title: Is there a way to sync (two way) tables betwen a mysql server and a local MS Access?
body: <p>Help me figure out a solution to a (not so unique) problem.</p>
  
  <p>My research group has gps devices attached to migratory animals. Every once in a while, a research tech will be within range of an animal and will get the chance to download all the logged points. Each individual spits out a single dbf and new locations are just appended to the end (so the file is just cumulative).</p>
  
  <p>These data need to be shared among a research group. Everyone else (besides me) wants to use access, so they can make small edits and prefer that interface. They do not like using MySQL.</p>
  
  <p>The solution I came up with is:</p>
  
  <p>a) The person who downloads the file goes to a web page, enters animal ID into a form, chooses .dbf file and uploads to a mysql database on the server (I still have to write php code to read the dbf and write sql insert statements from it).</p>
  
  <p>b) Everyone syncs from their local access database to the server. (This is natively possible from access but very clunky).</p>
  
  <p>Is there a tool (preferably open source), that can compare a access table to mysql table and sync the two (both ways)?</p>
  
  <p>Alternatively, does anyone have a more elegant solution?</p>
  
  <p>The ultimate goal is to allow everyone to have access to the most current data on their computers using their preferred database app.</p>