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M$ Access Files Synced to Device

I don't even want to do any specific queries on my device - I just want to have my db's available in my pocket. If I can look at a table, then the details of a specific record or add a record, I'd be happy. HanDBase turned out to be a total bomb with syncing. Perhaps SprintDB will work (if the sync part works correctly.)

I'll try to give it a deeper look this weekend. Thanks for the tip!

M$ Access Files Synced to Device

Yes, SprintDB will allow you to access your data on your mobile without building any forms. It has a table view and a query builder so you should be able to do useful interrogation of your data on your mobile. Then, if you feel adventurous, you can build some basic forms with it.

I agree that the documentation is difficult to make out at first. The best thing to do is to try the trial and see if you like it. I've found it very good even though it doesn't seem to be having much development being done on it.

M$ Access Files Synced to Device

All I want is to keep some Access databases (2003) synced and usable on my handheld device - I don't want (and don't intend) to do any sort of "building" of a new db, manually converting, etc. The documentation for SprintDB seems a bit "scattered" and vague in some regards (possibly due to my current state of mental exhaustion )

Will SprintDB do that, seamlessly and simply, with no further action on my part once I have the sync points set? And does it include the mobile version to use the db's on my device?

Apologies for what might be silly questions, but I couldn't make heads or tails of the documentation.

M$ Access Files Synced to Device

I use SprintDB SprintDB Pro - The Solution for all your Pocket PC database requirements They provide a sync programme which works very well. I use it on Vista and my mobile running WM6.1. The database front end allows you to programme some very usefull applications. However, I don't hold out much hope of it ever being converted to WM7.

M$ Access Files Synced to Device

No apologies necessary, Hal, Pal! I'm definitely not a power-user to the extent that many are, and I actually think of myself more along the lines of an "intense user." I'm definitely not an "out-of-the-box" kind of guy, nor do I stick with just the basic apps and uses. But I'm not into cooked ROMs or other major OS mods, either. By most measures, I suppose I'm a "semi-power-user," whatever that might be.

I just want my device to do what I want it to do, reliably and smoothly and consistently. But a lot of those expectations are based on what I've been able to do in the past, so I get a bit cranky when I lose functionality for something I've used for the better part of a decade. Sort of gives the concept of "technological advances" a smack up side the head, eh? "Pay more to do less!" And I ain't talking about hiring a lawn service...

M$ Access Files Synced to Device

Sorry, J-Boy, I wasn't willing to undermine your expertise status by keeping you off the list of power users I mentioned. I was unaware you tweak that deep. It's just that you usually keep your contributions to the non-power descriptions level (that by no means imply you're not a power user).

This is a rip-off. That DDH doesn't suggest that you may do that kind of sync. It is mentioned as an expected feature. They should be put out of business.

M$ Access Files Synced to Device

I can assure you, even with 30 minutes of "setup" for each table to be "synced," there is NO sync. There's sporadic transfer of some data, along with a jumbling of records, dropping of random fields within records, and it can't even display an Arial font consistently. Forget about an integer number, or a floating point number with zero decimal places. And let's not overlook the fields added to the db structure.

Now, perhaps somewhere, somehow, in the haze of whatever they've been smoking, they call that "synchronization." I call it a dysfunctional CF.

So I've cut my losses and given up on yet another aspect of mobile functionality. It simply doesn't exist. And I find the usefulness and productivity of mobile computing shrinking yet again.

Next thing you know, I'll be back to spiral-bound notebooks. To augment my growing use of Post-It Notes, of course.

M$ Access Files Synced to Device

OK, REALLY GOT MY INTEREST (darn caps lock) so I went to the DDHsoftware site. this caught my attention:

sorry, uh, quotes around synchronization? what a bunch of rip-off artists

M$ Access Files Synced to Device

As I mentioned, I've been very happy with WM, overall. In my experience so far, it has proven to be remarkably stable - The only hard reset I've done was when I upgraded from 6.1 to 6.5, I think I've only done 2 or 3 soft resets due to a "hang" or glitch of some sort, and I've simply not experienced a lot of the issues I've read about. Yes, there are some "quirks," but in all fairness, those are probably more "perception" on my part than real problems, since I had nearly 10 years of Palm OS experience and any other platform was a significant departure from that.

I probably fall into the category of a "power-user," but certainly not to the level of most. I'm not afraid to tweak on my registry, I've installed a number of OS / system tweaks and add-ins to improve the functionality for my personal uses and preferences, etc. A big PLUS for WM, IMHO, is the fact that I CAN make those tweaks - I'm not locked in to what some programmer half-way around the world thinks I need to do.

But the massive black hole between M$'s desktop apps and mobile apps is utterly confusing and ridiculous to me. As I also mentioned, there are some very good 3rd party solutions to fill the gaps. Until you get to Access db's. I simply don't understand... This is not rocket science - I've been effortlessly and flawlessly syncing Access tables to the old Palm OS' SLTG for years. Moving to the newer, "more powerful," and slicker WM platform, however, was a major step backwards in that regard. Looking forward, I'm hoping there's a solution with Android when the time comes for me to move again. With WM, however, it seems those of us who might want to take an Access db along with us in our pocket are SOL.

As for HanDBase - Most of my distaste stems from the fact that DDH actively promotes their product as having sync capability with Access. It's simply not true, in any form or fashion. I don't feel misled - I feel deliberately lied to. In thinking about, I can't even understand why anyone would buy HanDBase solely for the mobile app. There's nothing wrong with that particular aspect of HB, but the free HandyShopper will do everything that HB will do (for me,) and do it more quickly and easily, and with more flexibility, than HB. So why spend the $30?

For your future migration, assuming your uses and preferences remain similar to mine, I think Android is the best potential platform to watch. Yes, it's still in its infancy in some ways, but it is growing very quickly. And for now, at least, it still retains some of the functionality and capability to which you're (and I'm) accustomed.

I've been watching Hook's experiences with Android with particular interest, since his use is more similar to mine than most users, and so far I'm impressed. I'm not planning to migrate anytime soon, which might be a good thing - In another year or two I suspect the Droid platform will be quite sound and well-rounded as far as apps and such are concerned. My only concern is that it might, like so many other platforms, become more solely cloud-based. In that case, unless there are some revolutionary explosions in all aspects of the cloud, I'm simply not interested. At all. For now, though, I'm optimistic!

M$ Access Files Synced to Device

Joe, in your very considerate opinion, WTF is wrong with MS and their own platforms? I mean, databases (heed my words) add up to some 60% of the current software technology. Were not by this thread of yours, I would've thought Microsoft should have the BEST Access implementation for mobile.

I am just chewing the chances for a platform move-on. My eyes were somewhat focused on Symbian, but I gotta admit all I've absorbed about it is Antoine's enthusiasm for the platform; in digital tech subjects, AW has turned out to be a powerful influence in me. Next comes Android, but AFAIG it is in diapers, however evolved I don't see many of the commodities of recent platforms, that or I've also got it all wrong and it's a whole new mobile paradigm. No interest at all in BB. Nothing but curiosity for iPod/iPhone/whatchamacallit OS. Last but not least, WM in any flavor; I know it's no digital tech heaven, but it is very ubiquitous, usually addressed as functional, and speaking of influence, you, Mi An and Jig have made quite the same move into it. Can't tell you're not a powerful influence to me as well. While Jig and Mi An are something of power users, my expectations pretty much resemble yours. Something that converges personal and workie without that much tinkering, PAYG, and in a condition where 'creating a working system' doesn't mean 'make me trip with my own feet'.

(Using Palmie's terms) I've also made a bunch of iPhone dudes drool with what I can do with much much different platforms. For the sole exception of a Moto SLVR, in mobile currently I'm 100% Palm OS. OK, I can't play Garbage Pail Kids or Lightsaber, but that is so irrelevant to me, while I can receive email through a Microsoft Exchange server, or geez how difficult open an MS Word document, without reassembling a whole mobile system throughout the evening

News Flash acknowledged: when I'm in the position to choose, I'll avoid HanDBase like the plague