Snapshot of database

[ph2]

This is a real long shot and I am possibly asking the impossible, but here goes.
I have created a MS SQL7 database with a MS Access front end. Forms and reports have been created with Access and I have used the developer software to create the runtime versions for users. I have now been asked to provide a solution where users can copy the current live data to their laptop and still run the same forms and reports.
I do not mind if I have to recode forms and reports, but I need to steer clear of having to purchase Access for each user. This is a one way copy and will only be as up to date since the copy. Using the web to access the database is not a route that we wish to take.
Please can any one suggest any options available.

Many thanks in advance.

 

[lameid]

If your using Access 2000 or better runtime then maybe the SQL Server Desktop Engine is the way to go. You would just need to set up some sort of one way replication to sync the client database and to change the connection strings on your tables/queries/views on the Access side. Forgive me if this is a little vague but I'm just now trying to break away from Access 97. The replication piece is probably best asked about in the SQL Server forum.

If in Access 97 and you are not using SQL pass through queries, I would simply have a 'remote' Front end and a 'Connected' Front end. The Remote front end would have the changes and you'll have to run some sort of update to get the Access tables locally.

You might simply want to import the SQL tables into Access and have users copy that for remote use. Or you may need a database with both tables in it and update all the Access tables based on the SQL links.

For either version it may be possible to use replicas but I have never really used them. When I looked at the documentation for Access 97 for just Jet Replication, I thought it was more trouble than it was worth.