SQL Server Replication Subscription Properties dialog box

Applies to: SQL Server Azure SQL Database

Publisher properties

The Subscription Properties dialog box at the Publisher allows you to view and set properties for push subscriptions. You can also view some properties for pull subscriptions, but the Subscriptions Properties dialog box at the Subscriber displays additional properties and allows properties to be modified.

Each property in the Subscription Properties dialog box includes a description. Click a property to see its description displayed at the bottom of the dialog box. This topic provides additional information on a number of properties, most of which are displayed at the Publisher only for push subscriptions. The properties are grouped into the following categories:

  • Properties that apply to all subscriptions.
  • Properties that apply to transactional subscriptions.
  • Properties that apply to merge subscriptions.

If an option is displayed as read-only, it can only be set when the subscription is created. If you want to set options that are not available in the New Subscription Wizard, create the subscription with stored procedures. For more information, see Create a Pull Subscription and Create a Push Subscription.

Subscriber properties

The Subscription Properties dialog box at the Subscriber allows you to view and set properties for pull subscriptions.

Each property in the Subscription Properties dialog box includes a description. Click a property to see its description displayed at the bottom of the dialog box. This topic provides additional information on a number of properties. The properties are grouped into the following categories:

  • Properties that apply to all subscriptions.
  • Properties that apply to transactional subscriptions.
  • Properties that apply to merge subscriptions.

If an option is displayed as read-only, it can only be set when the subscription is created. If you want to set options that are not available in the New Subscription Wizard, create the subscription with stored procedures. For more information, see Create a Pull Subscription and Create a Push Subscription.

Note

  • If a Distribution Agent or Merge Agent job has not yet been created for the subscription, many subscription properties are not displayed. To create an agent job for a pull subscription, Execute sp_addpullsubscription_agent (Transact-SQL) (for a subscription to a snapshot or transactional publication) or sp_addmergepullsubscription_agent (Transact-SQL) (for a subscription to a merge publication).
  • Azure SQL Managed Instance databases can be a publisher, distributor, and subscriber for snapshot and transactional replication. Databases in Azure SQL Database can only be push subscribers for snapshot and transactional replication. For more information, see Transactional replication with Azure SQL Database.

Publisher Options for all subscriptions

Security
Click the Agent process account row, and then click the properties button (...) to change the account under which the Distribution Agent or Merge Agent runs at the Distributor. To change the account under which the Distribution Agent or Merge Agent makes connections to the Subscriber, click Subscriber connection, and then click the properties button (...).

For more information about the permissions required for each agent, see Replication Agent Security Model.

Publisher Options for transactional subscriptions

Prevent transaction looping
Determines whether the Distribution Agent sends transactions that originated at the Subscriber back to the Subscriber. This option is used for bidirectional transactional replication. For more information, see Bidirectional Transactional Replication.

Updatable subscription
Determines whether Subscriber changes are replicated back to the Publisher. Changes can be replicated using queued updating or immediate updating. The option Subscriber update method determines which method to use. For more information, see Updatable Subscriptions for Transactional Replication.

Publisher Options for merge subscriptions

Partition definition (HOST_NAME)
For a publication that uses parameterized filters, merge replication evaluates one of two system functions (or both if the filter references both functions) during synchronization to determine the data that a Subscriber should receive: SUSER_SNAME() or HOST_NAME(). By default, HOST_NAME() returns the name of the computer on which the Merge Agent is running, but you can override this value in the New Subscription Wizard. For more information on parameterized filters and overriding HOST_NAME(), see Parameterized Row Filters.

Subscription type and Priority
Displays whether the subscription is a client or server subscription (this cannot be changed after the subscription has been created). Server subscriptions can republish data to other Subscribers and can be assigned a priority for conflict resolution.

If you selected a subscription type of server in the New Subscription Wizard, the Subscriber is given a priority that is used during conflict resolution.

Resolve conflicts interactively
Determines whether to use the Interactive Resolver user interface to resolve conflicts during merge synchronization. This requires a value of Enable for Use Windows Synchronization Manager. For more information, see Interactive Conflict Resolution.

Subscriber Options for all subscriptions

Initialize published data from a snapshot
Determines whether subscriptions are initialized with a snapshot (the default) or through another method. For more information on initializing subscriptions, see Initialize a Subscription.

Snapshot location
Determines the location from which snapshot files are accessed during initialization or reinitialization. The location can be one of the following values:

Snapshot folder
If you select any value other than Default location for the Snapshot Location option, you must specify a path to the snapshot folder.

Use Windows Synchronization Manager
Determines whether this subscription can be synchronized using Microsoft Windows Synchronization Manager.

Security
Click the Agent process account row, and then click the properties button (...) to change the account under which the Distribution Agent or Merge Agent runs at the Subscriber. The security options related to connections depend on the type of subscription:

  • For subscriptions to a transactional publication: to change the account under which the Distribution Agent makes connections to the Distributor, click Distributor Connection, and then click the properties button (...).

  • For immediate updating subscriptions to a transactional publication: in addition to the Distributor connection described above, you can change the method used to propagate changes from the Subscriber to the Publisher: click Publisher Connection, and then click the properties button (...).

  • For subscriptions to merge publications click Publisher Connection, and then click the properties button (...).

For more information about the permissions required for each agent, see Replication Agent Security Model.

Subscriber options for transactional subscriptions

Updatable subscription
Determines whether Subscriber changes are replicated back to the Publisher. Changes can be replicated using queued updating or immediate updating. The option Subscriber update method determines which method to use. For more information, see Updatable Subscriptions for Transactional Replication.

Options for merge subscriptions

Partition definition (HOST_NAME)
For a publication that uses parameterized filters, merge replication evaluates one of two system functions (or both if the filter references both functions) during synchronization to determine the data that a Subscriber should receive: SUSER_SNAME() or HOST_NAME(). By default, HOST_NAME() returns the name of the computer on which the Merge Agent is running, but you can override this value in the New Subscription Wizard. For more information on parameterized filters and overriding HOST_NAME(), see Parameterized Row Filters.

Subscription type and Priority
Displays whether the subscription is a client or server subscription (this cannot be changed after the subscription has been created). Server subscriptions can republish data to other Subscribers and can be assigned a priority for conflict resolution.

If you selected a subscription type of server in the New Subscription Wizard, the Subscriber is given a priority that is used during conflict resolution

Resolve conflicts interactively
Determines whether to use the Interactive Resolver user interface to resolve conflicts during merge synchronization. This requires a value of Enable for Use Windows Synchronization Manager. For more information, see Interactive Conflict Resolution.

Web Synchronization
Use Web Synchronization determines whether to connect to a Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS) server to synchronize the subscription. This option is available only if the publication is enabled for Web synchronization. For more information, see Web Synchronization for Merge Replication.

If you select True for Use Web Synchronization:

  • Enter the full address to the IIS server in Web server address.
  • Click the Web Server Connection row, and then click the properties button (...) to set or change the account under which the Subscriber connects to the IIS server.
  • Change Web server timeout if necessary. The timeout is the length of time, in seconds, before a Web synchronization request expires.

For more information about configuration, see Configure Web Synchronization.

See Also

View and Modify Pull Subscription Properties
View and Modify Push Subscription Properties
Subscribe to Publications