Dave Catherman 9252021 BSEE CS 1979 U of

Dave Catherman 9/25/2021 • BSEE /CS 1979 U. of Idaho • 9 years in U. S. Navy – Helicopter Pilot – Computer Systems Manager • 4 years at Honeywell Inc. – Quality Engineer – Application Developer • 4. 5 years at JAARS – Technology Evaluator – Database Application Design

JAARS Technical Support for Wycliffe Bible Translators • Aviation Support • Telecommunications • Construction and Maintenance • Purchasing and Shipping • Material Transportation • Computing 9/25/2021

International Computers Services (ICS) provides services in: • • Buying computers and software Training on how to use the PC Software development Access to linguistics applications Repair and maintenance User support services Networking and E-mail Adapting the latest technology 9/25/2021

Systems Engineering Department • Technology Evaluator – Evaluate new technology - write reports – God can use technology to speed evangelization • Database Application Development – International database coordinator – Design/develop database applications for field – Teach Microsoft Access classes 9/25/2021

Harnessing Distributed Database Technology • Overview: – The Problem – Possible Solutions – Our Situation 9/25/2021

The Problem: Collecting the Information • Data is located in the field offices – No on-line communication – Require reports to be submitted – Re-key the reports into system • Fields have no automated systems standard – Each administration develops own system – No standard way to submit electronically 9/25/2021

The Problem: Distributing the Information • Decision makers are in the field – Projects depend on analysis of the data – Personnel need advanced notification • No on-line means of querying data – Most field sites don’t have Internet yet – Printed reports lack flexibility – CD-ROM distribution too slow 9/25/2021

The Solution: Distributed Databases/Replication • Duplicate copy of database in each location – Updates are replicated to and from each copy – Usually requires a network connection • Available now in most database servers – Oracle/Sybase/Informix/SQL Server – Most fields don’t have server capability – Most fields don’t have Internet connection 9/25/2021

The Recommendation: Microsoft Access 97 • • • PC based database (on Windows 95/NT) Fully relational development environment Good Rapid Application Development Supports direct and indirect replication Has partial replication capability Replication is record based 9/25/2021

The Goal: Partial Replication - User Security • Master database located at home office • Partial replication for each field site – feature of MS Access 97 • User/group level security for each user – Restricted views for general querying • Encrypted links for sensitive locations – Code names used for sensitive projects 9/25/2021

The Strategy: Indirect Replication over E-mail • Indirect synchronization – Can be scheduled or on demand – Places updates file in a dropbox directory • Use E-mail as transport mechanism – MAPI process to attach file to a message – Normal E-mail delivery to destination – MAPI process to detach file in dropbox – Updates picked up by Synchronizer 9/25/2021

Issues and Problems: • Upgrading PCs to support Windows 95 • Program control of the updates and dropbox • Personnel for conflict resolution – Conflict results from two sites updating the same record – Process or person must resolve conflict • Size of database and update files 9/25/2021

Other Possible Solutions: • Wait until all fields have Internet • Write our own replication system • Continue to look for other vendor solutions 9/25/2021

Questions and Comments 9/25/2021