>in reality let's think about who is going to use the database - PC users,

so

>it's unlikely that you will ever strike the hardware exchange problem...

Just when I was convinced that I had to ignore the .gdb files..

>second. it's unlikely that your file size will ever need to span more than
>one file

Good point (again, I was trying to convince myself, plus stick with my
'forward thinking' motto)

>nothing wrong with stubborn :-)

good good!

>any transfer of data (on any system) is going to need a very strict (on the
>one hand) but end-user simple (on the other hand) method of backing up,

All the scary stuff aside, an assuming I can do it (...or at least figure
out how to do it correctly). Is this a valid option??

>then it will be difficult to transport only parts of the data in external

files
I guess I had intended on transfering it all.

>Your client application should have all the savvy to merge employee
>records - the database doesn't need that part at all.

Of course, what I am referring to is the accountant being able to view the
data at the office and decided 'these merges need doing', and then the best
way to transfer this decision to a reality on the client computer (ie, just
a paper note, or can it be done programmatically..), gosh I could get
complex and have some sort of file that is output by the 'accountant
computer' to be imported to the 'client computer' that would present (in a
very user friendly, HCI considered way of course) the client with options to
accept or reject the accountants decisions...

Questions:
Given the same situation,
1)What would you do to allow the client to transfer data to his accountant
(for read-only report writing purposes only).
2)Would you use just one database and export/import functions, or would you
use a database for each employer, such that the database (.gdb file) can be
copied from Windows Explorer and transfered that way, and such that the
application reconnects to a chosen database (or can create a new way) via an
'open'/'new' function in the application?



Thanks again
Cassandra