Networked and Non-networked DB environment

[xbigblue]

Hello friends,

I saw some good posts on networking a previously non-networked database on this General discussion forum and the advice is helpful. I need to ask some questions that the posts did not cover.

I have an Access 2000 student tracking and reporting application that uses stand-alone copies of the database at seven locations which we keep in synch as needed (not frequently) by Replication/Synchronization. The application is already split into a front end(forms, queries, code, macros, reports) which is not replicable and a back end for the data tables (which are the replicable part.) We are really low-tech, not even using any security features since each site only has one person using the PC where Access is installed. Recently, networked technology became available at three of the seven sites. I have not checked it out, but it appears to be some variation of Microsoft, possibly NT, not sure. Is it possible or practical to put a copy of the tables database on a shared drive for these three sites, and leave the other four sites independent and continue to synchronize with the shared copy as necessary? Are there difficult security issues to address? I am fairly good at Access but have become totally obsolete on networking, since the last thing I used was Novell Netware in the early 1990's. Will appreciate any advice.

Thanks,
xbigblue

 

[mikehoot]

It sounds like what you need is fairly easy to achieve.

As you already familiar with replication (I'm not really!) then what you need to do is set up a network share and place one of your back-end replica sets here. Be sure to synchronise the replicas that will be networked first! And back-up all!

In your front-end db's that need to be linked, ensure that links to the existing replicated _be are deleted, then go to File, Get Data, Create Links - and then locate the _be on the network share.

From where I can see it you should still be able to synchronise this _be with your other replica sets.

You will need to look into RECORD LOCKING !!!!!