Replication Wizards

Microsoft® SQL Server™ includes replication wizards to simplify configuring and implementing replication. The replication wizards can be accessed in SQL Server Enterprise Manager. On the Tools menu, point to Replication, and then click the appropriate wizard.

Configure Publishing and Distribution Wizard

Through the Configure Publishing and Distribution Wizard, you can:

Specify the server that you want to configure as the Distributor.
Configure SQLServerAgent service to start manually or automatically when the computer is started.
Customize the distribution database properties, enable Publishers, enable Subscribers, and set publishing settings.

Create Publication Wizard

Using the Create Publication Wizard, you can specify:

The existing publication to be used as a template for the new publication.
The type of publication to create (snapshot, transactional, or merge).
The data and database objects (articles) to include in the publication.
A name and description for the publication.
Horizontal and vertical data filters, and for merge publications, dynamic and join filters.
Whether to allow anonymous Subscribers.
The Snapshot Agent schedule and whether you want the Snapshot Agent to run immediately.

If you select the Show advanced options in this wizard check box on the Welcome page of the wizard, and you create a snapshot or transactional publication, you can specify the following:

Enabling updatable subscriptions including immediate updating and/or queued updating.
Enabling transforming published data so data can be transformed before it is distributed to Subscribers.

Create Pull Subscription Wizard

The Create Pull Subscription Wizard allows you to initiate a subscription at a Subscriber and request data to be replicated from a Publisher. Through the Create Pull Subscription Wizard, you can:

Select the Publisher and publication to which you want to subscribe.
Select the Subscriber (destination) database that will receive the published data.
Specify initialization of the subscription so that a snapshot of schema and data is applied at the Subscriber.
Specify the location of the snapshot files and how to access them at the time the subscription is initialized.
Set agent schedules for how frequently updates are propagated to the Subscriber.
Specify whether to transform the data before it is distributed (for snapshot or transactional publications that allow transforming published data).
Specify if you want required services to start automatically after the subscription is created or if you want to start required services manually.

Create Push Subscription Wizard

The Create Push Subscription Wizard allows you to specify at the Publisher what data you want replicated to specified Subscribers. Through the Create Push Subscription Wizard, you can:

Select one or more Subscribers or groups of Subscribers to receive published data.
Specify the database on the Subscriber where data will be published.
Specify where you want the Distribution Agent to run (for snapshot replication or transactional replication).
Set agent schedules for how frequently updates are propagated to the Subscriber.
Specify initialization of the subscription so that a snapshot of schema and data is applied at the Subscriber.
Specify whether to transform the data before it is distributed (for snapshot or transactional publications that allow transforming published data).
Set the priority value of the subscription to determine the winner if conflicts are detected (for a merge publication).
Specify whether you want required services to start automatically after the subscription is created or if you want to start required services manually.

Define Transformation of Published Data

The Define Transformation of Published Data Wizard is available after you have configured a publication to allow transformation of published data. This wizard allows you to create a Data Transformation Services (DTS) package that defines data transformations. You can specify:

The Subscriber that will use the package and what authentication that Subscriber uses.
Column mappings and data transformations that occur as the data is published including Microsoft ActiveX® or Java scripts.
The location of the DTS package at the server where the Distribution Agent runs.
The name, description, and security for the package.

Note DTS packages created in the Define Transformation of Published Data Wizard cannot be used outside of replication. However, DTS packages created independently of replication using DTS tools can be used to transform published data during replication.

Create Dynamic Snapshot Job Wizard

The Create Dynamic Snapshot Job Wizard guides you through creating a dynamic snapshot for dynamically filtered merge publications. In this wizard you can:

Specify the filter criteria page, including any system or user-defined functions used in the dynamic filters of the publication and the value of the login for the Publisher.
Specify the snapshot file location where you want snapshot files saved.
Set the dynamic Snapshot Agent schedule.
Specify the agent name for this dynamic Snapshot Agent.

Note You must generate a regular snapshot to the dynamically filtered merge publication before creating a dynamic snapshot.

Disable Publishing and Distribution Wizard

The Disable Publishing and Distribution Wizard allows you to disable publishing, distribution, or both on a server. You can also:

Specify whether to disable publishing on the server where the wizard is run.
Confirm the publications that will be dropped.