complete newbie: what do I need to know to get two PPCs to talk

[KR]

I have a small, simple program that I've written in VB.net that brings some
values from text files into comboboxes, then the user selects values, then
those values are saved to a new text file.

I'm looking at extending that project now, where it would be helpful if I
could have multiple PPCs each with the same basic program, but where those
PPCs could be easily synched (maybe bluetooth? IR?) in the field to share
data.

Basically, each PPC is used to score a bunch of events, and I need to be
able to easily bring all of the scores into one place to give a total score.

I'm not a programmer by training or trade, and have never done anything that
requires synching multiple devices- I'm hoping that I'm not getting in over
my head here. Is there an easy way to [automate the transfer of text files
between PPCs], so I can just work with those text files and pull them all
together on one PPC for the summary score?

I'm looking for keywords I should search for in the help file, web pages
with explanations and code snippets, or anything else you can suggest.

Many thanks,
Keith

 

[Paul G. Tobey [eMVP]]

You're over your head, it sounds like. You need to do a design to select a
suitable method and location for syncing. Where will this accumulated data
be stored? On every device? If only on one device, how are the files
named? What if two devices pick the same name? That's a large problem.

When will sync occur? When a device is near another device? That's
difficult.

There is no API that can be used to transfer files to a random other PPC
device, no (that would be a big security hole, right?). If the central PPC
device is running an FTP or Web server, you could, conceivably, use that
from each of the 'client' PPC devices to download or upload information, if
all of the PPC devices have network capability. You have to come up with
some more detailed characteristics of the devices and requirements for the
solution before we can really even make suggestions.

Paul T.