I have a couple of questions related to working while mobile. I often have to take my daughter to some class and need to work while she's in the class. I'd like to reduce my dependency on having a good internet connection, as this is often quite flaky. I have been remoting into my computer, as my laptop isn't up to actually running a database and VS etc. This isn't much fun, especially when the connection starts going south... I now have a brand, spanking new Dell XPS M1730 with enough horsepower to allow me to develop without remoting. However, there are still some issues relative to being connected that I'd like to address:



- Connection to the StrataFrame database. I've discovered that if I'm not connected to this database, that form development is extremely slow. Could I have a "dummy" StrataFrame database that I can connect to while offline? What are the ramifications? Of course, I'm sure I wouldn't be able to use the BO Mapper or security, as all their meta data is in the SF database. What about localization? I'm not using it currently, but does it work like security, were I make changes that are saved in the SF database, then need to deploy (I should probably know the answer to this... )? Any other ideas about this scenario?



- Having the database I used to build the tables in the BO mapper available. In a slightly more connected environment, I might have connection to the SF database, but not to my local dev database, were all the BOs were mapped to. I've already had some fun (*sarcasm*) dealing with this when my db machine took a dive. If I do need to do some work in the BO mapper, how do I deal with not having that exact database available?



Thanks for any thoughts on this!

First, there should not be any performance difference when you are connected versus not being connected.  So that would be a point of concern that I would look at in regards to connectivity, etc.

However, I work out of the office just as much as when I am in the office on my laptop.  I can work from anywhere in the world and talk straight to our primary development server and Team Foundation environment regardless of where I am.

You just need to setup a software VPN so that you have a tunnel back to your development office.  Now when I am at home, I have a hard VPN tunnel that I am behind so I don't need the software tunnel.  But if I am at a hotel, or even on the floor of a trade show (I have actually done this before...fix a bug from the floor of a trade show) then I would use the software VPN, talk to the real SF database, etc. 

This would be my first suggestion and since you already have internet connectivity, then I do not see why this wouldn't be a viable option.

The first situation is that too often I don't have any connectivity...or very slow connectivity. Often the wireless at a coffee house or whatever is down/slow/flaky. So, I'm trying to figure out how to do development while disconnected (point 1) or when I don't have access to the db that the BOs are configured against.



Unless you fixed something, I spent a bunch of time trying to figure out why every...single...action taken when designing a form took forever (grab the text box...wait 30sec to see that this happened...drag text box and drop it...wait 1 minute for it to actually happen...it was bad). There was a period when I wasn't using the BO mapper or security much, just doing forms/BO fill code etc. I didn't have my VPN open, thus no connection to SF db*. I realized this, and now make sure the VPN is open whenever I'm working on an SF project and things are snappy again. So, from my experience, I have to have a connection to the StrataFrame database to design forms (based on the SF base form and using SF controls at least). I'm just wondering if any SF database will do if I'm not actually using that database. I.e. I don't use the BO Mapper or security or change an localization data, will I be OK. I could test this...just trying to figure out if there is something that will bite me I don't know about.



The second issue is when I have some connectivity. I.e. I can VPN into the SF database (my preference obviously), but can't get to the database that was used to configure the BOs in the BO mapper. It seems that the specific connection to a table is stored for each BO and if it isn't available, you can't use the BO mapper (or you have to reconfigure each BO). I'm just not understanding how this works enough (I'm a bit sloooowww sometimes). I wondering what sort of options I might use in this situation.



That was a bit long winded, but hopefully you understand what I'm asking about.



If I figure this out, I can keep my wife/daughter happy and my boss!







* I always work remotely, from my home. The StrataFrame database is located at the home office, in the Phoenix area, so (theoretically) other developers can use it also.

I will check into the disconnected slowness...I have an idea of what could be causing this.  Past that, the only time you need the SF database is when you are using the BO Mapper, DDT, or localization editor.  Which in truth, you spend most of your time not in one of these.  So technically, if you had everything check-out and local, and didn't need to map anything, it wouldn't be an issue (i.e. the coffee shop type of scenario).  However, when at home I would imagine that you have a good internet connection as well the ability to setup a VPN, so while at home or when having a good internet connection, the VPN should be a good option.

We have discussed this on other threads before, but there is not an easy way replicate the SF database.  You could... in theory...create a backup of the DB prior to leaving the office and load this on your laptop.  And then if you make changes, restore this when you get back in the office.  The down side is that if someone were working on the main site making changes as well...there is not an ability to merge the two back together.

We have already talked about how we will resolve this in the future.  The BO mappings will be stored within the project instead of SQL Server...but that doesn't change anything for now...sorry

OK, that helps on the disconnected situation, which usually, I can find plenty to do that doesn't require using the BO Mapper, security or localization. I'll double check that I'm still getting the slow down when not connected. There was a thread about that and I thought Ben posted some reasons...I'll check.



The second issue is when I just don't have the db that I used to create the BO mapping available. I would have the SF db available. Is this what you were referring to in the second paragraph? The situation is that if I need to do something in the mapper, and the db that the project/BO is mapped to isn't available, the BO is "X" out. Then I have to "map" it to another db...it gets confusing fast. I believe this is what you will eventually store in the solution. Likely I'll just not do any BO work if this is the case.

Well, this is not likely to change anytime soon.  But to answer your question, yes.  When you map a BO, it stores that mapping and customization information in the StrataFrame database.  So if you just logon to another or local SQL Server that has the StrataFrame database, then you will side-step the slowness issue (since I would imagine this is the issue once I get into it...I think it has to do with localization).  However, you will not have the mappings from your main server StrataFrame database.  So if you opened up the BO Mapper, you would not have the mappings and customizations.  That was my point.

Got it. That is a doable solution (to just have a blank SF db and to not do any SF specific tasks while remote). Thanks!

I found my post about VS designer being very slow and there was no comments as to why this might be. Ben did have some good comments about other issues that could drive a person to bruise one's fore head while working with VS/VB...Here is the post:



http://forum.strataframe.net/FindPost11681.aspx