What is the preferred language for developing Call Report type applications?

[Rashar]

Hi,

I would like to create a Call Report application that installs on multiple laptops. The end user basically types data into forms, then the data is stored locally on their machines. When they have an internet connection be it dialup or highspeed, I would like for them to be able to download the data that is stored locally on their machiens and into a sql server database that resides on a network.

Any ideas on what I could use for programming such an application? ASP, or ASP.net? VB.net? Perl? Java?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Rashar

[silverbullet24]

you could look into sql server replication. we have a piece of software that can use 2 different sql databases (which are identical) and then changes can be synchronized between them. you could install the MSDE engine and store your values in it and sync up to a real sql server when online.

i can't give you any more details because i don't know how it works, just giving you an idea to explore

[russell]

You definitely want to use a compiled language (but not Java -- it's too slow). Use VB, any of the DotNet Langs (C#, VB.Net), C, C++ etc.). You do not want to use MSSQL replication. You will likely need to handle concurrency and "data freshness" issues. Write a program to upload the local data in one shot from the client, and another server-side program to parse, validate and upload the data. The choice of language is insignificant. Use what you (or your staff) is best at.