Schema Changes And Merge Replication

Hi there,

I wonder if I can ask for some advise? I wish to use SQL 2005 and merge replication but I have a few concerns over the schema changes that I am allowed to do on the publisher.

Ideally I want sql replication to push all my schema changes from the publisher to the subscribers but I don't know if it can. or even if it is recommended.

I see the BOL suggesting that schema repl. was mainly intended for ALTER type of statemenets, but can I use it for CREATE and DROP type DDL too?

For example, if I add a new table at the publisher I presume I have to add a new article too for this table. Then how can I create a new snapshot? Is this even the right way of doing it? Similarly if I want to DROP a table at the publisher I'm guessing I have to also delete any existing articles too, then recreate the snapshot.

Are there better / safer ways of doing schema changes? Perhaps I'm best disabling publishing and asking each remote site / db to update their schema manually and then re-enabling the publisher?

Any help would be much appreciated.

Regards.