Using Platform Replicate for Real-Time Data Source
This article is an extract from the Replicate Installation Guide (PDF). For full context and comprehensive references, please consult the complete manual.
If you have local data that needs to be continuously available to your mobile apps, Platform Replicate is the most efficient method. By using this feature, the app requests rows directly from your local SyncData database via the Replicate API, eliminating the need to store that data on our cloud platform.
Terminology Reference: Replicate vs. Platform
| Term | Component | Definition & Role | Physical Location |
| eForms Mobile Replicate | The Software | The standalone Windows/IIS web application that performs the actual data synchronization. | On-Premise (Customer or Vendor Server) |
| Platform Replicate | The Link | The specific “Hook” setting inside a Data Source that tells the Platform where to pull data from. | Cloud (eForms Mobile Portal) |
| SyncData Database | The Storage | The local SQL Server database where eForms Mobile Replicate writes incoming form data. | Local SQL Server |
How it Works
Replicate exposes a REST API endpoint at:
When the app requests data, the Replicate application performs a GET function that maps your platform Data Source to a matching table name in your SQL database.
Setup Instructions
Database Preparation
- Create your desired data tables within the SyncData database.
- Naming Convention: The SQL table name must exactly match the External ID assigned to the Data Source in the platform.
- Column Order: Ensure the columns in your platform Data Source follow the exact same order as the columns in your SQL table.
Platform Configuration
- Log in to the Platform and navigate to Data Hub > Data Sources.
- Select your target Data Source and click Settings.
- Verify the External ID field matches your SQL table name.
- Hover over Add Connector and select Platform Replicate.
- Enter your eForms Mobile Replicate installation’s target URL (e.g.,
https://sync.yourdomain.com/api/v2/datasources) and click Save.
Global Configuration
If you are managing multiple Data Sources, avoid entering the URL manually every time:
- Go to Organization Setup > Integrations > Global Service Endpoints.
- Set the Data Source Replicate to your Replicate API endpoint.
- In your individual Data Source connectors, simply select the “Use Global Replicate URL” checkbox.
Implementation Checklist
- Does the External ID match the SQL Table Name?
- Does the Column Order in the platform match the SQL Table Schema?
- Is your Replicate server accessible via HTTPS?
Troubleshooting Platform Replicate Connections
When Platform Replicate isn’t pulling data, it’s usually a mismatch between the IIS server’s security and the platform’s request. Here is a troubleshooting table with common codes and resolutions:
| Error Code | Potential Cause | Recommended Fix |
| 404 Not Found | Naming Mismatch: The platform cannot find a table matching the External ID. | Ensure the External ID in the Platform exactly matches the SQL Table Name in the SyncData database. |
| 401 Unauthorized | Security Layer: Your Replicate IIS site is blocking the request. | Verify that Anonymous Authentication (or your specific API key) is correctly configured in IIS for the /api/v2/ path. |
| 403 Forbidden | IP Restriction: Your server is blocking the Platform’s IP addresses. | Whitelist our Platform’s outbound IP addresses in your corporate firewall or Windows Firewall. |
| 500 Internal Error | SQL Permissions: Replicate cannot read the table. | Ensure the database user assigned to Replicate has db_datareader permissions on the SyncData database. |
| Timeout / Connection Refused | Network Path: The URL is not accessible from the public internet. | Verify your Sync.SelfUrl is reachable. Try browsing to the URL from an external network (like a mobile hotspot) to test. |
| Data Mismatch | Schema Change: Column count or order does not match. | Ensure the number of columns in your Platform Data Source matches the SQL Table. Columns are mapped by index (order), not name. |
How to Test Your Endpoint
Before configuring the Platform, you can test if your Replicate API is “alive” by navigating to your data source URL in a browser:
What to look for: You should receive a JSON response or a prompt for credentials. If the page fails to load entirely, the issue is likely with your IIS Binding or Firewall, rather than the Replicate software itself.