Thanks Larry, just wanted to check that there wasn't some new wizz bang technology I had missed out on.

Regards
Doug Johnston

>Several years ago I did this for a company under FP/DOS. Essentially it was where...
>
>Set up a table with a field NEXTBATCH to keep track of the current batch number.
>Add a BATCHID field to all tables to be transferred.
>
>Any new or updated records in the branch tables got NEXTBATCH saved to BATCHID.
>
>1) New records from the branch tables were extracted to a transfer directory based on a batch # field ,i.e.
>
>At the end of each day run the Branch transfer program that would...
>For each table...
>USE tablename
>COPY TO XFER\tablename WHERE BATCHID=M.NEXTBATCH
>
>2) Zip up the files
>3) Activate a modem to wait for an incoming call
>4) Upon program closing check for a file confirming the transfer. If found, increment the NEXTBATCH number and process any incoming files from the Home Office.
>
>The home office would call each branch and fetch the files and process them something like this...
>
>Fetch branch zip file and unzip to a xfer dir
>
>For each table...
>USE tablename ORDER primarykey_index IN 0
>SELECT 0
>USE XFER\tablename ALIAS BRANCH_TABLE
>SCAN
>SCAT MEMV MEMO
>SELECT tablename
>IF NOT SEEK(m.keyfield)
> INSERT INTO tablename from memvar && Add new record
>ELSE
> GATHER MEMVAR && Refresh data
>ENDIF
>SELECT BRANCH_TABLE
>ENDSCAN
>
>Then after processing tables, send a confirmation file to the branch and send updated files to the branch.
>
>Then process next branch.
>
>There is a lot of additional setup and error-checking that you need to account for. Also you need to block the branch program from running while the transfer program is running and vice-versa.
>
>Hope this give you a running start...
>Larry
>
>>Hi all,
>>
>>I am in the middle of an application which is going to require transfer of data between branch offices and head office and back again.
>>
>>The project involves POS with branch stores sending their daily records back to head office and then head office sending the newly combined data from all stores back to each store. The largest chain of stores currently is 25.
>>
>>These stores generally won't spend huge amounts on new technology, so, if someone has attempted this before I would like to hear how you went about it.
>>
>>My thinking up to now has been scripted PC Anywhere for file transfers and custom written replication. Is this the best way or are there are other technologies to would be better.
>>
>>Regards
>>Doug Johnston