Uploading Data

[Forest]

We have PC+ loaded on a laptop and a PC that are not networked. We would like to use the laptop for data entry and then update the PC. Would the process be to create a backup of the laptop data and then restore it to the PC or is there a better/easier way?

[NeilZ]

We have PC+ loaded on a laptop and a PC that are not networked. We would like to use the laptop for data entry and then update the PC. Would the process be to create a backup of the laptop data and then restore it to the PC or is there a better/easier way?

FWIW ... as a long time user, I have to say that you're looking at a great way to get the database out of sync.

That said, here is what you would need to do:

1. Before using the laptop, do a backup of the desktop database to a CD.
2. Make sure no one uses the desktop to do ANY updates until the database has been restored.
3. Restore the backup made in step 1 to the laptop.
4. Do your updates to the database.
5. Make a backup of the database to a CD.
6. Restore the backup made in step 5 to the desktop. You can now resume work on the desktop.

Unless you do as listed above, any changes made to the database would be overwritten when you restored the laptop backup to the desktop.

Now some additional questions for you:
1. What type of data are you going to be entering using the laptop?
2. Can you keep people from entering data on the desktop (which I assume will be the main database location) until the database is restored from the laptop ??

As I mentioned, you're looking at a scenario where you may (and probably will) lose data. This has happened to may other users over the years. If you could explain why you need this type of data entry scenario, we may have some addtional ideas.