Synchronization Conflicts and Precedence

When synchronizing data between SQL Server and M-Files, conflicts may arise due to concurrent updates or discrepancies between the source and target systems. This document outlines strategies for handling synchronization conflicts and establishing precedence rules to ensure data integrity.

Conflict Scenarios

  1. Concurrent Updates: When the same record is updated in both SQL Server and M-Files before synchronization occurs.

  2. Data Discrepancies: When data in SQL Server does not match the corresponding data in M-Files due to manual changes or external processes.

  3. Missing Records: When a record exists in one system but not the other.

  4. Deletion Conflicts: When a record is deleted in one system but still exists in the other.

  5. Referential Integrity Violations: When changes in one system lead to broken references in the other.

  6. Versioning Conflicts: When different versions of a document or record exist in both systems.

  7. Ownership Conflicts: When ownership of a record is changed in one system but not reflected in the other.

  8. Metadata Conflicts: When metadata associated with records differs between systems.

  9. Workflow State Conflicts: When the state of a workflow differs between SQL Server and M-Files.

  10. Valuelist Item Conflicts: When valuelist items are added, removed, or renamed in one system but not synchronized to the other.

  11. Alias Conflicts: When aliases for metadata elements differ between systems.

  12. Schema Changes: When the schema of the data changes in one system but not in the other.

  13. Network or Connectivity Issues: When synchronization is interrupted due to network problems, leading to partial updates.

Precedence Rules

To resolve conflicts, the following precedence rules can be established:

  1. Timestamp-Based Precedence: The most recent update (based on timestamps) takes precedence.

  2. Source of Truth: Designate either SQL Server or M-Files as the authoritative source for specific data types.

  3. Manual Override: Allow manual intervention to resolve conflicts when automatic rules cannot determine precedence.

  4. Conflict Logging: Log all conflicts for review and auditing purposes.

  5. Automated Conflict Resolution: Implement automated rules for common conflict scenarios, such as merging changes or prioritizing certain fields.

  6. User Notifications: Notify users of conflicts that require their attention or action.

TODO review and expand with specific procedures and examples.