FIX: Snapshot Agent for a Merge Publication Might Fail with Error Message 4408 or 50007 (261216)

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 Service Pack 2
Microsoft SQL Server 2000 (all editions)

This article was previously published under Q261216

BUG #: 57846 (SQLBUG_70)
BUG #: 229022 (SHILOH)

SYMPTOMS

If a Merge publication has several articles, with row filters or join filters defined, the Snapshot Agent might fail with either of the following error messages:

Msg 4408
The query and the views in it exceed the limit of 256 tables.

-or-

Msg 50007
xp_execresultset: unable to execute result set.

This problem does not affect merge publications that do not have any articles with filters defined.

CAUSE

During the initial snapshot process, the Snapshot Agent creates views on the MSmerge_contents system table and other merge system tables, which are then used to transfer data to the subscriber. If the Merge publication has a large number of articles, with row or join filters defined, the creation of the view on the MSmerge_contents table might fail with the error messages described in the "Symptoms" section.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in SQL Server 7.0. This problem has been corrected in U.S. Service Pack 3 for Microsoft SQL Server 7.0. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

274799 INF: How to Obtain Service Pack 3 for Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 and Microsoft Data Engine (MSDE) 1.0

For more information, contact your primary support provider.

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in SQL Server 2000.

MORE INFORMATION

A Readme.txt file is included with the hotfix, which provides installation instructions.

Modification Type:	Major	Last Reviewed:	3/14/2006
Keywords:	kbBug kbfix kbQFE KB261216