Re: MS ActiveSync and Delphi

From: Mark Thorogood (mark_at_thorogoodsoftware.co.uk)
Date: 04/27/04 

Date: Tue, 27 Apr 2004 09:25:23 +0100

I don't think you'll find RAPI will be useful for database synchronisation
as such, it will enable you to run PDA applications, test whether PDA apps
are running, change PDA registry settings, copy and delete files to and from
PDA.

I wanted to use SQL CE but there are various licensing issues if you wish to
synchronise this with MS SQL server using replication and due to a small
budget I was not able to design an alternative solution. I do not think the
synchronisation mechanism between SQL CE and MS SQL Server relies on
ActiveSync at all.

What I have done in the past is use Pocket Access on the PDA (which seems
robust enough for a 30 table database, some tables contain 3000 + records)
and use an identical MS Access 2000 Database on the Desktop PC. I use
DESKTOPTODEVICE API call (with various parameters) to create the PDA
database and setup synchronisation settings for various tables. I use a
Delphi app to synchronise changes between My desktop database application
(uses Paradox) and the MS Access 2000 database. I then start an ActiveSync
session, this synchronises data between PDA and MS Access 2000. My Delphi
app then posts any record changes from the PDA (that now reside in MS
Access 2000) to my Paradox Application. BTW I use various timestamps and
negative integer key values to indicate changes/denote new records etc.
Looks a bit messy but it works, client is very happy with it although as I
said in a previous post data transfer between desktop and PDA is slow.

I believe you could create your own ActiveSync mechanism to synchronise most
things I think there is some Microsoft documentation on how to do this but
it looks vary time consuming.

I also think there are a few ODBC drivers around but are quite expensive and
have limited functionality.

Regards

Mark

"Gordon Scrim" <gordonatozsoftcotcomdotau> wrote in message
news:408d9c01$1@newsgroups.borland.com...
> Thanks Mark,
>
> I have found RAPI.pas and will see what I can work out. I must admit that
I
> was initially thinking of including our app in the list of items to be
> syncronised when the PDA connects but I think it would be better to have
an
> app (Delphi of course) that talks to the database in the PDA.
>
> Do you know if the RAPI stuff can talk to a SQL CE database or it it
limited
> to pocket access databases?
>
> Thanks
>
> Gordon Scrim
> OzSoft Solutions Pty Ltd
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> "Mark Thorogood" <mark@thorogoodsoftware.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:408d5c2f@newsgroups.borland.com...
> > We have used Delphi and Activesync to synchronise data between a quite
> > substantial Paradox database (could be any database) and Pocket Access
> > Database (about 30 tables) on a PDA with a great deal of success. The
main
> > problem is the time it takes to synchronise (use the time to make a cup
of
> > coffee :-) ).
> >
> > I have found the following API calls useful DEVICETODESKTOP and
> > DESKTOPTODEVICE (use adofiltr.dll).
> >
> > To be able to control the PDA from a desktop computer I suggest you look
> > into RAPI, I found a pascal file on the net some time ago called
RAPI.pas
> by
> > Scott Crossen. This has enabled me to do all sorts of useful things from
a
> > Delphi App.
> >
> > Regards
> >
> > Mark Thorogood - MD, Thorogood Software Limited
> >
> >
> > "Chris Woodruff" <cwoodruff@terralant.com> wrote in message
> > news:408cf2a7$1@newsgroups.borland.com...
> > > I have used SQLAnywhere and UltraLite databases to sync through the
> > > ActiveSync. Very easy and does not even require any Delphi coding.
But
> > you
> > > never mentioned what database you are using so that might not work.
> > >
> > > Chris Woodruff
> > >
> > > "Gordon Scrim" <gordonatozsoftcotcomdotau> wrote in message
> > > news:408c726f$1@newsgroups.borland.com...
> > > > Hi All,
> > > >
> > > > Has anyone worked with ActiveSync to syncronize to their PDA? I
need
> to
> > > > sync a database and would rather create the code to do it in Delphi
if
> > > > possible. Does anyone have any links, examples or advice?
> > > >
> > > > regards
> > > >
> > > > Gordon Scrim
> > > > OzSoft Solutions Pty Ltd
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
>
>

Relevant Pages

  • Re: MS ActiveSync and Delphi
    ... app (Delphi of course) that talks to the database in the PDA. ... Do you know if the RAPI stuff can talk to a SQL CE database or it it limited ...
    (borland.public.delphi.non-technical)
  • Re: Announcement: Multivalue on a PDA
    ... on a regular QM server and then just dump the BASIC app on the PDA. ... purely for developers and really has nothing to do with end-users. ...
    (comp.databases.pick)
  • Data collection storage options
    ... the data on the pda. ... My old app stored data using random access text ... The specific ppc devices are yet to be known, ...
    (microsoft.public.dotnet.framework.compactframework)
  • Re: Delphis for CE?
    ... One choice is going to be language to program in, and the other will be database to store data with. ... We're also considering having either a PDA add-on that synchs with the desktop version, or a PDA stand-alone without desktop version. ... I am used to regular databases like Firebird, MSSQL etc so the easiest way to get used to it for me was to treat it like a searchable object stack. ... My latest experiment was creating a mongrel database class of my own using XML to load/save to file, and loading search criterion into datatableat run time. ...
    (borland.public.delphi.non-technical)
  • Re: Announcement: Multivalue on a PDA
    ... character app in Windows CE. ... PDA, do you really expect people are going to use a stylus/pen to ... Developers think that because of the limited real estate on a PDA they'll make things smaller. ... Don't just convert your desktop interface to a PDA. ...
    (comp.databases.pick)