Keeping client database up-to-date

  • Using SS2K. I have a database on my server which is the meta data used by my application. I need to get this data onto a client SQL Server and subsequently keep it up-to-date.

    A key issue is that this will all be done programmatically. I will not have physical access to the clients server in anyway. More than likely I will have scripts and files which is called from inside C# app

    So I see myself having 3 issues.

    1) Create the database if it doesn't exist - not a biggie already have a script for that

    2) If I created database, add all the data. Here I am having a problem because of RI triggers. I have to make sure I add record into the table in the proper order (i.e. Add Parent Record before Child record). Since I am using trigger for RI as opposed to FORIEGN KEY constraints I can't use SP_FKEYS

    Was thinking of using a backup/restore type scenario but I am wondering if it would be better to have the next task and this as part of the same

    3) I have made changes to my copy of the database (structural and data) and I need to update the client's database. Add/Remove tables, Insert/Update/Delete records. Question is how do I know what is different.

    Just trying to get some ideas of where to start with all this. Come up with a decent plan

    With so many products using databases to hold metadata information, I can't image this is so unique a need but I just can't seem to find enough leads dong random searches

    Any thoughts greatly appreciated


    Much Thanks,

    Steve Dingle

  • Sounds like a good candidate for transactional replication.

    Gail Shaw
    Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
    SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

    We walk in the dark places no others will enter
    We stand on the bridge and no one may pass
  • Hello Gail thanks for the response

    >> Sounds like a good candidate for transactional replication.

    If I understand the help file correctly, that would assume the servers are connected. This is not the case. Basically I am developing an application which requires the use of a database on a clients server. I will have no access to their server (and I hope there are many clients 🙂 ) except in the form of some sort of update program I would provide, which I assume will be using some sort of script


    Much Thanks,

    Steve Dingle

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