Anyone running multiple companies in same database?

davmac1

Is anyone running multiple companies in the same database? We are looking at sharing data and it seems to have common tables updateable they need to be in the same database, but then you end up with a huge number of tables, and problems backing up and restoring a single company.
We are using the SQL Server option.
The primary goal is to have a common set of contacts between all companies.

MrDee

in sql server it prefixes the tables with the company Name

* Company1$Contact
* Company2$Contact

there is an attribute on the table DataPerCompany, set this to No
this will create the table without the company prefix

* Contact

and will be available to all companies.
Yes this does put less strain on your back up process you just will not have company specific data - so use carefully.[/list]

davmac1

The documentation is pretty clear on how to do it. I am looking for tips from companies that have actually done it and whether it created problems.
Are there some areas like contacts that are safe to handle this way?
Are there any companies out there that have several Navision companies in one database, and if yes - are they happy with performance and manageability, etc.?

afarr

I asked about this once, and some experienced users did not recommend setting DataPerCompany = No. For example, if you delete a contact in Company A, the OnDelete validation will be run in Company A to make sure that it is OK to delete it; but if DataPerCompany=No, you will have automatically deleted the contact from all other companies, without running the OnDelete validation in those companies.

Instead, they suggested synchronising the company's tables to make sure they have the same values.
http://www.mbsonline.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=9491


Alastair