2 Mar 2015
Tutorial – Remotely Sync HanDBase Database for Android with Desktop PC via Cloud. Using Dropbox or Google Drive
Tutorial
Remotely Sync HanDBase for Android with Desktop PC via Cloud. Using Dropbox or Google Drive
Using the following steps I have been able to successfully synchronize HanDBase for Android with my Windows Computer remotely using Dropbox and Google Drive. This set-up enables a record level sync, as opposed to a file level sync using just Dropbox or Google Drive and FolderSync, or some other sync solution. This allows you to edit or add individual records on your Android device and on your desktop or laptop computer simultaneously. This should also work with most other Cloud Storage apps for Android, assuming there is a way to Synchronize folders to their cloud storage but YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary). Please test this first on your end before implementing this on a regular basis, especially if you use a Cloud Storage system other than Dropbox or Google Drive.
Requirements
HanDBase Conduit (included in…)
HanDBase Plus, Professional or Enterprise Add-on for Windows
– http://ddhsoftware.com/handbaseandroidwin.html
Dropbox or Google Drive including their software installed on your Desktop/Laptop (Other Cloud Services not tested)
– https://www.dropbox.com
– https://www.google.com/drive/
FolderSync for Android
– http://www.tacit.dk/foldersync
subst command or equivalent for Dropbox or Google Drive Drive mapping
http://www.ghacks.net/2012/04/24/map-skydrive-dropbox-google-drive-to-drive-letters-in-windows/
OR
http://www.ghacks.net/2006/08/18/assign-drive-letters-to-folders/
AutoHotKey Macro App for Windows
– http://www.autohotkey.com/
Parts of this Tutorial have been derived from the following links. I used these to create the AutoHotKey Script files used in this tutorial. You can use the following links to modify the basic Scripts mentioned in this tutorial.
– http://lifehacker.com/5547714/launch-applications-remotely-with-dropbox-and-autohotkey
– http://brasildeluna.blogspot.com/2010/05/start-applications-remotely-with.html
– http://brasildeluna.blogspot.com/2010/05/remote-action-major-update-start.html
DISCLAIMER: This sync method solution is not endorsed by DDH Software or any of it’s employees. This Tutorial has been written by a Former employee of DDH Software who is now just a Fan of HanDBase. If you decide to proceed with setting up and implementing this solution you do so at your own risk. It is recommended that you backup your databases prior to syncing until you are sure it is functioning as described and desired. Please DO NOT contact DDH Software support to resolve any issues arising from use of this solution. The support staff at DDH Software will not be able to help you with any problems you encounter. You can post questions or comments to the DDH Software Forum thread that this Tutorial was originally posted in but please don’t ask DDH Software employees to help with setup or to solve any problems that might arise from use of this solution.
Posted by LordDewi on 02.03.15 at 3:17 am
After completing this Tutorial I decided to take it a little further. I saw some posts on the DDH Software forum from users who couldn’t or didn’t want to use Cloud Storage. Since FolderSync supports FTP also, I started to set up this type of sync also. I’m in the testing phase for this and I will be posting another tutorial specific to FTP syncing since there are some things that are more specific to this. I’ll also include instructions on setting up your own FTP server.
In addition, I figured out a way to use AutoHotKey to automatically select the user in the HanDBase Conduit, rather than requiring it be the first user in the list. This should also allow remote syncing for multiple users to the same computer.