Replicating Data to SQL Server Compact Edition

Merge replication allows you to replicate data to SQL Server 2005 Compact Edition, providing a convenient way for mobile users to synchronize data changes with a central SQL Server database. Many applications require data to be available to remote users, including sales people, delivery drivers, and so on. These applications include customer relationship management (CRM), sales force automation (SFA), and field force automation (FFA) applications. For more information about these scenarios, see Exchanging Data with Mobile Users.

Merge replication synchronizes data with SQL Server 2005 Compact Edition using Web synchronization. The format in which data changes are delivered to SQL Server 2005 Compact Edition is different from other SQL Server editions, but the architecture is essentially the same: a Subscriber sends its changes to the Publisher through Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS) server, and receives its changes from the Publisher through the same IIS server. For more information about the architecture for SQL Server 2005 Compact Edition synchronization, see Replication Architecture. For more information about configuring the IIS server for connectivity, see Configuring and Securing the Server Environment.

Creating Publications and Subscriptions for SQL Server Compact Edition

Publications are created using the New Publication Wizard or the stored procedure sp_addmergepublication (Transact-SQL). Publications that support SQL Server 2005 Compact Edition subscriptions have a number of requirements and limitations (for example, character mode snapshot is required):

Subscriptions are created using the New Subscription Wizard or programmatically. For more information, see Creating a Subscription.

SQL Server Management Studio and Replication Monitor

Like standard SQL Server subscriptions, SQL Server 2005 Compact Edition subscriptions are displayed in SQL Server Management Studio and Replication Monitor:

See Also

Concepts

Merge Replication Overview

Other Resources

Implementing Replication
Implementing Replication (SQL Server Compact Edition)

Help and Information

Getting SQL Server 2005 Assistance