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How to: Synchronize a Subscription (Using Windows Synchronization Manager)

Microsoft Windows Synchronization Manager is available on all computers running Windows 2000 and later versions (it can be used to synchronize offline files and Web pages). It can only be used to synchronize subscriptions to Microsoft SQL Server publications if SQL Server is running on the same computer as Synchronization Manager. To use Synchronization Manager:

  1. Enable the synchronization of pull subscriptions with Windows Synchronization Manager. There are two ways to do this:

    1. Use the sp_addmergepullsubscription_agent when you are creating a subscription. To do this, execute the sp_addmergepullsubscription_agentstored procedure at the Subscriber on the subscription database. Specify a value of true for @enabled\_for\_syncmgr. This stored procedure is supported for SQL Server Express even with _agent in the name, but the job itself is not created. For more information about this stored procedure, see How to: Create a Pull Subscription (Replication Transact-SQL Programming) and sp_addmergepullsubscription_agent (Transact-SQL) in SQL Server Books Online. 

    2. Use SQL Server Management Studio to modify subscription properties after you have created the subscription. To do this, use the Subscription Properties - <Subscriber>: <SubscriptionDatabase> dialog box. For more information about accessing this dialog box, see How to: View and Modify Pull Subscription Properties (SQL Server Management Studio) in SQL Server Books Online.

  2. Access Synchronization Manager through the Start menu in Windows.

Synchronization Manager allows you to use the Interactive Resolver for merge subscriptions. Typically, conflicts detected during synchronization are resolved automatically, but if interactive resolution is enabled, conflicts are resolved by a user during synchronization. For more information about enabling interactive resolution, see How to: Specify Interactive Conflict Resolution for Merge Articles (SQL Server Management Studio) in SQL Server Books Online.

To enable the synchronization of pull subscriptions with Windows Synchronization Manager

  1. On the General page of the Subscription Properties - <Subscriber>: <SubscriptionDatabase> dialog box, select a value of Enable for the Use Windows Synchronization Manager option.

  2. Click OK.

To synchronize a pull subscription with Synchronization Manager

  1. Click Start, point to Programs or All Programs and then Accessories.

  2. Click Synchronize.

  3. In the Items to Synchronize dialog box, select the subscriptions to synchronize. Subscriptions are listed under the SQL Server instances installed on the computer.

  4. Click Synchronize.

To reinitialize a pull subscription with Synchronization Manager

  • In the Items to Synchronize dialog box, select a subscription, and then click Properties.

Note

Merge replication allows any outstanding changes to be uploaded to the Publisher before the snapshot is applied, but this option is not available from Synchronization Manager. To upload changes, synchronize the subscription before reinitializing it.

  1. In the SQL Server Subscription Properties dialog box, click Reinitialize Subscription.

  2. Click Yes.

  3. Click OK.

    The next time the subscription is synchronized, by default a new snapshot is applied to the subscription database. For more information, see Reinitializing a Subscription in SQL Server Books Online.

To set properties for a pull subscription in Synchronization Manager

  1. In the Items to Synchronize dialog box, select a subscription, and then click Properties.

  2. View and modify properties on the following tabs:

    • Identification

    • Subscriber Login, Distributor Login, and Publisher Login

    • Web Server Information (merge replication only)

    • Other

    It is recommended to use Windows Authentication for all connections. For information about the permissions required by the Distribution Agent and the Merge Agent, see Replication Agent Security Model in SQL Server Books Online.

  3. Click OK.

To remove a pull subscription from Synchronization Manager

  1. In the Items to Synchronize dialog box, select a subscription, and then click Properties.

  2. In the SQL Server Subscription Properties dialog box, click Remove Subscription.

  3. Select an option in the Remove Subscription dialog box.

  4. Click OK.

To use the Interactive Resolver

  1. After the subscription begins synchronizing in Synchronization Manager, the Interactive Resolver launches automatically if interactive conflict resolution is enabled and there are conflicts for one or more articles.

    The Interactive Resolver displays conflicts one at a time, with a suggested resolution for each conflict (based on the resolver specified when the publication and subscription were created).

  2. Optionally, edit any of the columns displayed in the Interactive Resolver, and then click one of the following buttons to resolve the conflict:

    • Accept Suggested

    • Accept Publisher

    • Accept Subscriber

    • Resolve All Automatically (all current conflicts are resolved without further input)

    The selected row is then applied to the Publisher and/or Subscriber; it is propagated to other nodes in the topology during subsequent synchronizations.

Note

Edits are only applied if they are part of the row that is chosen for resolution. For example, if you make edits under Publisher, and then click Accept Subscriber, the edits are discarded.