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What are the basics of setting up a synchronization with Sync Exchange to MS Access?
Product: General HanDBase Sync Exchange for MS Access TopicsArticle Number: 227Creation Date: 06/30/2003


Note: If you are setting this up for a Pocket PC device, be sure that you are familiar with the location of HanDBase database files and the one location that you do not want to use with Sync Exchange. Details for this can be found at http://www.ddhsoftware.com/knowledgebase.html?UID=202403281545143.235.251.99&read=273



Scenario 1: You have a table in Access, but have not created a database for it in HanDBase

If you have an existing Access table, but no HanDBase database to correspond to that table, you can have Sync Exchange create the HanDBase database for you.

  • Open Sync Exchange
  • Use the Add button.
  • Browse to the location that you want your HanDBase database to reside. You do not need to place the HanDBase Database in a particular location. Sync Exchange will create the HanDBase database in the folder that you specify, and keep the copy in that location in sync with the Access table, while keeping the HanDBase database in that location in sync with a copy on the handheld
  • Type a name for the HanDBase database into the File name field in the window
  • Use the button Configure ODBC/Access sync...
  • Select the option to merge with an MS Access database
  • Use the Browse button to browse to the MS Access MDB file
  • Once you have selected the MS Access MDB file, choose the table to sync with
  • NOTE:Select only an Access table. Sync Exchange will not work properly with an Access query
  • Leave the other options alone, and use the Save button.
  • Use OK twice, and then perform a HotSync
  • After the sync, a HanDBase database will be created on the handheld, with the appropriate field types and field names, and with the records that exist in the Access table. This should stay in sync with the Access table.


    Scenario 2: You have a HanDBase database, but have not created a table in MS Access

    If you have an existing HanDBase database, but no Access table to correspond to that database, you can have Sync Exchange create the Access table for you.

  • Open Sync Exchange
  • Use Add to browse to the existing HanDBase database
  • Select the HanDBase database, and then use the button Configure ODBC/Access sync...
  • Select the option to merge with an MS Access database
  • Use the Browse button to browse to the MS Access MDB file
  • If you have not created an MS Access MDB file, Sync Exchange can create one for you. Browse to the location that you want the Access MDB file to be created, and then give the Access MDB file a name in the File name field.
  • Once you have selected the MS Access MDB file, enter a name for the new table in the Table name field
  • Leave the other options alone, and use the Save button.
  • Use OK twice, and then perform a HotSync
  • After the sync, an Access table will be created in the Access MDB file that you specified, with the appropriate field types and field names, and with the records that exist in the HanDBase database. This should stay in sync with the HanDBase database.


    Scenario 3: You have a HanDBase database and a table in MS Access, and the fields match up exactly

    If you have a HanDBase database that has the exact same field names, in the exact same order, as the fields in an Access table, you can create a configuration in Sync Exchange by just specifying the Acess table and the HanDBase database to use.

  • Open Sync Exchange
  • Use Add to browse to the existing HanDBase database
  • Select the HanDBase database, and then use the button Configure ODBC/Access sync...
  • Select the option to merge with an MS Access database
  • Use the Browse button to browse to the MS Access MDB file
  • Once you have selected the MS Access MDB file, choose the table to sync with
  • NOTE:Select only an Access table. Sync Exchange will not work properly with an Access query
  • Leave the other options alone, and use the Save button.
  • Use OK twice, and then perform a HotSync

  • Scenario 4: You have a HanDBase database and a table in MS Access, but the fields in each do not match up exactly

    If you have a HanDBase database and Access table, but they do not have the exact same field names, or the fields are not in the exact same order, you can create a configuration in Sync Exchange as follows:

  • Open Sync Exchange
  • Use Add to browse to the existing HanDBase database
  • Select the HanDBase database, and then use the button Configure ODBC/Access sync...
  • Select the option to merge with an MS Access database
  • Use the Browse button to browse to the MS Access MDB file
  • Once you have selected the MS Access MDB file, choose the table to sync with
  • NOTE:Select only an Access table. Sync Exchange will not work properly with an Access query
  • Select the option Merge Mapped Columns
  • Use the Map Columns button.
  • For each field that you wish to include in the sync, choose the field on the left side of the window (the list of HanDBase fields) and the field on the right side (the Access fields) to map it to. When a field has been selected on both the left and right side, use the Map Columns button to map those two fields to each other
  • Once finished mapping all of the fields you wish to map, then use OK
  • You can leave the other options alone, and use the Save button.
  • Use OK twice, and then perform a HotSync

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