Replication Configuration Helper (Id Buy It!)

Let's face it - setting up SQL 2005 merge pull replication using HTTPS between numerous SQL Server 2005 Express clients and one or more Publishers is an overly complicated exercise.

It should be easy. Why is it so hard?

In a nutshell: The connection chain and security chain is long and when there's a problem the error messages just don't point you to the answer - You have to search for it;re-read the doco; talk to gurus; use logging tools;re-read the error message 100 times; etc. etc.

It should be possible to create a 'Replication Configuration Helper' that steps -step by step - through both the connection chain (App - to SQL Express - to local network components - to the TCP/IP network - to the web server - to the publishers/distributers) and through the security chain (App - to SQL Express authentication - local agents including certificate errors - to ISS server authentication - to Distributer authentication -to Publisher authentication to Article authentication).

Let's face it - the steps occur in sequence and each step can be tested and the appropriate error message raised - TOGETHER WITH INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO RESOLVE! (I mean - what's use is an error message when you have to cut and past the error message into a browser and search for ages before you get the instructions on how to resolve the problem?)

So c'mon - someone volenteer to write a 'Replication Configuration Helper'