Synchronize FM server and FMP client

[Greg O'Connor]

I cannot find any solution to synchronize FileMaker Server and FMP client(s).

Is there any way or script or plugin which is able to do synchronization between server and client?

Greg

[Steven H. Blackwell]

What do you mean "synchronize" here? What are you trying to accomplish?

Steven

[Vaughan]

Hi Greg

To follow on from Steven, there should be no need to synchronise databases between sever and client.

The "clients" should be opening the database on the FM Server -- there should be no other copies of this database in use except for backups. As clients use the database the changes are saved automatically.

Synchronisation is typically only necessary if there are multiple copies of databases floating around -- say, people have a copy on a laptop which is updated with a "master" copy.

Any such multiple-database setup is, IMHO, a rod to beat yourself with. The whole idea of a multi-user database is to avoid the need for multiple copies of the database.

Mobile internet is common and cheap. Build a web interface to the database for mobile users.

Synchronisation is messy business. Look into SyncDek. It is not cheap.

[Greg O'Connor]

Yes I thought that syncing is a messy business, however there are some scenarios we are facing here and I am stuck:

Scenario 1: Data on client FMP will be changed when offline (ie: on plane), when online again synchronization with FMS is required, to get FMS updated.

Scenario 2: FMTouch from iPhone is synchronizing file on server (works well), later client has to be updated from server.

Am I working into the wrong direction...? Is there a total different strategy I am not aware of?

Appreciate you help.

[Vaughan]

It's not that synchronisation can't be done, it just that IMHO it should be avoided if possible.

[Søren Dyhr]

I wouldn't dare knit one myself, but instead if the demands are as they are...

http://www.worldsync.com/syncdek/

--sd

[Greg O'Connor]

It looks like the FMTouch developers have done good work to make it simple between FMS and FMTouch for the iPhone.

If the same solution would be available for FMP that would be great. I did not look into the WorldSync solution as yet. May be it is similar.