Mobile information transfer options

[neilhza]

Hi

My client requires a simple data transfer utility to synchronise data
for a custom c# app between his windows mobile 5.0 pda and a xp pro
server. I cannot use the sql mobile synchronisation as the cost of
licensing sql 2005 enterprise edition is not feasible for this project.
I have also not been able to get it working on a duplicate of their
environment (xp pro server, no domain).

I'm new to mobile development but not c# windows and web dev. Can
anyone advise me on my options to develop a c# utility to automatically
transfer xml data files between the mobile device and the server it is
connected to via usb?

I really didn't think it would be this hard but I cannot find anything
yet to help me. I have tried using the server explorer to create
database connections and then create datasources (from the Data menu)
on the mobile app, this works in design time as I can preview the data,
but as soon as I run it in the emulator or real mobile 5.0 pda it
throws an empty SQLException (message is also "SQLException"). Can
anyone point me in the right direction to find a way to write this
automation myself?

 

[Guest]

This is probably complete overkill for you, but you could use an Httpclient
and POST the XML file across to a custom Handler in IIS. You can trigger the
POST action when the device is cradled and do what you want in the handler
with the XML.

Of course, you need IIS for this and your client may not want that...

Cheers,

Peter

 

[neilhza]

Hi Peter

Thanks for your suggestion. I did test accessing the desktop over HTTP
from the PDA, which if it worked I would have just developed web
services to transfer the data. Problem is the browser on the PDA isn't
able to browse to the desktop, I'm guessing there's a configuration
error stopping all of this and that is why the sqlconnection object
cannot see the desktop's database. Do you know what I need to do to
enable TCP/IP connections between the PDA and the desktop it is plugged
into? I assumed ActiveSync set this up to access the mobile device
through windows explorer, but it doesn't appear to be the case.

 

[chris-s]

Since you already have XP Pro, this includes IIS which in turn provides
at least two possible options using 'standard' techniques, one would be
to use SQLServerCE on the mobile device and SQL desktop edition on the
server if that would suit your requirements.

You mention you have played with this but got an error, persist a bit
more and look at a few more samples since it'll just be a
coding/deployment/config problem.

Alternatively, create some web services to handle the data in whatever
format you choose.

Chris

 

[Guest]

Have you tried looking at your firewall settings on XP in case this is
blocking you?

I don't remember doing anything it particular to get this connection
working, it worked it out on its own, sorry.

Cheers,

Peter

 

[neilhza]

Hey guys

The xp firewall has exceptions for ActiveSync dll's etc. and set to
notify if it blocks something.

Based on my research so far the only way to programmatically
communicate between desktop and server is over http, would that be
correct? I have tried database connections from each to the other with
no success.

Problem I'm having is the device cannot browse to my desktop by either
machine name or IP. It moans about not being able to connect and I need
to set up connections, but the only connections I can set up are modem
dial-ups, IrDA and VPN. I try to set up the horde of network devices it
appears to have (I think they're all virtual) but to no effect. Its an
HP iPaq btw. I can browse to it in windows explorer, my desktop sql
server can connect to the sdf on the device, I can even set up windows
forms datasources to the sdf on the device, but in runtime nothing
works.

Should I be able to browse to the desktop its connected to straight out
the box or is there a configuration process I'm missing here? This is
the most frustrating development I've ever done.

 

[Guest]

I guess you have a connection problem rather than a development issue at the
moment, not my area I'm afraid. AFAIK ActiveSynch handles the connection.

 

[Boomhauer]

Are you trying connecting to PPP_PEER (instead of the desktop IP, or
the desktop machine name)? This is how we connect to local webservices
from wm2003 devices... I assume it still works in wm5.