[consulting] Synchronizing data between a desktop database application and Drupal/mysql

[Gordon Heydon]

Hi,

I am not so much doing the sync at the database level but more the
application level. Basically all I am going to do is provide a XML-RPC
interface to allow the offline program to query the database in a more
machine readable way.

Also this should provide things like drupal permissions and only allow
access to nodes and other data that they have access to.

So the remote application can send commands to get the data that it
requires and then put it into the offline database. This will include
things like a query option, read and write. It also means that I can do
things like track changes and who did what.

This also means that I can leave the actual data comparison to the VB
application, and it can send me only the updates.

You could implement something similar, and have a service on the windows
machine either check periodically for new trainees, or a type of ping
option which the web site will ping the service to do the update when a
new trainee comes along.

I am still in early stages, but this should work. You could implement
something similar.

Gordon.

On Thu, 2005-12-15 at 21:59 -0500, Steve Dondley wrote:
> Interesting.  Do you think your work would be useful to syncing FoxPro
> with a mysql database?
> 
> On 12/15/05, Gordon Heydon <gordon at heydon.com.au> wrote:
> > Hi,
> >
> > I have got a job coming up that is going to be doing some synchronising
> > of data between the web site and a VB application that can be used to
> > view and update data offline.
> >
> > Basically my idea is that the transport will be xml-rpc so that
> > application can talk directly to the web site, and the copying of data
> > can be interactive so that if an update has been made on the site and on
> > the offline application the conflict can be resolved.
> >
> > This also means that there doesn't need to be any messing about with csv
> > files and the like. Also I think that this can be dove tailed with
> > active sync so that the sync is a little more intelligent.
> >
> > Gordon.
> >
> > On Thu, 2005-12-15 at 12:31 -0500, Steve Dondley wrote:
> > > I've got a client who uses a custom software solution based on FoxPro
> > > for tracking job trainees.  In the future, he wants to integrate and
> > > share this data with his web site.  For example, a trainee might visit
> > > the site and register for a class there.  He'd like to have his local
> > > database reflect this new applicant.  Or, he might want to create a
> > > new class in his database locally and have it listed on the site.
> > >
> > > A sister organization to my client's was able to achieve this for
> > > about $7K using ASP.NET.  I'd like to be able to offer an open source
> > > solution and have it integrated with the Drupal site I'm moving them
> > > to.
> > >
> > > I've done only minimal work synchronizing a proprietary front end
> > > database program (Microsoft Access) with a mysql database.  This is
> > > not an area I'm familiar with.  So first I'm wondering if someone
> > > could comment of the feasability of using FoxPro as a front end to a remote
> > > mysql database.  Second, I'd be interested to know if anyone
> > > is interested in being a subcontractor or if anyone knows someone I should
> > > get in touch with.  Note that this could lead to more work for other sister
> > > organizations of my client.
> > >
> > > --
> > > Dondley Communications
> > > http://www.dondleycommunications.com
> > >
> > > Communicate or Die: American Labor Unions and the Internet
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> 
> --
> Dondley Communications
> http://www.dondleycommunications.com
> 
> Communicate or Die: American Labor Unions and the Internet
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