Replication
Top  Previous  Next

bullet bullet Full Version Only bullet bullet

Quick Estimator™ 2005 has a powerful feature called Replication. This means you can replicate your data file so you can use it on more than one computer at a time. Each user can then make changes to their copy of the data file and then you can synchronize them. This will copy changes from one to the other. It is best just to use this tool from one computer and this computer should be a desktop. This is the base computer and is where the master replica will be stored. Replication will increase the size of your data file and also slow down the performance of Quick Estimator™ 2005. This is due to the large amount of information that has to be tracked in order to carry out the synchronization.

Replicating is not the same as copying. If you were to make two copies of your data file and make changes to each one you would not be able to synchronize them.

This is the perfect way to share a data file between a desktop and any number of laptops that are not always connected. If you want to share a data file on a network where all the computers are connected all the time, then you should consider using the solution discussed in the Network topic. If there is only one user but you want to use the program on two or more disconnected computers try the suggestion in the Using On Disconnected Computers topic.

Clicking Setup / Tools onestep Replication on the Menu Bar will open the Replication & Synchronization Manager screen.

replication1

do-it Converting Your Data File To A Master Replica

Click the Replicas button, a drop-down menu will appear as shown below. Select the Convert Data File To Master Replica option to convert your existing data file to a Master Replica.  

replicationmenu1  
The data file you want to convert must be the current data file open in Quick Estimator™ 2005. Once converted you can make additional replicas from this master replica. This operation can not be reversed so you should make a back up copy of your data file in case you decide you do not want to use replication. This process may take a couple of minutes to finish. A box will appear asking you for a name for the master replica.  

Enter a meaningful name like "Master Replica". Converting a data file to a replica makes changes to the data file and also increases it's size.  

do-it Creating Additional Replicas

Click the Replicas button and select the Create New Replica option to create additional replicas from the Master Replica for use on other computers. The other computers you want to create replicas for must be connected to the network. A Save As dialog box will open. This is similar to Save As file boxes used in other Windows applications. You need to browse to a location on the other computer where you want to save the replica. Once you have selected a location and given the file a name, click Save. Then a box will appear asking you for a name for the replica.  

This is not the same as the file name but rather a meaningful name that will be displayed in the list on the Replication & Synchronization Manager screen. You could use a name like "Bob's Laptop". Repeat this process for each replica you want to create. You must have Quick Estimator™ 2005 installed on each computer you want to put a replica on. The use of Quick Estimator™ 2005 on more than two computers requires the purchase of an activation code for each computer. See the Activating Quick Estimator™ 2005 topic for more information.  

do-it Synchronizing Replicas

Click the Synchronize button to synchronize the replicas you have created. This will exchange changes from one to the other. All synchronization is done through the master replica. If you do not want to synchronize a particular replica, you can uncheck the Sync check box for that replica. Each replica is synchronized with the master replica one by one. When they have all be synchronized, the process is repeated. This insures that all the replicas have the same data. If a replica is not available because the computer that it is on is not connected or for any other reason, that replica will be skipped, the Sync check box will be unchecked and the Status will be marked as Not Synched. To have this replica synchronize the next time, check the Sync check box.  
 
The Status of each replica that was successfully synchronized will be marked as Synched and the Last Synchronized date and time will be updated. If all the Last Synchronized dates and times are the same, then all your replicas are synchronized.  

If the same field in the same record has been changed in more than one data file, the most recent change will override any other changes.  
 
You can not synchronize replicas that are from different replica sets. Example: If you converted two different data file to replicas, you cannot synchronize these replicas. They must be from the same data file.  

do-it Tips For Error Free Synchronization

·Try to stick to just adding new records and avoid too much editing. If you must edit, try to edit records that you know no one else will edit.  
·Try to keep all deleting to one computer. This should be the base computer with the master replica.