Synchronization (New

Synchronization in MetriQ (MetriQ Professional Only)

Synchronization allows MetriQ users to work both in the office while connected to the office network, and away from the office using a laptop or some other disparate computer.

How does synchronization work?
Ordinarily MetriQ connects to a Master database, a centralized repository for all accrued timing and disbursement data. The connection between MetriQ and the Database Administrator (FireBird) installed on a remote server, is a one time setting from when MetriQ is first installed, and in general remains unchanged.

However, with Synchronization a separate Portable database (installed by default) and used by MetriQ while the computer is disconnected from the office network, so allowing users to record Timing Data, Icon Notes and Disbursements using the most current database structure while working from home or on site.

Synchronization automatically occurs when the user connects to the office network, re-starts their computer and starts MetriQ.
Note: Synchronization does not work with hibernation.

Synchronization Steps:

1. Connect to the Office network. This is important because Synchronization can only be turned ON when MetriQ is connected to a Master database.
2. Open the Synchronization window by pressing the Synchronization button from the main MetriQ window.

Note: This button is both the gateway into the settings page for synchronization AND for turning synchronization On an Off. It is also a visual indicator, showing if Synchronization mode is on or off.

3. Specify a Portable database in the settings. For convenience, MetriQ comes with a default portable database pre-configured and ready to use (see also Tutorial - Getting started with Synchronization). It is called PortableIBMetriQ.FDB.

4. From the Synchronization window, turn Synchronization On by pressing the button. When On, the button changes colour , and is visible from the Synchronization window and MetriQ's main window. Gray is Off, Yellow is On!

5. When ready to leave the office environment, close MetriQ. As MetriQ closes, the user is prompted to allow MetriQ to do a Master to Portable update. This copies the entire contents of the Master database into the Portable database on the laptop. However, all timing data, notes, disbursements and workflow data that exists in the Master database are not copied across.
Note: Your logon will remain the same, as too will your icons, Folders and all other settings.

6. When you return to the office, and again connect your laptop back into the network, MetriQ will again prompt you, this time to upload all of your timing and disbursement data back to the Master Database. All timing data, notes, disbursements and workflow data on the Portable database are moved across to the Master database. Once completed, you continue working as normal, but now back to working on the Master database until you again close MetriQ, which then repeats from step 5).

Important Notes:

1. As a security feature, if you dismiss MetriQ's prompt to do a Portable->Master update when MetriQ first starts, then MetriQ WILL not prompt you to do a Master->Portable update when you close MetriQ.

2. MetriQ will not allow you to turn Synchronization Off, while connected to the Portable database.

3. Icons that have been added to the portable database, but do not have an associated timing or notes, will not be moved to the Master Database when MetriQ synchronizes Portable->Master.

4. When Synchronization is run for the first time, a Master->Portable update should always be done first. This is to ensure that the default installed portable database is in sync with the master. Failure to do this may result in a database access error as MetriQ tries to synchronize none-existent staff and folders to the master database.

Turning Synchronization Mode On/Off:
In MetriQ, the Sync. button on the main window button bar controls access to the Synchronization setup window, AND is also used as visual indicator to show what mode MetriQ is currently running in.

Button Glyphs for both MetriQ's main window AND the Synchronization setup window:

Sync. Off.	Synchronization Mode is OFF (default option).
Sync. On	Synchronization Mode is ON.

Clicking the Sync. button will open the Synchronization setup window used to configure the 'Portable' database and allow users to upload their data from the Master to the Portable database and vice-versa.

The simple rule is this:

Grayed icon - Synchronization is OFF.
Yellow icon - Synchronization is ON.

This rule applies to the button Icon used to open the Synchronization setup window from the main MetriQ window and on MetriQ's main window.
Hint: Look for the status bar on MetriQ's main window, which shows the database that is currently in use [Master Database] or [Portable Database].

AutomMate: (Close Window)
When Synchronization is ON, MetriQ prompts the user to do a Portable to Master update when MetriQ first starts, and a Master to Portable update when MetriQ closes. Ordinarily MetriQ expects the user to respond to these requests, giving or denying their approval for these events to occur. However, if as a user you always want these events to occur regardless, then the Close Window Timer will facilitate this after a set number of seconds. Note: Setting the timer to the value 999 (the default), will stop MetriQ from using this automated feature, and the timer is disabled.

Master Database Settings:
You cannot change the Master Database settings in the Synchronization setup window. To change the name of the Master Database, open the Control Applet (MetriQ main menu File > Database Settings). Choose the name of the server, port and database file you wish to use as Master Database. Typically this database will reside on a remote Database Server. When you are done, reconnect MetriQ to the database (Main menu File > Connect). Re-open the Synchronization window and turn Synchronization back on.

Portable Database Settings:
Enter the file location for your Portable database. The default setting for this will be the original database created when you first installed MetriQ. The typical location for a normal installation would be: c:\\Program Files\MetriQ\DBMQF\PortableIBMetriQ.FDB. If your database has been configured with grant access then you will also need to complete the advanced setup parameters DB UserName, DB Password and DB Role. Note: When synchronization mode is ON, you can also configure the 'Portable Database' using the Control Applet (Windows Start > Control Panel) by using the Switch Database option (Actions > Switch Databases).

Manually Synchronizing your data:

If you wish, you can also manually synchronize your data within MetriQ.

There are 3 different buttons for Synchronization. These are as follows:

	Portable -> Master: This button will ONLY update the Master database with all of your icons, timing, notes and disbursement data from your local portable database. Once completed, your Portable database will have no timing data, icon notes or disbursements. However the Master Database will now have all the latest data collected by your Portable database while you worked away from the office.
	Master -> Portable: This button will update your Portable database to be the same as the Master Database except for all timing data, icon notes and disbursements in the Portable Database, which will be empty. Everything else, the folder structures, staff, roles etc will be duplicated exactly.
	Full Synchronize: This button will first do a Portable to Master update, followed by a Master to Portable Database update.

Note: Date of your last Portable->Master upload and Master->Portable download are shown on the status bar at the bottom of the Synchronization screen.

Note: If you are in portable mode, and you want to return to non-portable mode, having first reset your master database to also be on 'localhost', then you will need to restart MetriQ for the new settings to take effect.

Single point configuration:
You can also configure both Master and Portable database settings directly from the MetriQ Control Applet (Windows Start > Control Panel) by using the Switch Database option (Actions > Switch Databases).

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