Method and apparatus for propogating tables while preserving foreign key integrity

The invention disclosed is a method and apparatus for propagating database tables while preserving foreign key integrity. The invention comprises an improved method of storing subscription sets that enables a user to assign a rank to a subscription set and to each member of the set, and an improved database propagation program that uses the ranks to determine the order in which to propagate database tables. In the preferred embodiment, subscription sets are stored in a subscription table and subscription members are stored in a member table. The preferred embodiment database propagation program further comprises a CAPTURE program and an APPLY program, wherein CAPTURE monitors a database for changes and APPLY propagates data from member tables in the subscription sets.