Offline content

[nat8100]

Has anyone set up an online and offline installation of Sugar? Do you merge the data between the 2?

Or does anyone import or upload from any other offline source? Such as infopath forms, word doc, access etc.

Any insight and ideas very welcome

[matthew]

Nat-

I've worked extensively on the SugarCRM Offline Client. There is an API available for Syncing - you can see it in our WSDL and explore the operations in ./soap/

My major complaint is that there isn't strong error/exception handling, so syncing can be difficult.

I'd really think about what you need an "offline" version of Sugar for - at least, when I was doing Professional Services - I'd argue it wasn't worth it when people were in a Plane.

Here in the states now, you can easily get wifi on a plane - it's quick too!

[Kwid]

Hey Matthew,

Do you know if the Offline Client runs any faster for the user vs. online? Our outside sales force needs to be able to update a bunch of Contact records and perhaps queue up some emails at the end of each day and it currently takes them a long time (hours) doing in online. I'm wondering if the response time would be appreciably faster being offline?

TIA!

[christianknoll]

If the scenario you describe is all they need I would consider using Outlook as the ofline client. What you are looking for can be done in Outlook and then use the syn chronization functionality within Outlook. Introducing the Offline Client will create significant hassle and technical complexity whereas the limited features you are looking at Outlook handels nicely.

Contact my via private mail to discuss if you are interested.

christian.

Hey Matthew,

Do you know if the Offline Client runs any faster for the user vs. online? Our outside sales force needs to be able to update a bunch of Contact records and perhaps queue up some emails at the end of each day and it currently takes them a long time (hours) doing in online. I'm wondering if the response time would be appreciably faster being offline?

TIA!

[nat8100]

Nat-

I've worked extensively on the SugarCRM Offline Client. There is an API available for Syncing - you can see it in our WSDL and explore the operations in ./soap/

My major complaint is that there isn't strong error/exception handling, so syncing can be difficult.

I'd really think about what you need an "offline" version of Sugar for - at least, when I was doing Professional Services - I'd argue it wasn't worth it when people were in a Plane.

Here in the states now, you can easily get wifi on a plane - it's quick too!

Thanks for your reply. Currently using the community version of sugar so don't have offline client. Would consider upgrading if it met our requirements but I was under the impression that it doesn't support custom modules?

We have a recruitment module and in an ideal scenario would enter data directly onto the system while interviewing candidates. However this is done in remote parts of the world where good internet connections are not always possible. Currently my thinking is just to fill in data on an excel sheet and import. Was just wondering if there were any other options I hadn't thought of that might be more user-friendly.

[matthew]

Nat-

I understand the remote parts of the world issue as well - I've had plenty of connectivity issues like that in the US.

The offline client is definately not available for Community Edition.

I have built and supported custom modules in the offline client, but it does require some additional customization. Depending on the complexity of the module, this can range in difficulty.

If you have any form of auto-incrementing number in your custom module, doing it in a distributed pattern - like the offline client does - can be VERY complex.

Obviously scaling your spreadsheet is tedious as well, but considering some of the constraints it maybe the best solution for you now.

Cheers,
Matt

[Kwid]

If the scenario you describe is all they need I would consider using Outlook as the ofline client. What you are looking for can be done in Outlook and then use the syn chronization functionality within Outlook. Introducing the Offline Client will create significant hassle and technical complexity whereas the limited features you are looking at Outlook handels nicely.

Contact my via private mail to discuss if you are interested.

christian.

Thanks for your reply Christian.

Client is not using Outlook (Mac Thunderbird) and they are also looking to do a bit more than sending emails, e.g., recording notes and history, adding contacts, updating phone numbers, etc. They also have some custom modules which appears to add to the complexity.

Still seems to be a mystery as to how offline client works but I think I've heard enough to scare me off. ;-)