Does this code get executed after the changes to the data are made ?

I have not actually coded an application on a PDA as yet so I am making assumptions...

Have a look at the join hint "REMOTE".  If the cause of the delay is because the query is dragging all the data from the remote server and then applying...

Declare @sql varchar (1000)

Select @sql = 'DTSRun /E /S ' + @@Servername + ' /N ImportExcelFile'

Exec master..xp_cmdshell @sql

I suspect you are not getting the new records because you have not synchronised the SQLCE database with the published database.

With SQL CE, the merge agent does not run unless...

Check whether the subscribing server is allowed to be a subscriber.  This is done on the publisher.  Probably easiest done by using the "Configure Publishing and Distribution Wizard".

This may be because the subscriber is not in the publication access list. 

How is the subscriber connecting to the publisher ?  i.e. what SQL Server Login or Windows Account is...

You are not limited to varchar/char datatypes.  This is a limitation of the example because it is using a local variable.  You are permitted to use a text datatype if...

All changes (inserts/updates/deletes) are logged in SQL 2K.  However, you can change the recovery model so that you can keep the max size of you transaction log down.

Book online says...

You probably need to do something like

exec sp_trace_setfilter @TraceID, 34, 0, 7, @tab

I assume that the variable @tab contains the value that you wish to filter...

DBCC SHRINKFILE is the command you are after.  When used for a transaction log file, it will only release space that is at the end of the log file.  If...

I do not think that you can make this change to an existing column.   You will need to re-create the table with NOT FOR REPLICATION set.

You actually only need to install DTS to do what you are after.  DTS can be installed without requiring the installation of SQL Server. 

When you run DTS, you can...

Have a look in book online at article "Restoring the master Database from a Current Backup".  I think it will answer your question

DNS/WINS etc are not the source of the HOSTNAME you are seeing.

This value is supplied as part of the connection string used by an application connecting to SQL.  This value...

sq