsite, but I keep getting "Disk or network error" if I try to open the database on my laptop without being connected to our company intranet. I tried opening the DB with the replicated FE and the master FE (both FE's and a copy of the BE are copied to my desktop on the laptop.

What am I doing wrong? I need to get this working before tomorrow morning if possible.

Thanks,
bubleboy

 

[RuralGuy]

You need to open the FE while holding a <SHIFT> key and use the Linked Table Manager at Tools>Database Utilities>Linked Table Manager to link to the current location of the BE.

 

[bugleboy]

Thanks for helping me!!!

This is what I just did:
- held Shift key down and opened replicated FE (as filetype Local) on the laptop.
- opened Tools> Linked Table Manager
- the only option there is the server BE

Can you step me through this starting with the FE and BE on the server?

bubleboy

 

[RuralGuy]

If you check the "Always prompt for new location" box at the bottom then it will let you browse anywhere.

 

[bugleboy]

Yeah, I found that after I posted my reply , but when I select the local copy of the BE on my laptop, I get an error that says "You cannot make changes to the design of the database at this replica.".

Maybe I'm not creating my replica set correctly. I am going to the server where the master FE and BE reside. I have been creating a replica of the FE and saving it to the laptop, and then doing the same thing with the BE so that I end up with a replica of the FE and BE on the desktop of my laptop.
Is that the correct way? I notice there are three file types that the replicas can be saved as (Global, Local, and Anonymous). Does that matter which I choose?

 

[bugleboy]

Help files show replication type shouldn't matter in this instance. I'm just trying to port a replication of my database to the laptop and get it to work offsite (disconnected from the network).

I think I may an issue with linked tables. I think I need to back up and start fresh....something is not right here. I added three new tables to my FE on Friday and tried to link them to the BE, but I don't know if I did it right.

Rural guy, I appreciate your help, expecially today! Unless you can think of something else, Im just going to revert back to a last week and start over.

bugleboy

 

[RuralGuy]

I'm afraid I have very little experience with Replication and can't really help you in that area. I was looking on Michael Kaplan's web site to see if he had anything you could use. He is a recognized expert on Replication. I'll post back if I think of anything else.

 

[bugleboy]

Thanks for all your help, Ruralguy. If you give me his site, I'll search it too.

Happy New Year!

 

[RuralGuy]

I didn't find anything but here's his site http://www.trigeminal.com/ in case I missed something. Good luck.

 

[bugleboy]

Thanks....I'll post the solution when I figure it out.

 

[GohDiamond]

The only place you can change the design in the "DESIGN MASTER" as far as the front end is concerned. You can only change the table design in the Back End when you have EXCLUSIVE access to it either by opening it exclusively or making sure no one else has it open.

 

[bugleboy]

Thanks GohDiamond. I don't want to change the design.....that is the error I am getting when I try to link to the local copy of the BE. The issue is that I am unable to open a replica set of my DB on my laptop if I am disonnected from my network.

I read last night that MSAcess 2003 replica sets always need to be on the same network as the Master BE!?!

Surely there is a reasonably simple way for me to take my replica DB offsite on my laptop, edit the db records, and then come back to my office and synchronize on the intranet/

Arghh!

bugleboy