Our client has a requirement that certain data that is usually going to be in a central SQL Server database be "movable" on-demand to a local SQL Express instance if a) the network is down or b) they want to take a laptop offline for on-site client work.



I already have my database split into 2 databases, 1 for tables that will ALWAYS be local (this is an app that collects data from medical diagnostic instruments) and 1 for SF role based security (SFS*) and some semi-static lookup tables.



On a daily basis I want the app to replace the local copy of the "movable" database with what is on the server. I'm assuming I can use an INI or XML file to store the last date/time the data was copied down so this would normally happen only once a day, but could be done on demand from the menu as well.



If, at any time, the user needs to run offline either due to the network or server being unavailable OR they need to "load and go" I want to make this process as seamless as possible. Again, the local copy of the data that is normally updated on the server would always get replaced by the server, never the other way. In other words, I'm not trying to "sync" data, just take it offline as needed.



Any thoughts on how to make this simple? (for me and the users ) Again, I have my connections set up to access 2 databases right now and I have 2 connection "sets" - 1 for security and lookups on server and one where all data is in localhost\SQLEXPRESS - I'm just not sure how to do the copy (actually, replace) of the local data on demand or automatically once a day. Should this just be a set of straight SQL commands that are available based on some sort of "online" flag?



Thanks,

Randy