Question : Using Modern Mobile Technologies on Oldish Access 2000 Database

Greetings,

I am currently trying to develop an application for a Pocket PC which will interact with a Microsoft Access 2000 database on a desktop. Basically this will be used by people working outdoors in garden centers and nurseries. They will be able to go out and scan plants that a customer wants to buy, or update stock levels, etc. Then when they get back inside they can dock the PDA and the Access database will be updated.

What would be the best solution to this problem?

We haven't chosen the Pocket PC yet, so I expect we will get the most up-to-date software when we find the right model. Also, we are not sure about what kind of rugged PDAs are available, preferrably with a barcode scanner either built-in or attachable. Any references would be appreciated.

edit: We are using Visual Studio 2005, and Windows Mobile 5.0 SDK. We expect to use SQL Mobile on the PDA, or something like that.

If I haven't supplied enough information, please let me know.

Thanks :)

Answer : Using Modern Mobile Technologies on Oldish Access 2000 Database

If you're using SQL Server Mobile, then the SSM and Access can "talk" together, so your mobile device would be able to update/sync with the Access database. You'd be far better off, however, moving your old Access db data into a SQL Server or SQL Server Express db and allowing the mobile device to sync to that. MS has a whitepaper out on doing just that, but I couldn't locate it. Try searching the MSDN site devoted to mobile computing to locate this; IIRC, it listed the steps needed to do just what you're asking.