designing an online & offline application... what methodology to use?

designing an online & offline application... what methodology to use?

• Raja-India

  sounds fair...

  question for you though..

  if my sql server db is quite comprehesive with many tables...

  but the clients only need a few tables.....

  can the replication set up so that only a few tables are replicated

  also to replicate obviously i need to give users authentication to access the server..

  oh so many questions :) sorry

  i just wanna build an app that is so easy for the end user......

  
  
  

• autistic_clown

  yeah i think your right... thanks for the link Arnon...

  Its funny I went to a visual conf they had in melb last week.. and they actually started talking about smart clients.. which is what i wanna do...

  much appreciated for all the help all

  thanks

  
  
  

• scotts_43035

  ok lets go a bit deeper..

  i want to build my application as a web app..... most likel;y written in asp.net

  whats the best way to distribute

  as to run .net clients would need iis configured can this all be done through an installation package

  I'm only asking as I have only done custom software for clients where I have configured the iis on the clients site as they only required online access

  
  
  

• Matt Ray

  yes i understand that can be done, but that means if i have customers o/s around the world.. they need to download and install sql express.... i want to avoid that

  does anyone know how outlook works what database does it use i know it caches messages in a pst file.. but there must be some sort of sql-in used... someone said it was the jet engine... any links on that

  or any other ways i only want the user to install the main app... and thats it... no need to install anything else... is it possible

  
  
  

• Lucien

  Vik B wrote:

  ok lets go a bit deeper.. i want to build my application as a web app..... most likel;y written in asp.net

  I kinda lost you here - do you intend to install IIS on each client and if so wouldn't using winforms be easier (and give you a richer UI)

  If you are not talking about that, how would you work offline if you can't access the IIS server !

  Arnon

  
  
  

• PatKat

  its a merge module. . . http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp url=/library/en-us/msi/setup/merge_modules.asp

  you can wrap up msde in a merge module. . you may be able to wrap SQL Express, too.

  you can also silently kick off another setup with a setup.ini using the setup project in VS.

  Dont let the idea of having to install another application stop you. use the robust technology that is available to develop your system. . .when you get to the point of distribution this issue can and will me easily be resolved.

  
  
  

• arexey

  yes to both questions.

  I think those questions should be addressed in the sql server forum.

  but again. . . dont let them stop you from working on the system. . . it will work!!!

  I'm always looking for side jobs if you are bringing people aboard!

  
  
  

• Aneesh Abraham

  take a look at replication using sql server for the online db and sql express for the offline. all clients have a local sql express with replication set up to the main server.
  
  

• Developer Express - Dustin

  you are going to distribute an MSI right do you know what an MSM is

  
  
  

• Edvin

  i dunt know what an msm is.... any links you can point towards

  thanks for your help by the way.. i do appreciate it.....

  
  
  

• MickeyP

  Hi Vik,

  Arnon is right, do take a look at the link by Arnon for Composite Application Block, given by him above.

  It does addresses all the issues that you are raising, on top of giving u a ready made framework to work on...

  
  
  

• XWreckage

  Hello Vik,

  You may want to take a look at the Smart Client Offline Application Block

  http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp url=/library/en-us/dnpag/html/offline-ch02.asp

  Arnon

  
  
  
• designing an online & offline application... what methodology to use?