Home Forums Discussions Problems Working off site.

Can I take a lap top to the hospital and still work on AC?. I have tried to download a copy to the laptop but when I open the icon it goes right to the data base on the main computer. I am afraid I am going to mess something up.

There are 2 ways to work off site.
1) you can copy the main set of databases to the laptop, reset the database from the main to the laptop with utilities, then sync the laptop when you get back to the office.
I have not used this method, but I have read a lot of negative things about syncing, so would not recommend it.

2)Use a VPN. Either have a VPN remote access set up in your office that you can log into on the internet, or use one of the services such as logmein or gotomypc, which will create a VPN for you.
I use logmein, it works very well, has 256 encryption, is easy to set up and is free if you do not want to remotely print. I find remote printing useful and it costs about $40-100 per year depending on how many computers and whether you buy the service monthly or a yearly subscription.
There are probably advantages to using your own VPN, and there would be no monthly fees associated, but the technical level of expertise rises substancially.

I avoid VPN's for two reasons:

1) They're slow as sin unless you pay for fantastic internet access.

2) If the VPN drops in the middle of updating your database you can corrupt your data.

I would only use a VPN if I had a very reliable network connection between the two endpoints.

That being said, computers are cheap. I'd use a remote desktop connection back to the office using either UltraVNC, RealVNC, or GotToMyPC.com, and remote printing, which is pretty easy to set up. UltraVNC and RealVNC have free editions that work great. (We use UltraVNC here a LOT, both for off-site stuff and remote control within the building)

Regards,

V.

"I have tried to download a copy to the laptop but when I open the icon it goes right to the data base on the main computer."

Dr. Jay, Can you elaborate more on the above? I think you are saying you are downloading and installing an application of AmazingCharts to the Laptop, but that it finds the database on the main computer. Is it linked to the main computer? How does it find the database on the main computer?

-> Vinny and Wendell

I agree completely with the LogMeIn, GoToMyPC solutions as well as UltraVNC, etc. Please help me understand one thing. Although I can access my office from the hospital via Remote Web Workplace from most of the hospital computers, how is one going to access his or her office with a laptop from a hospital? My guess is they are not wireless, and I doubt very few hospitals are going to let you connect your computer into their network. We certainly can't here and, in fact, people have been fired for even trying. I can definitely understand why. Maybe I am missing something.

Thanks.

Hi Bert, Thanks,
What I meant is that when I am on call I stay in the Doctor lounge because I live a bit away from the hospital. Sometimes I need to check my schedule or soemthing for patients that call.
I know there is wireless available there for doctors and patients. They must have some sort of seperate freq or something. It is not soemthing that is urgent. I was asking because I saw something about going to a nursing home and being able to sync.
My real problem is with printing.... I can't print from my laptop. The staff can print with no problem but they are hard wired. When I hook up with a cat 5 I ahve no trouble either.
but I am almost always wireless for mobiility.

Dr. Jay,
I have had the same wish as you to log in remotely to access file on AC. I find it very useful when you are on call in the hospital to keep working or to find information you need. We finally do have wireless access but it is not secure, it is a guest access. None of the computers allow me to remotely access my server, it is blocked after I log in to the home page due to Active X control. I have recently purchased a cellular broadband card to be able to access online my server while anywhere through Remote Access set up thru IT on the Windows 2003 server. There is no monthly fee for this, however, the cost of the cellular fast access is monthly. I gave up printing and just access the info but if I really wanted to I can get a bluetooth portable laptop printer. I have seen that sync option but I haven't tried it. Of course, if you are not making any changes to the database and just viewing, you wouldn't have to sync, you would just have to update your database on your laptop when you need to be on call.
I have a question, if you just copy the database file, will you still be able to see the immported items?