I'm sure this issue has probably been addressed at some point, but it's sure new to me.

If I'm serving a FileMaker database to various users across a network, how do I handle users who need to access the databases from somewhere without a network connection (like from a tradeshow booth)?

Is there a way to dump all the data from a served "online" database down to a local database that can be browsed "offline"?

Obviously, changes couldn't be made to the "offline" version because then the databases would be out of sync and all kinds of headaches come to mind.

Any thoughts are appreciated.

FMP has a save as option to compressed copy. If the database is on FMP server, then the best option is to use server's built in support for on the fly daily backup and distribute a copy of the most recent backup.

Is there a way to dump all the data from a served "online" database down to a local database that can be browsed "offline"?

I'm sure this issue has probably been addressed at some point, but it's sure new to me.

If I'm serving a FileMaker database to various users across a network, how do I handle users who need to access the databases from somewhere without a network connection (like from a tradeshow booth)?

Is there a way to dump all the data from a served "online" database down to a local database that can be browsed "offline"?

Obviously, changes couldn't be made to the "offline" version because then the databases would be out of sync and all kinds of headaches come to mind.

Brian- Take a look at SyncDeK: http://www.syncdek.com/

SyncDeK enables secure, robust two-way synchronization between mobile & remote database users and/or Servers. This will allow you to travel with the database "offline", and synchronize from remotely or upon return to the office.

As mentioned by others, if you want to limit database use to browsing, then making a copy will suffice (although the data will not be updated from the Server). If you want to limit "offline" use of the database to new records by users who return to the office regularly, then you might be able to script an import merge. But SyncDeK doesn't impose these limits.

A demo of SyncDeK 4.5 is at: http://www.syncdek.com/syncdek/demo.html

The Demo Guide provides more details about SyncDeK features, benefits, uses, and general requirements.

Jay Gonzales

A.E. Wood & Erickson

SyncDeK Data Replication and Synchronization

[email protected]

How it will deal with record, which was changed by two users, local and remote?