A query to Erel

[mozaharul]

Erel,

Our purpose is to build an application for demographic surveillance in Dhaka, Bangladesh. This is currently done on paper, but our idea is to move to PDA. For this we are trying several options, amongst others Handbase and EPIHandy. Until now without success. We first want to try Basic4ppc and see whether it can do what we need, which is:
- using about 10 to 20 PDA's merging info from these PDA's in a desktop single database in about 15 tables
- controlled downloading of data from desktop to specific PDA's for field verification and updating of previous collected information as the surveillance system supposed to be.

Maybe you can tell us upfront, if this is possible to do with Basic4ppc and SQLite.



Thanks,

[Erel]

It is possible.
You will need to implement your own synchronization method.
How do you intend to communicate between the devices and the server (internet connection, activesync, network connection...)?

[willisgt]

It's entirely possible. We've built an application which is used by nurses in the home health care industry. Data is stored on a central server, and passed back and forth between the server and the PDA's in the field.

Data transport can be accomplished by either using the HTTP library and writing a PHP script on the server side, or by use of the Network library, which is a bit more complex.

Synchronization of the data is somewhat tricky, but entirely possible. Including a date/time stamp in the database record will tell you which data is the most recently collected (created or modified), but not which data is most accurate or authoritative.

Start with the example program in the HTTP library. You'll have to figure out for yourself how to organize the data (records/fields) that you pass, but it's not really that complex of a task.

Good luck!

Gary

[mozaharul]

Thank you Erel and Gray. Erel we intend to communicate between the devices and the server (desktop) using activesync. Now we are testing with a single device. Using activesync, we cut the database form the device and paste it on the desktop to append it with the existing records (which we are yet to try, hints are welcome). Next time when the device is used, a new database is created. As you know we are trying with demo version and thinking to buy it (Basic4ppc 6.05).

And Gray I’ll go through the example program in the HTTP library.

Thank you again.

[mozaharul]

Hi Erel,
As we looked for your help in our query about the subject, what is the way if we use the ActiveSync for the communication between the devices and the server (Desktop) and SQLite as database?


regards,

[Erel]

You can copy files from the device using the RAPI library.
After you copy the database you should open it and by testing the value of a date field (which is updated whenever a record is updated) you can find all the new records.