Is replication without network connection but file-based possible?

Hello,

I've been looking around in several SQL-Forums and in SQL Books Online but haven't found clear suggestions how to tackle my problem:

Our company has to fill a database with documentation for our contractor. Our subcontractors have to supply information from their branch/craft into this database, too.

Replication (without determining a type at this time) would do fine for data-exchange between us and our subcontractors.

But for working in different companies the networks are not connected
and in some companies/departments connection to the Internet is prohibited at all.
This would result in data-exchange based on files - which wont be a problem as data needs to be updated/exchanged only once a week and is usually done at meetings using DVD-Rs.

scenario in short:
- two-way exchange of data between SQL servers being not connected
- update needed once a week
- our server: SQL Server 2005 Standard (preferred)
- servers of our subcontractors: SQL Server Express 2005 (preferred)

That's the point where I dont know how to proceed:
Is two-way replication based on files possible at all?

I read about Snapshots, but to my understanding this replaces the "whole database" without caring about changes made to it and that's why it wont work for two-way exchange.

I would appreciate your hints how to solve this problem in general or whether I should look out for other solutions - MS Access might work with restrictions - but I would prefer SQL Server.

Thanks for reading until here and in advance for your answers.

Regards,

Michael__H

Hi Michael.

I do not think there is an easy solution for your problem. There is no offline file based replication solution that will also do 2-way replication for you.

The closest you can get by is backup restore but that will overwrite your data on the other side.

However if you have even Internet connection, then you will be able to solve your problem by using Web Synchronization which is a new feature in SQL Server Merge replication for SQL Server 2005.

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Hello Mahesh,

thank you for your answer.

According to your reply I'm going to solve my problem by using stored procedures writing my own little "replication":

- select records to be altered by our subcontractors
- mark them in separate column as 'currently exported'
- copy to external database/file X
- let our subcontractors complete missing data in database/file X
- compare returned database/file X with records in database marked as 'currently exported'
- import changed records

Of course it won't be easy but as far as no other solution is possible...

Michael

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Michael,

Your solution will work but it could be tricky.

Again I encourage you to take a look at Web Synchronization if you remotely think that the subscribers could have atleast internet connection.

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Hello Mahesh,

I'll have a closer look at Web-Synchronization , it seems to be a solution. And if not, my "replication" will be used.

Your suggestion has given my a direction for further reading, thank you.

Michael