I have an existing application that uses SQL Compact Mobile 3.5 and SQL Merge replication to sync with a full SQL database using HTTP.
Can I run another application (exe) on the same device that uses the same db (same sdf file) at the same time. I understand that SQL Compact Mobile is hosted in process, but could it still be possible?
If so how should I handle synchronisation (I assume I can’t sync from both apps at the same time).
Yes, a SQL Compact Database can be used by separate processes simultaneously – i.e. it supports multiple concurrent local connections( see the last bullt in the “features list” here if you want an official statement of the fact). The database will handle locking for you.
Now when you’re in the middle of a sync, depending on the lock scheme replication uses, it’s quite likely that the process not doing the sync is going to get nothing but lock timeouts.