synching portable database copy

[eJK]

Hi everybody -

I'm about to get started on some synchronization scripts. We run FM Server in the office, but need to take a copy of the database on the road periodically, then update the version on the server when we get back. Both versions might be changed simultaneously, with new or changed records.

This seems like it may get quite complicated as I'm dealing with at least ten tables that refer to each other, so I'm hoping to get some general advice on what works and what doesn't. Any insight would be greatly appreciated, as well as links to existing articles you may know of.

Thanks a lot!

Justin Kent

[SteveB]

If you do it by scripting the whole thing, look in the Sample Files Forum and the Articles Forum for 'Audit Trails'. There is a recent one by Bob Weaver for V7. Another approach is SynchDek by WorldSynch. It's a plugin that uses emails to keep 2 or more databases in synch. It's expensive, but you should at least look at its methodolgy. There was also an article in last month's Filemaker Advisor by the developers of SynchDek that explains basic concepts.

Steve