How to: Create a Publication (RMO Programming)

You can create publications programmatically by using Replication Management Objects (RMO). The RMO classes that you use to create a publication depend on the type of publication you create.

Security Note
When possible, prompt users to enter security credentials at runtime. If you must store credentials, use the cryptographic services provided by the Microsoft Windows .NET Framework.

To create a snapshot or transactional publication

1. Create a connection to the Publisher by using the ServerConnection class.

2. Create an instance of the ReplicationDatabase class for the publication database, set the ConnectionContext property to the instance of ServerConnection from step 1, and call the LoadProperties method. If LoadProperties returns false, verify that the database exists.

3. If the EnabledTransPublishing property is false, set it to true.

4. For a transactional publication, check the value of the LogReaderAgentExists property. If this property is true, a Log Read Agent job already exists for this database. If this property is false, do the following:

   • Set the Login and Password or SecurePassword fields of LogReaderAgentProcessSecurity to provide the credentials for the Microsoft Windows account under which the Log Reader Agent runs.

     Note

     Setting LogReaderAgentProcessSecurity is not required when the publication is created by a member of the sysadmin fixed server role. In this case, the agent will impersonate the SQL Server Agent account. For more information, see Replication Agent Security Model.

   • (Optional) Set the SqlStandardLogin and SqlStandardPassword or SecureSqlStandardPassword fields of LogReaderAgentPublisherSecurity when using SQL Server Authentication to connect to the Publisher.

   • Call the CreateLogReaderAgent method to create the Log Reader Agent job for the database.

5. Create an instance of the TransPublication class, and set the following properties for this object:

   • The ServerConnection from step 1 for ConnectionContext.

   • The name of the published database for DatabaseName.

   • A name for the publication for Name.

   • A PublicationType of either Transactional or Snapshot.

   • The Login and Password fields of SnapshotGenerationAgentProcessSecurity to provide the credentials for the Windows account under which the Snapshot Agent runs. This account is also used when the Snapshot Agent makes connections to the local Distributor and for any remote connections when using Windows Authentication.

     Note

     Setting SnapshotGenerationAgentProcessSecurity is not required when the publication is created by a member of the sysadmin fixed server role. In this case, the agent will impersonate the SQL Server Agent account. For more information, see Replication Agent Security Model.

   • (Optional) The SqlStandardLogin and SqlStandardPassword or SecureSqlStandardPassword fields of SnapshotGenerationAgentPublisherSecurity when using SQL Server Authentication to connect to the Publisher.

   • (Optional) Use the inclusive logical OR operator (| in Visual C# and Or in Visual Basic) and the exclusive logical OR operator (^ in Visual C# and Xor in Visual Basic) to set the PublicationAttributes values for the Attributes property.

   • (Optional) The name of the Publisher for PublisherName when the Publisher is a non-SQL Server Publisher.

6. Call the Create method to create the publication.

   Security Note
   When configuring a Publisher with a remote Distributor, the values supplied for all properties, including SnapshotGenerationAgentProcessSecurity, are sent to the Distributor as plain text. You should encrypt the connection between the Publisher and its remote Distributor before calling the Create method. For more information, see Encrypting Connections to SQL Server.

7. Call the CreateSnapshotAgent method to create the Snapshot Agent job for the publication.

To create a merge publication

1. Create a connection to the Publisher by using the ServerConnection class.

2. Create an instance of the ReplicationDatabase class for the publication database, set the ConnectionContext property to the instance of ServerConnection from step 1, and call the LoadProperties method. If LoadProperties returns false, verify that the database exists.

3. If EnabledMergePublishing Property is false, set it to true, and call CommitPropertyChanges.

4. Create an instance of the MergePublication class, and set the following properties for this object:

   • The ServerConnection from step 1 for ConnectionContext.

   • The name of the published database for DatabaseName.

   • A name for the publication for Name.

   • The Login and Password fields of SnapshotGenerationAgentProcessSecurity to provide the credentials for the Windows account under which the Snapshot Agent runs. This account is also used when the Snapshot Agent makes connections to the local Distributor and for any remote connections when using Windows Authentication.

     Note

     Setting SnapshotGenerationAgentProcessSecurity is not required when the publication is created by a member of the sysadmin fixed server role. For more information, see Replication Agent Security Model.

   • (Optional) Use the inclusive logical OR operator (| in Visual C# and Or in Visual Basic) and the exclusive logical OR operator (^ in Visual C# and Xor in Visual Basic) to set the PublicationAttributes values for the Attributes property.

5. Call the Create method to create the publication.

   Security Note
   When configuring a Publisher with a remote Distributor, the values supplied for all properties, including SnapshotGenerationAgentProcessSecurity, are sent to the Distributor as plain text. You should encrypt the connection between the Publisher and its remote Distributor before calling the Create method. For more information, see Encrypting Connections to SQL Server.

6. Call the CreateSnapshotAgent method to create the Snapshot Agent job for the publication.

Example

This example enables the AdventureWorks database for transactional publishing, defines a Log Reader Agent job, and creates the AdvWorksProductTran publication. An article must be defined for this publication. The Windows account credentials that are needed to create the Log Reader Agent job and the Snapshot Agent job are passed at runtime. To learn how to use RMO to define snapshot and transactional articles, see How to: Define an Article (RMO Programming).

          // Set the Publisher, publication database, and publication names.
            string publicationName = "AdvWorksProductTran";
            string publicationDbName = "AdventureWorks2008R2";
            string publisherName = publisherInstance;

            ReplicationDatabase publicationDb;
            TransPublication publication;

            // Create a connection to the Publisher using Windows Authentication.
            ServerConnection conn;
            conn = new ServerConnection(publisherName);


            try
            {
                // Connect to the Publisher.
                conn.Connect();

                // Enable the AdventureWorks database for transactional publishing.
                publicationDb = new ReplicationDatabase(publicationDbName, conn);

                // If the database exists and is not already enabled, 
                // enable it for transactional publishing.
                if (publicationDb.LoadProperties())
                {
                    if (!publicationDb.EnabledTransPublishing)
                    {
                        publicationDb.EnabledTransPublishing = true;
                    }

                    // If the Log Reader Agent does not exist, create it.
                    if (!publicationDb.LogReaderAgentExists)
                    {
                        // Specify the Windows account under which the agent job runs.
                        // This account will be used for the local connection to the 
                        // Distributor and all agent connections that use Windows Authentication.
                        publicationDb.LogReaderAgentProcessSecurity.Login = winLogin;
                        publicationDb.LogReaderAgentProcessSecurity.Password = winPassword;

                        // Explicitly set authentication mode for the Publisher connection
                        // to the default value of Windows Authentication.
                        publicationDb.LogReaderAgentPublisherSecurity.WindowsAuthentication = true;

                        // Create the Log Reader Agent job.
                        publicationDb.CreateLogReaderAgent();
                    }
                }
                else
                {
                    throw new ApplicationException(String.Format(
                        "The {0} database does not exist at {1}.",
                        publicationDb, publisherName));
                }

                // Set the required properties for the transactional publication.
                publication = new TransPublication();
                publication.ConnectionContext = conn;
                publication.Name = publicationName;
                publication.DatabaseName = publicationDbName;

                // Specify a transactional publication (the default).
                publication.Type = PublicationType.Transactional;

                // Activate the publication so that we can add subscriptions.
                publication.Status = State.Active;

                // Enable push and pull subscriptions and independent Distribition Agents.
                publication.Attributes |= PublicationAttributes.AllowPull;
                publication.Attributes |= PublicationAttributes.AllowPush;
                publication.Attributes |= PublicationAttributes.IndependentAgent;

                // Specify the Windows account under which the Snapshot Agent job runs.
                // This account will be used for the local connection to the 
                // Distributor and all agent connections that use Windows Authentication.
                publication.SnapshotGenerationAgentProcessSecurity.Login = winLogin;
                publication.SnapshotGenerationAgentProcessSecurity.Password = winPassword;

                // Explicitly set the security mode for the Publisher connection
                // Windows Authentication (the default).
                publication.SnapshotGenerationAgentPublisherSecurity.WindowsAuthentication = true;

                if (!publication.IsExistingObject)
                {
                    // Create the transactional publication.
                    publication.Create();

                    // Create a Snapshot Agent job for the publication.
                    publication.CreateSnapshotAgent();
                }
                else
                {
                    throw new ApplicationException(String.Format(
                        "The {0} publication already exists.", publicationName));
                }
            }

            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                // Implement custom application error handling here.
                throw new ApplicationException(String.Format(
                    "The publication {0} could not be created.", publicationName), ex);
            }
            finally
            {
                conn.Disconnect();
            }

' Set the Publisher, publication database, and publication names.
Dim publicationName As String = "AdvWorksProductTran"
Dim publicationDbName As String = "AdventureWorks2008R2"
Dim publisherName As String = publisherInstance

Dim publicationDb As ReplicationDatabase
Dim publication As TransPublication

' Create a connection to the Publisher using Windows Authentication.
Dim conn As ServerConnection
conn = New ServerConnection(publisherName)

Try
    ' Connect to the Publisher.
    conn.Connect()

    ' Enable the AdventureWorks database for transactional publishing.
    publicationDb = New ReplicationDatabase(publicationDbName, conn)

    ' If the database exists and is not already enabled, 
    ' enable it for transactional publishing.
    If publicationDb.LoadProperties() Then
        If Not publicationDb.EnabledTransPublishing Then
            publicationDb.EnabledTransPublishing = True
        End If

        ' If the Log Reader Agent does not exist, create it.
        If Not publicationDb.LogReaderAgentExists Then
            ' Specify the Windows account under which the agent job runs.
            ' This account will be used for the local connection to the 
            ' Distributor and all agent connections that use Windows Authentication.
            publicationDb.LogReaderAgentProcessSecurity.Login = winLogin
            publicationDb.LogReaderAgentProcessSecurity.Password = winPassword

            ' Explicitly set authentication mode for the Publisher connection
            ' to the default value of Windows Authentication.
            publicationDb.LogReaderAgentPublisherSecurity.WindowsAuthentication = True

            ' Create the Log Reader Agent job.
            publicationDb.CreateLogReaderAgent()
        End If
    Else
        Throw New ApplicationException(String.Format( _
         "The {0} database does not exist at {1}.", _
         publicationDb, publisherName))
    End If

    ' Set the required properties for the transactional publication.
    publication = New TransPublication()
    publication.ConnectionContext = conn
    publication.Name = publicationName
    publication.DatabaseName = publicationDbName

    ' Specify a transactional publication (the default).
    publication.Type = PublicationType.Transactional

    'Enable push and pull subscriptions and independent Distribition Agents.
    publication.Attributes = _
    publication.Attributes Or PublicationAttributes.AllowPull
    publication.Attributes = _
    publication.Attributes Or PublicationAttributes.AllowPush
    publication.Attributes = _
    publication.Attributes Or PublicationAttributes.IndependentAgent

    ' Activate the publication so that we can add subscriptions.
    publication.Status = State.Active

    ' Specify the Windows account under which the Snapshot Agent job runs.
    ' This account will be used for the local connection to the 
    ' Distributor and all agent connections that use Windows Authentication.
    publication.SnapshotGenerationAgentProcessSecurity.Login = winLogin
    publication.SnapshotGenerationAgentProcessSecurity.Password = winPassword

    ' Explicitly set the security mode for the Publisher connection
    ' Windows Authentication (the default).
    publication.SnapshotGenerationAgentPublisherSecurity.WindowsAuthentication = True

    If Not publication.IsExistingObject Then
        ' Create the transactional publication.
        publication.Create()

        ' Create a Snapshot Agent job for the publication.
        publication.CreateSnapshotAgent()
    Else
        Throw New ApplicationException(String.Format( _
            "The {0} publication already exists.", publicationName))
    End If
Catch ex As Exception
    ' Implement custom application error handling here.
    Throw New ApplicationException(String.Format( _
        "The publication {0} could not be created.", publicationName), ex)
Finally
    conn.Disconnect()
End Try

This example enables the AdventureWorks database for merge publishing and creates the AdvWorksSalesOrdersMerge publication. Articles must still be defined for this publication. The Windows account credentials that are needed to create the Snapshot Agent job are passed at runtime. To learn how to use RMO to define merge articles, see How to: Define an Article (RMO Programming).

           // Set the Publisher, publication database, and publication names.
            string publisherName = publisherInstance;
            string publicationName = "AdvWorksSalesOrdersMerge";
            string publicationDbName = "AdventureWorks2008R2";

            ReplicationDatabase publicationDb;
            MergePublication publication;

            // Create a connection to the Publisher.
            ServerConnection conn = new ServerConnection(publisherName);

            try
            {
                // Connect to the Publisher.
                conn.Connect();

                // Enable the database for merge publication.               
                publicationDb = new ReplicationDatabase(publicationDbName, conn);
                if (publicationDb.LoadProperties())
                {
                    if (!publicationDb.EnabledMergePublishing)
                    {
                        publicationDb.EnabledMergePublishing = true;
                    }
                }
                else
                {
                    // Do something here if the database does not exist. 
                    throw new ApplicationException(String.Format(
                        "The {0} database does not exist on {1}.",
                        publicationDb, publisherName));
                }

                // Set the required properties for the merge publication.
                publication = new MergePublication();
                publication.ConnectionContext = conn;
                publication.Name = publicationName;
                publication.DatabaseName = publicationDbName;

                // Enable precomputed partitions.
                publication.PartitionGroupsOption = PartitionGroupsOption.True;

                // Specify the Windows account under which the Snapshot Agent job runs.
                // This account will be used for the local connection to the 
                // Distributor and all agent connections that use Windows Authentication.
                publication.SnapshotGenerationAgentProcessSecurity.Login = winLogin;
                publication.SnapshotGenerationAgentProcessSecurity.Password = winPassword;

                // Explicitly set the security mode for the Publisher connection
                // Windows Authentication (the default).
                publication.SnapshotGenerationAgentPublisherSecurity.WindowsAuthentication = true;

                // Enable Subscribers to request snapshot generation and filtering.
                publication.Attributes |= PublicationAttributes.AllowSubscriberInitiatedSnapshot;
                publication.Attributes |= PublicationAttributes.DynamicFilters;

                // Enable pull and push subscriptions.
                publication.Attributes |= PublicationAttributes.AllowPull;
                publication.Attributes |= PublicationAttributes.AllowPush;

                if (!publication.IsExistingObject)
                {
                    // Create the merge publication.
                    publication.Create();
                    
                    // Create a Snapshot Agent job for the publication.
                    publication.CreateSnapshotAgent();
                }
                else
                {
                    throw new ApplicationException(String.Format(
                        "The {0} publication already exists.", publicationName));
                }
            }

            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                // Implement custom application error handling here.
                throw new ApplicationException(String.Format(
                    "The publication {0} could not be created.", publicationName), ex);
            }
            finally
            {
                conn.Disconnect();
            }

' Set the Publisher, publication database, and publication names.
Dim publisherName As String = publisherInstance
Dim publicationName As String = "AdvWorksSalesOrdersMerge"
Dim publicationDbName As String = "AdventureWorks2008R2"

Dim publicationDb As ReplicationDatabase
Dim publication As MergePublication

' Create a connection to the Publisher.
Dim conn As ServerConnection = New ServerConnection(publisherName)

Try
    ' Connect to the Publisher.
    conn.Connect()

    ' Enable the database for merge publication.                
    publicationDb = New ReplicationDatabase(publicationDbName, conn)
    If publicationDb.LoadProperties() Then
        If Not publicationDb.EnabledMergePublishing Then
            publicationDb.EnabledMergePublishing = True
        End If
    Else
        ' Do something here if the database does not exist. 
        Throw New ApplicationException(String.Format( _
         "The {0} database does not exist on {1}.", _
         publicationDb, publisherName))
    End If

    ' Set the required properties for the merge publication.
    publication = New MergePublication()
    publication.ConnectionContext = conn
    publication.Name = publicationName
    publication.DatabaseName = publicationDbName

    ' Enable precomputed partitions.
    publication.PartitionGroupsOption = PartitionGroupsOption.True

    ' Specify the Windows account under which the Snapshot Agent job runs.
    ' This account will be used for the local connection to the 
    ' Distributor and all agent connections that use Windows Authentication.
    publication.SnapshotGenerationAgentProcessSecurity.Login = winLogin
    publication.SnapshotGenerationAgentProcessSecurity.Password = winPassword

    ' Explicitly set the security mode for the Publisher connection
    ' Windows Authentication (the default).
    publication.SnapshotGenerationAgentPublisherSecurity.WindowsAuthentication = True

    ' Enable Subscribers to request snapshot generation and filtering.
    publication.Attributes = publication.Attributes Or _
        PublicationAttributes.AllowSubscriberInitiatedSnapshot
    publication.Attributes = publication.Attributes Or _
        PublicationAttributes.DynamicFilters

    ' Enable pull and push subscriptions
    publication.Attributes = publication.Attributes Or _
        PublicationAttributes.AllowPull
    publication.Attributes = publication.Attributes Or _
        PublicationAttributes.AllowPush

    If Not publication.IsExistingObject Then
        ' Create the merge publication.
        publication.Create()

        ' Create a Snapshot Agent job for the publication.
        publication.CreateSnapshotAgent()
    Else
        Throw New ApplicationException(String.Format( _
            "The {0} publication already exists.", publicationName))
    End If
Catch ex As Exception
    ' Implement custom application error handling here.
    Throw New ApplicationException(String.Format( _
        "The publication {0} could not be created.", publicationName), ex)
Finally
    conn.Disconnect()
End Try

See Also

Tasks

How to: Create a Publication (Replication Transact-SQL Programming)

Concepts

Publishing Data and Database Objects

Replication Management Objects Concepts