Wondering if I can download all current database info to a flash drive, install it on a Win 8.1 laptop, add info to the family tree over the weekend, then be able to update the original with the new info when I return home?
What you are asking sounds similar to what I do. My main installation of Gramps is v6.0.8 on my Win 11 Pro desktop PC. I also run a copy on my Win 11 Pro laptop by mirroring my desktop copy to an external HDD and then copying that mirror onto my laptop.
However, I don’t ever run that process in reverse (i.e. from laptop to desktop) but I can’t see any reason why I couldn’t. The only tweak have to make on the laptop installation after I’ve refreshed it is to reset the base media path.
I like the @stuck approach over exporting a full backup (with media) then importing to the other computer. Then reversing the process.
That’s because there are SOME refinements that don’t convey. (Such as re-ordering and Media object sidecars.) And restoring deltas (newly added/changed media files) via a revised Media set in a backup is … not handled well… at all.
And about media objects. Make doggone sure that all your local media object are within the relative media path and not using absolute paths. (But leaving the imported URLs path alone is ok.)