title: Best way to update remote web database from winforms app
body: <p>I have a question that is perhaps slightly towards architecture and design rather than syntax problem....</p>
  
  <p>I have a c# winforms app on my desktop which I have built which is similar to a CRM. I make updates to customers records as they submit orders/invoices etc and what I would like to do is to build (or  buy) a module that will update a remote database that sits behind a website onto hich registered clients log in. I want the clients to be able to see the status of their invoice/purchase etc as I have updated it on the winforms app.</p>
  
  <p>I can think of a couple of options of the top of my head but would like to know more if you have done something similar</p>
  
  <p>Things I am considering are;</p>
  
  <ol>
  <li>>Replication - I think this is overkill as the updates are not
  huge, are one way only, and not
  critical they are in real time, and
  also I am running SQL express on the
  winforms app. This can be changed
  but rather not</li>
  <li>>create a text/xml file that gets created and uploaded to the web
  server to a location that is
  monitored every 5 minutes and then
  updates the web database. - I am not
  hosting the website myself so I do
  not have complete control over what
  I can install but I suspect I can
  install a .NET 'filewatcher'</li>
  </ol>
  
  <p>Anyway, I would appreciate your thought on my 'problem'</p>
  
  <p>thanks</p>