SQL Server merge replication error “The schema script 'xxx.sch' could not be propagated to the subscriber”

Question

I recently made some changes to a working publication under Merge replication which seem to have broken synchronization for the subscriber.

The error message I'm getting is:

The schema script 'ftdb_arcmessagefac64b65_76.sch' could not be propagated
to the subscriber. (Source: MSSQL_REPL, Error number: MSSQL_REPL-2147201001)
Get help: http://help/MSSQL_REPL-2147201001
The process could not read file 'D:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL
Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\ReplData\unc\xxx\20120701000581\xxxx.sch' due to OS error 3. (Source: MSSQL_REPL, Error number: MSSQL_REPL0)
Get help: http://help/MSSQL_REPL0

I've looked in the unc directory, and there's no directory 20120701000581, but there's a directory 20120706110881 from when the snapshot of the publication was updated.

I've tried reinitializing the subscription and recreating the snapshot, but the process still fails expecting the 20120701000581.

I haven't tried deleting and recreating the subscription yet, as I would rather get to the bottom of the issue before trying this. Can someone explain what may be happening and how to fix this?

Answer 1

After some further investigation, it appeared that I was able to make some changes to the article properties in the subscription and once the snapshot was rebuilt the subscription resynchronization ran successfully.

Answer 2

this happen because subscriber cant locate snaps so you can share snaps folder in your network using UNC

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms151151.aspx