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Publication Properties, Snapshot

The Snapshot page of the Publication Properties dialog box allows you to set the snapshot format, snapshot folder location, and scripts to run before and after the application of the snapshot. The snapshot folder must be designated as a share and have sufficient permissions for the agents that read and write files to the folder. For more information about securing the folder appropriately, see Securing the Snapshot Folder.

Note

Changes require a new snapshot for the publication. For more information, see Changing Publication and Article Properties.

Options

  • Snapshot format
    Select native mode or character mode for the snapshot format.

    • Select Native SQL Server - all Subscribers must be servers running SQL Server if all Subscribers are instances of Microsoft SQL Server other than Microsoft SQL Server Compact 3.5 SP1. The native snapshot format provides the best performance.

    • Select Character - required if a Publisher or Subscriber is not running SQL Server if any Subscribers are running SQL Server Compact 3.5 SP1 or are non-SQL Server Subscribers.

  • Location of snapshot files
    Select the location to store snapshot files. They can be stored in the default location; they can also be stored in an alternate location instead of, or in addition to, the default location. Files stored in an alternate location can be compressed.

    • Select Put files in the default folder to use the default snapshot folder for the Publisher. The snapshot folder location is read-only in this dialog box, because it can only be changed for the Publisher in the Distributor Properties dialog box. For more information, see How to: Specify the Default Snapshot Location (SQL Server Management Studio).

    • Select Put files in the following folder to specify an alternate location instead of, or in addition to, the default location. Enter a path in the text box or click Browse and navigate to a location. Select Compress snapshot files in this folder to compress the files in the alternate snapshot location. The alternate location can be on another server, on a network drive, or on removable media such as a CD-ROM or removable disk. For more information, see Alternate Snapshot Folder Locations and Compressed Snapshots.

  • Run additional scripts
    Specify scripts to be executed before and after the snapshot is applied at the Subscriber. Scripts cannot be specified if Snapshot format is Character.

    Scripts are optional, but they provide a convenient way to execute commands and apply administrative changes at Subscribers. For more information about executing scripts, see Executing Scripts Before and After the Snapshot Is Applied.

    • Enter a path in the Before applying the snapshot, execute this script text box or click Browse to specify a location for the script.

    • Enter a path in the After applying the snapshot, execute this script text box or click Browse to specify a location for the script.