No, the subscriber database doesn't appear in the job's name.

Check the agent parameters to be sure that everything is ok.

Also run sp like sp_helpmergepublication,

sp_helpmergesubscription and sp_helpmergearticle to be sure...

Not possible.

Log shipping will put the db in read only mode, so replication won't be able to apply changes at the subscriber.

With log shipping, you can have both things. You...

Not use by what you mean with secure FTP.

SQL replication will use FTP. Security depends on the network security, not SQL configuration.

Never tried. With replication you won't be allowed to use any alter table sintax.

Maybe if you create a new file within the same filegroup and use dbcc shrinkfile. But I...

Run sp_helpArticle 'PublicationName' from the ex published database.

If there are still articles in there, try dropping them with sp_droparticle.

To remove replication it is always better to use the wizards.

Not directly.

You can try to convert the column to a lower size, like this:

SELECT CONVERT(VARCHAR(30), name) AS name FROM msdb.dbo.sysjobs

But it will cut the names larger that the size you specify.

Yes.

From BOL

If you drop a clustered index on a table with nonclustered indexes, all the nonclustered indexes are rebuilt to replace the clustered index keys with row pointers.

With many, sp_help, sp_columns, etc.

You can also use a query like this:

IF EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM syscolumns where name = 'ColName' AND OBJECT_NAME(id) = 'TableName') PRINT 'Exists' ELSE PRINT 'no...

No. But you can try creating indexes views.

Create the view that matches all the tables you need with schemabinding, and then create indexes on that view.

Try running xp_logininfo with no parameters.

It will show info for all nt users and groups.

Any changes in the servers?

What about database compatibility level?

Can you post some example data?

I have always used BCP to export and bulk insert to import. It may not be the easiest way, but for me it is the fastest to transfer big amount...

You can change the configuration from the distributor.

From EM, right click over Replication, Configure Publishing ..., in the publishers Tab, select your publisher and there you can switch between the...

You can configure the publisher to connect to the distributor with a trusted connection, so that the distributor_Admin passqword is not necesary.