Chapter 23. WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF DATABASE REPLICATION
IN THIS CHAPTER
Database replication is the most exciting feature in desktop database technology since relational databases. Replication allows multiple copies of a database at remote, disconnected locations to simultaneously update and insert data. Later, these changes are propagated when the database copies are synchronized. Access allows data and objects such as forms, reports, Data Access Page links, modules, and macros to be replicated.
Access 2000 introduces new functionality such as the unified treatment of conflicts and errors, column-level tracking of changes (which decreases the occurrence of conflicts), an improved priority-conflict-resolution algorithm, added replica types and visibilities to control topology, and extended replication functionality exposed through the Microsoft Jet and Replication Objects (JRO) library, a component of ADO. This chapter does not include information above replicating with SQL Server/ADPs.
Note
You can still use DAO with Access 2000, but DAO 3.6 doesn't expose any new replication features from the previous release because Access 2000 is moving toward a Universal Data Access solution. A Universal Data Access solution is a solution that isn't isolated to a single database type. For example, ADO can be used to access Jet or SQL Server data, depending on the provider defined in the connection.
In this chapter, you learn how you can design replicated databases in Access 2000, and when to use different design techniques. The basic concepts of database replication are introduced, and then more detail is provided on the areas you'll need to know for the successful development of replicated database applications.
This chapter also covers Replication Manager, the user interface used to manage replication. Replication Manager is discussed in the section “Understanding the Jet Replication Tools.”