The Create Replica Footprints command can be used to export the contents of the replica manager to a feature class. Here, the geometry used as the spatial filter for each replica is stored in the shape column. Attributes in the feature class store the information from the replica manager. Changing a value in the replica footprint feature class does not update the replica in the geodatabase.
The feature class functions as a helpful administrative tool where you can query for information. For example, you can find all replicas waiting to receive messages or query for all replicas owned by a particular user.
The shape column always stores polygons. If another geometry type (e.g., a point or a line) is used as the replica geometry, it is buffered and the buffer is stored in the footprint feature class. If no replica geometry was used, a null polygon is stored in the shape column.
The spatial reference of the first replica that is something other than unknown is used by the footprint feature class. Unknown is used if all replicas have an unknown spatial reference. If only some of the replicas have an unknown spatial reference, a null replica geometry is stored for these replicas.
