Home Forums Feature requests MultiUser Support

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    • Avatar photoWintermute
      Participant
      Post count: 12

      I would like to see some multiuser (Multi system?) support. I want to use Tabbles on my desktop and laptop. It would be nice if they would sync between the two systems. I am planning on buying the business version. Most companies do this through a client server model, but I think there may be an easier way to do it.

    • Andrea
      Keymaster
      Post count: 963

      Hello Wintermute,

      what you can do right now is tha you can tabbles on several PCs and then set Tabbles the change the path of the database to a removable device. You can do that using a pretty hidden feature: Misc > Maintainance functions > change database path.
      Then, if you also have your data on the removable device, you can see your data categorized on each of those computers.

      We also have the collaboration features to do check-in and out of files along with the tabbles linked to them (most to send some stuff to colleagues and get back something which is still categorized).

      Now, I know this is not what you’re looking for. :mrgreen:
      We’re planning to release archiving/backup and versioning features, for the Business version, around the end of November (those are in alpha now). Doing some sort of syncing between devices is also an option – maybe for a bit later.
      Anyway:
      – what kind of syncing would you expect?
      – how do you expect it to work?
      – if you have any software that would be a good example, please point us to that.

      P.S.: this is not the place for a sales pitch, but we’re giving away the Business version for a HEAVILY discounted price before we release the "real" version. Just PM me if you want to know more.

      Best regards,

      Andrea

    • Avatar photoWintermute
      Participant
      Post count: 12

      – what kind of syncing would you expect?

      I would like the databases to be able to update each other, and to move the associated files as well. That way I have a mirror copy on each machine.

      – how do you expect it to work?

      Here is the gotcha. Most examples I have worked on in the past do it through a client server model. I think that could be an option for the business side, but I am not sure if it would be the best method for the other versions. The old one I used you could work offline, and then it would sync up with the main database. The only concern would be if multiple people had the same file, but you can have an option for check out.
      The key is the database, and the files would have to be kept in sync for it to work correctly. You could either do a "server" side database with an offline option, or two seperate databases that try to sync each other when connected.
      Are you using the access engine for the backend DB?

      Already bought the business version. 😉

    • Avatar photoJfw
      Participant
      Post count: 36

      Hello,

      Here is my vision of Multi-User support… this vision is typically in business environment where a lot of persons put a lot of information on network drive but nobody knows what info is where 🙂

      You could install tables on the PC.
      The database is located in a central place (server)
      All tables programs points to that database
      When placing something on the server you are supposed to tag it correctly.

      This will allow everybody to find back the info based on the tags…but….this brings a few issues as well:
      -the filelocation must be more robust (as the share does not necessary have the same network-drive name)
      -there might be issues on security:
      –I can imagine that all info should not be available for everybody)
      –I can imagine that the management of table should be centralized to avoid everybody adding tables
      –I can imagine that it might be necessary to have a read only access (just to find documents back but not to add files in tables)

      Just a few thoughts….

      Any other ideas around ?

      Br
      Jfw

    • Andrea
      Keymaster
      Post count: 963

      Jfw, it looks really we’re really tuned: this feature is the next big thing we’re gonna develop. You’re input makes A LOT OF SENSE – anything else you have in mind, please don’t hesitate! 🙂

      "Jfw" wrote: Hello,

      Here is my vision of Multi-User support… this vision is typically in business environment where a lot of persons put a lot of information on network drive but nobody knows what info is where 🙂

      You could install tables on the PC.
      The database is located in a central place (server)
      All tables programs points to that database
      When placing something on the server you are supposed to tag it correctly.

      This will allow everybody to find back the info based on the tags…but….this brings a few issues as well:
      -the filelocation must be more robust (as the share does not necessary have the same network-drive name)
      -there might be issues on security:
      –I can imagine that all info should not be available for everybody)
      –I can imagine that the management of table should be centralized to avoid everybody adding tables
      –I can imagine that it might be necessary to have a read only access (just to find documents back but not to add files in tables)

      Again, we’ll make a better announcement soon but anyway: everything you write is in our plan, except for one thing: the network version of Tabbles (this is how we call it) won’t have a client-server architecture but a P2P one. We’ve been thinking of a network version since day 0, and until 3 weeks ago we were thinking of developing a client-serve app, and to start developing it next year. But then Maurizio thought "who said it has to be client-server?" and a friend of mine also suggested using a P2P architecture.
      Making Tabbles P2P will not only take 1/3 of the development/testing/debugging time, but it will be much easier to deploy and to maintain (therefore to sell) as it won’t require any server.

      To make it more clear: the files will still be on a shared drive (i.e.: fileserverpublicdocs) and you will be able to see your (shared) colleagues’ tabbles in your Tabbles’ window, and browse them and combine them as your own tabbles today.

      I know it sounds like sci-fi, but it’s not that complicated to implement. Plus, but our file system watcher (the piece of software that understands when a file is being moved) will help a lot as well. We should really start seriously blogging about technology, as everyday more we realize we are working something pretty advanced.

      Any more thought you’ll have about this, you’re very welcome to share them with us.

      P.S.: did you vote on my thread about the Freemium version? 🙂
      viewtopic.php?f=7&t=94

      Best,

      Andrea

    • Avatar photoJfw
      Participant
      Post count: 36

      Will do 🙂

      I am pretty excited about that release as I think this will very useful in a business environment where a lot of info is stored but nobody i able to dig it back.

      I am willing to test any alpha version on my home network if this might help…

      Br,
      Jf

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