Home Forums Discussions General Discussion synchronization failure

using 6.1.2 inhouse and on roaming laptop for satellite clinic;
recurrent failure of synch to main database to laptop;
AC support ultimately told me to reload the OS on the laptop, reinstall AC and everything else i needed;
that worked once;
same error occuring with SQL restore step after running most of the synch routine;
tired of reinstalling OS and all my software;
any solution that makes sense?
i expect i will end up having two separate databases as my approach here

Clee,
On the board here, all we ever hear are warnings (even from AC support) and problems with the sync function. Maybe we get a biased view, so let me ask the readers here: is anyone out their successfully using sync? Please post and let us know...

Clee, my impression is that most people in that situation use a remote option like Logmein. Some are now using a cloud version of AC. Do you have internet access at the satellite?

all good points JBS;
nope, the satellite clinic is kinda remote, simple exam room;

I had the thought last night to just do a backup before leaving the main office, and restore AC on the laptop using the most recent backup, then load the backup that I do at the end of the day off the laptop, and upload that at the main office.

I'll see how that goes today.

I agree - cloud access is the simplest approach if you have good connectivity where ever you are;

Hawaii too far behind in the 21st century, at least the outer islands excepting Maui ...

clee,

While that may work, it sounds like an exercise in futility. I can't get past that is just the wrong way to do it. Two databases would not be optimal either.

While terminal services would be the way to go if you had five or six users or more users than the ones at the host, if you have only a couple of staff, just log in via LMI or RDP or whatever your favorite remote program is and chart in real time. Then you're done. Unless you have only modems.

This was my Friday:

1. failed to restore from backup database to put the current data on the reinstall of AC; SQLSVR error again
2. failed to load database via the utility program for resetting pathway
3. failed to run AC independently off laptop remotely with no synch success (unless I want to enter demo/med/insurance data all over again), no success in importing backup file, and repetitive SQLSVR errors.

I agree with everyone else that the synch program is useless, at least for me. It is odd that with AC 5x I never had this problem from 2009 through 2010.

I agree that remote login or cloud access to your database is the only logical approach to satellite application of AC.

I agree that two databases are not efficient, but could work as an extreme option. But I don't have the time to devote to that, so I won't.

I will keep using paper remotely since I have no wifi at satellite clinic, then enter notes in AC all day Saturday instead.

Clee,
I would have been much happier if you had made it work and proved us wrong.

Here is my Saturday:

Reading Clee's post and feeling terrible for him. We have all been there Clee.

thanks for empathic support

that's just one more thing that makes this user board valuable - even when a solution may not be handed off, there is a sense of community here, even in the cloud

I use the sync function every day. As a solo practitioner, I complete notes on both my desktop and my laptop. At the end of the day, I sync the laptop. I take the laptop home as both a database backup (of the desktop) and for out-of-office access to records. Almost everyday, I also backup my databases to an external hard drive (mostly in case something funky happens during the sync process--which has never happened).

I've only had two sync issues. Both were related to my firewall blocking the laptop from seeing and syncing to the AC database on the desktop. These issues occurred following Norton updates. On both occasions, the AC tech support gurus were able to fix the issue.

Otherwise, I've had no issues running Win7 and Norton Internet Security on both computers. AC version is 6.0.10. I have to admit that I avoid updating AC out of concern that I'll start to have sync issues. These concerns arise mostly from the anxiety generated from reading posts about the sync problems encountered by others. I've been very pleased and find that the sync frunction works great.

I stopped trying the sync function a long time ago. It was too annoying and too cumbersome...as you grow with more patients it took too long to back up each time and then resynch when you came back. Also if you have office staff, you can't allow them to change stuff because only what you had and changed will be saved when you resynch..any work done on the main office computers will be erased...

I am currently using Logmein...however i have to say lately it has been very slow...It is like i type a whole sentence and then it finally puts it up on the screen.

I am exploring using Remote Desktop to see if that works better.

The new answer may be the cloud service that AC seems to be offering to host the database...but i think the price they quoted me seems a bit high for a one doctor user office and for me to use it one half day a week...

Ketan

ShrinkDude,

Seattle, wow you are lucky. If you ever get a chance can you use a first name for your signature. Up to you.

Anyway, glad it is working for you especially when you are offsite. Can I ask a question. I am just interested

When in the office, why do your desktop and laptop both not share the database?

Ketan, the hosted model is basically a Terminal Server. I think you should try remote desktop. Your upload is almost 50 times higher than mine and I find remote desktop to be very smooth.

Not sure why anyone wouldn't use rdc

Can be a little hard to configure for first time users.

True. I don't want to scare anyone away. It's the remote computer that you must set up the most. But, once set up, it's very fast to log in. And, you can log in to each computer one window.

I have a step-by-step in the works (in case anyone is interested):
http://pdstechadvisor.com/guides/operating_system/windows7/remote_desktop.html

Hardest part is opening the ports. If you already know how to do this, you're in luck.

Excellent work. Or.......use a 2008 server and enable the RD Gateway (by default) and you're done. You don't have to open the dreaded port 3389 and you get remote into any computer on the network using the FQDN.

Now you will have to forward port 3389 to port 3390 for the next computer and so on. Best to change port 3389 to a different port for security.

But, following Sandeep's guide will definitely get you set up. But, after awhile, like a month or less, I would have the router listen on a different port.

Again, incredible guide.

I'm interested.

Yep that's why I wrote for non SBS/Server users at the top lol.

I was going to add the higher port recommendation in the tip section or something. Thanks Bert.

That's what nice about routers that have the public and private port option. I've seen a few that don't have that. Saves me from having to do any registry editing and it's really easy to add more computers. 3389 could be 51244, and adding more computers is pretty simple since the internal port is still 3389 for all computers just not to the world. Don't have to do anything fancy on the LAN either.

Thanks for posting. If you care to share other details about your set-up, I know others would be interested.
This is a feature of AC that is theoretically useful in a variety of situations, but few people have used it successfully. It would be great if you found a way to make it more functional.