Well, I have a couple of thoughts here, but the direction I'm leaning towards is that maybe your problem is caused by connection issues.  You mentioned that the snapshot push...

yes, the distributor is where the replication agent resides.  stopping SQL Server Agent will stop the replication threads.  You can also stop them individually by going into the replication monitor...

you'd be much better off using a row guid.

for some reason, the like database name filter has never worked for me.  yeah, the advice given of using the database ID works well.  look in sysdatabases in the master...

Yay!

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;888799

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/813494

Don't do that.  If you're just adding fields, use sp_repladdcolumn.  Look it up in books online.  This can be done without stopping the merge agent.

Microsoft just told me that the problem will be fixed in SP4, which will be released Q1 of 2005.  It'll also be fixed when Yukon comes out.

I was just told Q1 of 2005.  It will be fixed in Yukon as well, which is slated to be released the end of 2005. 

So, as far as #1 goes...  I am currently over a merge replication environment.  adding columns and tables is easy and doesn't require anything more than running a stored procedure. ...

Yes, there is an option that you can only configure when you update sql server 2000.  I can't remember if it's call cross chaining database permissions or whatever, but if...

well, I currently have the ranges set at 100,000 in all the areas, which should be more than adequate.  But, when your existing data has values in the 75,000 range,...

Thanks for the advice, but that probably won't work very well if I'm using identity ranges.  If my publisher database is using 1-1000 and is on 115, and my subscriber...

wow, thanks a bunch.  I guess that also covers the current merge issue I'm having, but I'll probably give them a call anyway.  Maybe if enough of us have the...

oh, also, here's something I just fixed.  In one of our subscriber sites, a table has a range of 300,001 - 400,000.  For some reason, the next identity value was...

Yes, when you initially create the publication (I do not believe you can do this after the fact), you have a list of articles you can add to the publication. ...