The Replication Method Page and Beyond

The Replication Method Page and Beyond

The Replication Method page lets you choose the Replication Method. Choose between Synchronous, Asynchronous and E-mail replication methods. For a full description of each Replication method along with its relative advantages and disadvantages see Remote Workgroup Replication Strategies.

If you choose the Synchronous or Asynchronous method, then the next page requires you to select or set up a data source which points to the remote workgroup database. You may either select an existing data source from the drop list or you can create a new data source by pressing the Add button. For more information on creating a new data source, see Setting up a Data Source .

If you need to use Dial-up Networking in order to connect to the remote workgroup database, then check the Connect to this data source using dial-up networking check box and select a dial-up service from the drop down list below. Doing this will ensure that OfficeTalk automatically establishes the dial-up network prior to attempting to connect to the remote workgroup database.

If you choose the E-mail method, then the Data source page is not displayed. Instead, you are prompted to supply a mail service and an e-mail address for sending mail to the remote workgroup.

Regardless of the chosen replication method, the next page is the Gateway Page. This page lets you specify whether or not this machine will act as a gateway.

If you make this machine a gateway machine then you can specify when this machine will connect to the remote workgroup and replicate data. Do this by checking the Gateway Machine check box and pressing the Update Times… button. This will display an Update Times dialog box. For more information on specifying Update Times, see Scheduled Replication.

Attachment data is file-based data that you attach to mail messages or to notes. It can also represent letters that you write to companies and contacts. This data can be very large and you may wish to treat it separately when replicating data between workgroups. The Gateway page lets you specify whether or not you wish to replicate attachment data and if so whether to send and receive attachment data whenever you replicate workgroup data or according to a separate schedule. If you wish to schedule attachment data separately then select the third radio button and press the Attachment Update Times button. This will display the Attachment Update Times dialog box. For more information on specifying Update Times, see Scheduled Replication. For further information, see Options For Transferring Binary Attachments.

To create the remote workgroup, press Finish. The table below summarises the subsequent actions which will depend upon the remote workgroup configuration and the replication method used. It is assumed that the remote workgroup allows other workgroups to connect to it and that the correct password, if any, has been specified.

Type Method Description

Mirror Synchronous OfficeTalk will confirm that you wish to set up the mirror workgroup. It will then open the remote workgroup database directly and synchronise the data in the remote workgroup with the data in your workgroup. When this function has completed, both databases will be mirrored with each other.

Mirror Asynchronous OfficeTalk will place a single command in the remote workgroup which will be processed the next time that the remote workgroup processes commands. Once the remote workgroup has processed commands, you should click on the remote workgroup using the right mouse button and select Merge…. Choose Send and Receive changes from the Merge Remote Workgroup dialog box and press Finish. OfficeTalk will process the data presented by the remote workgroup and write another command to the remote workgroup containing all the relevant data in your workgroup. When this function has completed and the remote workgroup has processed commands once more, both databases will be mirrored with each other.

Mirror E-mail OfficeTalk will send an e-mail message to the remote workgroup containing your workgroup data. When the remote workgroup database receives the message, it will add the data to its database and will send back an e-mail message containing the remote workgroup data. Once you have received this message and automatically processed it, both databases will be mirrored with each other.

Replica Synchronous OfficeTalk will confirm that you wish to set up the replica workgroup. It will then open the remote workgroup database directly and copy the data in the remote workgroup to your local replica database. When this function has completed, you will be able to view data in the remote workgroup and the members of the remote workgroup will become available in the relevant address books.

Replica Asynchronous OfficeTalk will place a single command in the remote workgroup which will be processed the next time that the remote workgroup processes commands. Once the remote workgroup has processed commands, you should click on the remote workgroup using the right mouse button and select Merge…. Choose Send and Receive changes from the Merge Remote Workgroup dialog box and press Finish. OfficeTalk will process the data presented by the remote workgroup and write it to the local replica workgroup. When this function has completed you will be able to view data in the remote workgroup and the members of the remote workgroup will become available in the relevant address books.

Replica E-mail OfficeTalk will send an e-mail message to the remote workgroup asking for its data to be prepared and sent back in the form of a message. Once you have received this message and automatically processed it, the data held in the remote workgroup will become available in the local replica database. You will be able to view data in the remote workgroup and the members of the remote workgroup will become available in the relevant address books.

Direct Synchronous You will be able to view data directly in the remote workgroup and the members of the remote workgroup will become available in the relevant address books.

Direct Asynchronous Members of the remote workgroup will become available in the relevant address books.

Direct E-mail OfficeTalk will send an e-mail message requesting the list of the remote workgroup's members (users and groups). Once you have received the reply to this message and have automatically processed it, the members of the remote workgroup will become available in the relevant address books.

Type	Method	Description
Mirror	Synchronous	OfficeTalk will confirm that you wish to set up the mirror workgroup. It will then open the remote workgroup database directly and synchronise the data in the remote workgroup with the data in your workgroup. When this function has completed, both databases will be mirrored with each other.
Mirror	Asynchronous	OfficeTalk will place a single command in the remote workgroup which will be processed the next time that the remote workgroup processes commands. Once the remote workgroup has processed commands, you should click on the remote workgroup using the right mouse button and select Merge…. Choose Send and Receive changes from the Merge Remote Workgroup dialog box and press Finish. OfficeTalk will process the data presented by the remote workgroup and write another command to the remote workgroup containing all the relevant data in your workgroup. When this function has completed and the remote workgroup has processed commands once more, both databases will be mirrored with each other.
Mirror	E-mail	OfficeTalk will send an e-mail message to the remote workgroup containing your workgroup data. When the remote workgroup database receives the message, it will add the data to its database and will send back an e-mail message containing the remote workgroup data. Once you have received this message and automatically processed it, both databases will be mirrored with each other.
Replica	Synchronous	OfficeTalk will confirm that you wish to set up the replica workgroup. It will then open the remote workgroup database directly and copy the data in the remote workgroup to your local replica database. When this function has completed, you will be able to view data in the remote workgroup and the members of the remote workgroup will become available in the relevant address books.
Replica	Asynchronous	OfficeTalk will place a single command in the remote workgroup which will be processed the next time that the remote workgroup processes commands. Once the remote workgroup has processed commands, you should click on the remote workgroup using the right mouse button and select Merge…. Choose Send and Receive changes from the Merge Remote Workgroup dialog box and press Finish. OfficeTalk will process the data presented by the remote workgroup and write it to the local replica workgroup. When this function has completed you will be able to view data in the remote workgroup and the members of the remote workgroup will become available in the relevant address books.
Replica	E-mail	OfficeTalk will send an e-mail message to the remote workgroup asking for its data to be prepared and sent back in the form of a message. Once you have received this message and automatically processed it, the data held in the remote workgroup will become available in the local replica database. You will be able to view data in the remote workgroup and the members of the remote workgroup will become available in the relevant address books.
Direct	Synchronous	You will be able to view data directly in the remote workgroup and the members of the remote workgroup will become available in the relevant address books.
Direct	Asynchronous	Members of the remote workgroup will become available in the relevant address books.
Direct	E-mail	OfficeTalk will send an e-mail message requesting the list of the remote workgroup's members (users and groups). Once you have received the reply to this message and have automatically processed it, the members of the remote workgroup will become available in the relevant address books.