Using ACT! 2012 Premium with Dropbox or Google Drive

[MadDog]

I use ACT! both at home and at work on the same database. However, I'm tired of making all of my updates on one machine or another and then having to sync them using a remote database. I'm the only one using the database, and always will be.

I use both Dropbox and Google Drive, which in addition to storing the data files in the cloud, also store local copies.

Can someone please explain to me if I can just use Dropbox or Google Drive to store my main database instead of having to use a remote database and syncing? Any updates to the database are immediately downloaded locally and it would seem to me that this should work.

[jonmklub]

for a variety of reasons, this will not work.  Dropbox and Google are great for flat files like word, and excel, but wiil definitely break database programs like ACT adn Quotewerks

Also, since ACT is sql based, only a portion would flow with the drop box probram to the other machine and you wiould be left with the broken remains on the original machine.

Set up sync., use ACT for Web, of call a hosting provider.

[MadDog]

Right now my work computer is my laptop and it's a pain to lug have to lug it home to sync ACT!

Is there a way I can remotely sync? That would be a good Plan B for me.

[jonmklub]

Assuming you have ACT pro, here is an article on this

[MadDog]

I already have a Remote Database and syncing setup, but up until now, I've been doing this via Wifi.

How can I do this remotely via the Internet? That part isn't clear to me.

[ghollister]

Hello MadDog,
If you have ACT! Premium, you can either use the Network Sync or the Internet Sync service. If you do not have an external network you can access, then you may want to look at setting up VPN, like Hamachi. Here is a KB article you can reference:
http://kb.Sagesoftwareonline.com/cgi-bin/Sagesoftwareonline.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=2333...

[MadDog]

Is there a resource to figure out how to do the Internet Sync? That would probably be the best alternative if I can get it figured out. Thanks.

[ghollister]

Here are some KB articles regarding the sync options available:

Network Sync: http://kb.Sagesoftwareonline.com/cgi-bin/Sagesoftwareonline.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=2802...
Network Sync via Internet (port forwarding): http://kb.Sagesoftwareonline.com/cgi-bin/Sagesoftwareonline.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=1753...
Internet Sync: http://kb.Sagesoftwareonline.com/cgi-bin/Sagesoftwareonline.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=2802...

Keep in mind that Internet Sync syncs via a web address, so the host machine must be configured as a web server using Internet Information Services (IIS).

[scotta]

the advise given here is correct. The ACT! database cannot be shared on Dropbox,Google Drive or Skydrive.

However, if you want to link contacts or companies to file folders in Dropbox, you can use an addon called Scan and Organize addon for ACT! www.scanandorganize.com

This addon allows you to put documents into the Organizer tab in ACT! and the files can automatically be setup on Dropbox.

This is great for file sharing with other computers or users but it cannot be used for the ACT! database and database syncing.

Scott Abboud
Allied Financial Software, Inc.
www.software4advisors.com