Did I Waste My Money Because Data Won't Be Sharted Across My 2 Computer Home Network

[fireman18]

Everything I have read says I've wasted my money on this program.  I want to use this program at home on my 2 computers but I've found I can't do that without leaving the computer that ACT is installed on turned on all the time. I don't want to leave it on continuously.  I had wanted to have the data files installed on my networked harddrive so I can access the info 24/7 from either computer in the house or my laptop.

Please, without leaving the host computer on continuously is there any way I can do this?  I have Act 11, Premium version.  Can the program be installed on the network drive?, How about just the files?  Is there a work around? Mapping?, Any chance at all??

Larry

[Roy_Laudenslager]

The ACT! database files aren't simply passive files as they were with ACT! 6 and before. To access the database the SQL server must be running because the database files are accessed by the ACT! program via the SQL server rather than the Windows file manager. So yes, the computer must be booted up for access to the database. I would suggest that you setup synchronization between the computers. That way the host computer only needs to be running when you actually do the synchronization.

[will@bluebirdsam.com]

Network drive - no, sorry - ACT! needs an instance of SQL running all the time to support the database. A simple network drive storing data failes isnt going to cut it I'm afraid.

One possible solution - why not create a main ('publisher') database on one of your PCs and then create a remote ('subscriber') copy of this database that sits on your 2nd PC. This way, both PC's can operate independantly of each other and the remote database may be syhcnornised with the main database whenever the two machines are switched on.

If this makes sense, follow this kba for guidance. 

Have you wasted your money? It's very unusual to see ACT! Premium installed in a 2 user office/domestic environment such as this. ACT! Standard may well have been sufficient for your purposes. See this document for a comparison of features.