Replication Server 15.5 includes enhancements for requesting changes to replication definitions that automatically coordinate the propagation of replication definition changes and data replication.
These enhancements make coordinating database schema changes and replication definition changes more convenient because there is no downtime for the primary database, and minimal or no downtime for the replicate database. When you issue a replication definition change request, Replication Server determines if there is a need to create a new replication definition version based on the type of change requested. If Replication Server creates a new replication definition version, primary updates before the replication definition change request automatically use the old replication definition version, while primary updates after the replication definition change request use the new replication definition version.
Without these enhancements, to coordinate schema changes and replication definition changes, you must quiesce primary updates, wait until all the data associated with a primary table or stored procedure is processed through the entire replication system, shut down Replication Agent, alter the primary schema, alter the replication definition, alter any customized function strings, wait for the changes to replicate, alter the replicate schema, and then restart Replication Agent and resume primary updates.
See “Replication definition change request process,” in Chapter 9, “Managing Replicated Tables” in the Replication Server Administration Guide Volume 1 for the commands, procedures, and a user scenario for the enhanced replication definition change request process.
You can change replication definitions on primary databases for Adaptive Server, and for all versions of Microsoft SQL Server and Oracle that Replication Server supports. See the Replication Server Options documentation for supported versions.
If you execute the alter replication definition with the drop column name clause, and there is a subscription to the replication definition from a replicate site with a site version earlier than 1550, the primary Replication Server rejects the alter replication definition command.
Issuing any alter replication definition request with the with DSI_suspended parameter does not suspend any replicate DSI with site versions earlier than 1550.