This topic will show another functionality of Synchronization server–that is, to enable a user to make changes while offline, then simply reconnect to ”send up” those changes to the Synchronization Server. Based on the same premise, by reconnecting, a “Remote Client” will pull other updated information from Synchronization Server.
The use of Remote capabilities open great opportunities to organizations leveraging Synchronization Server so that users can work ”remotely” but still be confident that upon reconnecting, they all can share the most current or updated information.
On the other hand, there are some limitations to the modifications we can make on our database when working offline. When offline, users are restricted from saving Slices and performing any Meta Data change. Bear in mind that when working offline, we can only do Fact Data changes.
In this exercise, what we will do is to modify the Fact Data of our local database whose Synchronization Server connection has been disabled and later on reconnect or ”enable” connection so that the changes will likewise be reflected on our MDB Server database (Or in other words, on the database that is running on the PowerOLAP® MDB Server with the same synchronization Server connection enabled).
To begin our exercise, you must first open your local database (Avon Trading Company.olp). Then be guided by the succeeding steps:
1. From the PowerOLAP ribbon, go to Tools tab then in the Synchronization Server control group select the Configure Synchronization Server command.
The Options dialog box appears.
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2. Enable the Offline checkbox
(following the encircled item in the preceding image).
By doing so, it will temporarily cut-off your synchronization server connection.
3. Click OK to close the dialog box.
The action will return you to the main application window. After changing the Synchronization server status, we can now work offline. Let’s proceed with changing the Fact Data:
4. Back in the main application window,
go to the Slice tab of the PowerOLAP ribbon and then select New
Slice command.
The New Slice dialog box appears.
5. Select a Cube from the dialog box (for this example select Sales cube).
The newly created Slice will be displayed on the screen. Initially the Slice will appear ”empty” or devoid of any Fact Data values. Click on the Recalculate button to refresh your Slice view.
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Based on the Slice view, it shows information about Sales of Luxembourg region for Aunt Re's Chicken product. In our initial Slice view, there are no existing data for all the intersections of the Slice (as evidenced by presence of zero values for all cell intersections). Remember that in the previous exercise Luxembourg was a newly created Member for the Region dimension.
Note: Upon creating a slice, notice that you will see an 'Offline' status for the PowerOLAP slice and for the Synchronization Server connection (see encircled items).
Now let’s try to populate the cell intersecting between January member of the Month dimension for the Quantity member of the Sales Account dimension.
6. Type <88888> on the cell intersecting between January and Quantity. Then press Enter key to go to the next line.
7. Click Recalculate button.
The Slice will appear as in the following figure:
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As earlier mentioned, you are not allowed to save Slices nor perform Meta Data change. If you try to do any of the following you will receive the following error messages.
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Now close the slice so you could go back on-line and synchronize the updates with the Sync Server database and with the other database having the same synchronization server connection.
Next, synchronize the changes:
8. Close the slice.
9. In the dialog box that appears indicating slices cannot be saved when offline, click OK.
10. Go to Tools menu, Synchronization Server and then select Configure Synchronization Server.
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11. Uncheck the Offline check box to go back on-line.
12. Click OK.
Now, going back to our exercise, after making the Fact Data changes and going back on-line, go to PowerOLAP Service Control Program where another copy of the Avon Trading Company.olp with the same synchronization server connection is opened.
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13. Expand the correct Server then select the correct database (in the example Avon Trading Company is selected).
14. In the PowerOLAP Server ribbon, go to Tools
tab and in the Synchronization Server control group click the Synchronize
or Synchronize Database command icon (boxed in the image below).
Alternatively, you may press the F10 key.
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15. Now, open your MDB Server database ( Avon Trading Company database running in the PowerOLAP MDB Server) in the modeler. Create New Slice for the Sales cube then click Recalculate.
You will see that the change you’ve made is now reflected in your server database (see encircled).
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