Choosing the right embedded database.

Hi

I am looking for the right tool for the job and came across you database
application which may well fit the bill. We want a simple database
application that will be freely distributed non-commercial for standalone
users of a group of dancers. By simple, I mean real simple, the data is
fairly structured and can be rationalised and is simply a way of searching
for and then printing off a selection of dance information form a long list
of dances (approx 5000 records). The report created should be importable
into Word or such and a degree of customisation maybe nice. The current task
is being complete with the use of a Word template and although this is
cumbersome and difficult to maintain, it does actually work!

Most users would download the application and data from a website via DIAL
UP connections and would have no database package installed on their
machines. I want the footprint to be as small as possible with no
unnecessary additional files to be downloaded or installed.

I would normally create such an application in Access but building a
distributable package means that the MDSE engine or Access runtime files
need to be distributed which runs into a 40MB download! As dial up internet
access is the only real method of distribution, this is WAY to large. Most
users will not know what is installed on their machines so I do not want to
point then to the Microsoft site for other downloads, free or not. As I have
dealt with Delphi in the past (version 4), I was looking at alternative to
the BDE which I believe still has around 3MB of run time files that need to
be distributed. As I also understand, BDE is generally regarded as an older
system and could be left unsupported soon.

One facility that would be nice is for users to be able to update their
local data store via an internet link. As users "could" also add further
dance information to their local store, it maybe nice if this was a two way
procedure. However, this could lead to repetition of information if
everything was stored in the same table so maybe added data form the users
could be stored in a separate table and then uploaded to a different
temporary store to the downloaded updates. This uploaded information would
then be checked through and added to the download store ready for the next
updates. Would this be done with some kind of replication, but what are the
data repetition issues if any?

Is any of this actually possible with an embedded system?

There are currently around 1000 users of the word template. The application
would only ever run in a Windows PC environment and 99% of the time this
would be as a single user with a local store. Only occasionally would the
users update the store.


.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Choosing the right embedded database.
    ... We want a simple database ... > Most users would download the application and data from a website via DIAL ... > access is the only real method of distribution, ... > local data store via an internet link. ...
    (borland.public.delphi.thirdpartytools.general)
  • Re: Choosing the right embedded database.
    ... > Most users would download the application and data from a website via DIAL ... > internet access is the only real method of distribution, ... > local data store via an internet link. ... > dance information to their local store, it maybe nice if this was a two ...
    (borland.public.delphi.thirdpartytools.general)
  • Re: Choosing the right embedded database.
    ... >> need to be distributed which runs into a 40MB download! ... >> access is the only real method of distribution, ... >> dance information to their local store, it maybe nice if this was a two ... >> temporary store to the downloaded updates. ...
    (borland.public.delphi.thirdpartytools.general)
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  • Re: Choosing the right embedded database.
    ... >>> need to be distributed which runs into a 40MB download! ... >>> access is the only real method of distribution, ... >>> temporary store to the downloaded updates. ...
    (borland.public.delphi.thirdpartytools.general)