Remote access to FileMaker database

[MikeK]

We use FileMaker in our office, and we would like to be able to have our service technicians be able to access the customer database via laptop while on the road for printing out work orders for customers. We have wireless internet for all the laptops. We realized that using the Web feature is not going to work because the database would have to be re-desinged for the web......we do not want to do that. We would like for the techs to be able to access the same info, same screens and everything while on the road. We tried a VPN solution, but that it much too slow. Does anybody have a better solution? We are eager to get this done, as we are trying to computerize our mobile service department and would like for the database to be updated in real time. We know that we could use a solution where the techs just sync up there info from the day.....but we would like to have it be real time.

Any help would be appreciated.

[JerrySalem]

creating a couple of html pages for the web are probably your best bet. You don't have to redisign the entire database, just add one layout for web access and create a couple of html pages.

that being said, you could also try using PCAnywhere/Timbuktoo/Cytrix type of setup. I have done this and it worked ok. This is similar to the VPN solution.

my $0.02

jerry

[Jay G.]

Mike- Take a look at SyncDeK:

<http://www.syncdek.com/>

This allows users to work offline, and sync on demand when re-connected.

SyncDeK takes care of the details for synchronization including data replication, merging data with field-level conflict resolution, secure (encrypted) data communication, user node tracking, etc.

SyncDeK is implemented within FileMaker, to be installed into almost any existing database. So, your mobile users keep all the database functionality (scripts, printing, reports, layouts, etc.). There's no need to rebuild from scratch, or duplicate and maintain your database functionality in a web front-end. Users can access the database, even when they are out of wireless range.

A side benefit of data replication is continual back-up of data (in between FM Server's back-up scripts).

Jay Gonzales

WorldSync, Inc.

[email protected]

PH: 1-510-548-4920

PH: 1-877-548-4920 (toll-free U.S.)