Installing Geosync

Updated 2009-09-24 | Filed under Geosync | PDF

Before you start

For multiple copies of an Access database to share & sync table data, they must be understood by GeoSync to be part of a common user group, identified by having the same copy of the GeoSync plugin installed in each database. As such, do not have each user install the plugin separately. Instead, install the plugin on one database file only, later redistributing it. The database that originally installs the EQL plugin will be termed as the master DB.

In the database industry the most common generic database term for the Geosync process is replication. In this user guide the terms consolidated and synced tables will be used also, and mean the same as replication. Microsoft Access also offers an embedded replication feature. This replication feature is not used in the Geosync service described in this User Guide.

Additional notes:

  • Copy the database. Always begin any new venture by copying your database and archiving the original.

  • Split the database. Begin by splitting your database. Even for single users that may be using the database on only their PC or laptop, the database must be split into a Front End and Back End. Splitting is a standard Microsoft Access feature found in the Tools menu.

  • Front End vs. Back End files. The GeoSync plugin only needs to be installed in the Front End. Only the tables in the Back End file are consolidated.

Installation Steps

  1. Link Front End to Back End. Ensure that your newly copied & split Access database has the Front End and Back End linked correctly and that the database is fully operational. After assuring that the database is functioning correctly, close this database.

  2. Install the GeoSync plugin.
    Download the plugin and double-click the downloaded executable. Follow the on-screen prompts to configure and enable GeoSync in the local copy of Microsoft Access.

  3. Activate the plugin. Open your Access database (Front End). First you must activate the Plug In. Go to Tools then Add Ins and select EQL Plugin - Activate.

  4. Trigger an initial sync to EQL servers. To do this, you will find two new entries in the Add Ins toolbar presented by Access: EQL Synchronize and Web View. (Web View is used for the EQL Publish product and not part of this User Guide.) Click on EQL Synchronize. You will see a progress bar along the bottom of your screen as the database tables are uploaded to the EQL Data Center for storage as the starting master replication copy. Please wait until the sync is completed. Sometimes it will pause for a few seconds. The sync is only complete when the progress bar is gone.

  5. Database Design With Replication In Mind. Before proceeding to Step 6 you must understand the design requirement to reset all Indexed: Yes (No Duplicate) fields so that duplicate values are not created by copies of your database. These are often Autonumber fields. Jump down to the section below and read about it before proceeding.

  6. Copy, set unique IDs per copy, and distribute your database copies. If other copies of the database already exist out in your user base, they must all be replaced with a copy of this master database in order for them to be understood by EQL Data as members of the same user group data pool. Copies of a copy will also work; for example, if you copy your database and send it to a remote office (with three users) they may now make further copies from the one you sent, and all will be considered members of the same user group data pool. You must thoroughly analyze & address all table fields that have the Indexed property as: Yes (No Duplicates); read the section below entitled Database Design with Replication in Mind. Setting the unique IDs occurs now as you create copies of the master database to be used by other locations.

  7. Relinking to Back End tables. GeoSync does not alter the fundamental relationship between Front End and Back End files. In all cases the normal relinking to the Back End file must still take place when copies of the master database are installed at their location.

  8. Independent syncs. All copies of the database can now be kept in sync by use of the EQL Synchronize button; upon pressing it, GeoSync will take care of merging any new data entered by a user into the common data pool, and retrieving changes since the last press.

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