Embedding Replication ActiveX Controls in Custom Applications

Microsoft® SQL Server™ provides Microsoft ActiveX® controls that allow custom applications to invoke replication agent functionality. The controls support anonymous, pull, and push subscriptions and can be monitored using SQL Server Enterprise Manager at the Distributor. Programmers can use ActiveX replication controls like any standard built-in control, such as the Microsoft Visual Basic® CheckBox control. The two controls provided are the SQL Distribution control and the SQL Merge control. These controls can be implemented in applications that manage subscriptions. In addition, these controls can be programmed to add and drop pull and anonymous subscriptions, create or attach Subscriber databases and register subscriptions to be run by Microsoft Synchronization Manager.

Using the ActiveX replication controls includes these benefits:

• The client has no dependency on SQL Server Agent, which is responsible for executing jobs in addition to replication.

  If you start a replication agent using SQL Server Agent, other jobs may also run. Also, if you are replicating to heterogeneous Subscribers using pull or anonymous subscriptions, SQL Server Agent is not available at the Subscriber.

• ActiveX replication controls can be invoked from many programming environments, including Visual Basic, Visual Basic Scripting Edition, Java, and Microsoft Visual C++®.
• The application can control when replication should take place.

  For example, you can place a “Synchronize Now” command in a menu.

• An application can use a progress bar to provide feedback on the progress of the replication control.
• An application can determine how to obtain login information (for example, hard-coded or interactive).
• Embedding replication controls in applications provides a simple way to distribute mobile applications without the complexity of Subscriber setup.

  Controls can be programmed to add or drop subscriptions and create or attach databases at the Subscriber.

• An application can be programmed to register the synchronization of a subscription in Microsoft Synchronization Manager.

  If a subscription is registered in Microsoft Synchronization Manager, there is no need to embed the controls in the application. All synchronization is then controlled by this central application.

See Also

Programming Replication ActiveX Controls