Method and apparatus for preserving dependancies during data transfer and replication

Database objects, having interdependent relationships, are transferred for replication from a publisher to a subscriber in the order of a topological sort using a depth first search algorithm. When the depth first search algorithm attempts to enumerate all outgoing edges (dependencies) of a given node (database object), a request is made to begin an atomic transaction and then a temporary copy (e.g., via a T-SQL command) of the node/database object is created under a different name. The temporary copy is used to store dependency information that could otherwise be impaired by the replication process. Dependencies amongst database objects are thus preserved during the replication process through use of the temporary copy, as well as by transferring the database objects according to the topological sort order.