I am using Liquibase for managing SQL Server scripts (create, update, delete, alters etc.).
My requirement was to create a backup table (say old_table_a) before I could drop two columns (column_1, column_2) from the original table (table_a).
The new backup table does not need a primary key, so it will just have two columns as shown below
old_table_a
column_1 (from original table_a)
column_2 (from original table_a)
If I just write INSERT query as shown below, without having a CREATE TABLE old_table_a
INSERT INTO old_table_a (column_1, column_2)
SELECT column_1, column_2
FROM table_a
I had read this somewhere on some blog, but cannot find this.
Please provide some information if this is possible.
Otherwise I know that the usual way to do this is to create the new backup table and then populate the new table with values from the original.
This can be done with SELECT * INTO:
SELECT * INTO [NEWTABLE] FROM [OLDTABLE]
INSERT tableName1 (ColumName)
(select (ColumName ) from TableName2)
I need to 'migrate' a table in Oracle, this table has a primary key column with a sequence and a trigger to autoincrement this column mentioned, the process is detailed here.
The question is, I want to migrate this table to SQL Server put I want to take advantage of the identity feature. How can I tweak the table in SQL Server? Taking in count the fact I need to migrate the data and I don't want problems with the autoincrement column; will I lost the previous id assignation in Oracle?
No, you create the table with an identity column, like
MyID int identity([your max ID],1)
then when you insert the oracle data, prior to the insert run this command
SET IDENTITY_INSERT MYTABLE ON
/*insert your records*/
SET IDENTITY_INSERT MYTABLE OFF
Is it possible to add a column to a table at a specific ordinal position in Microsoft SQL Server?
For instance, our tables always have CreatedOn, CreatedBy, LastModifiedOn, LastModifiedBy columns at the "end" of each table definition? I'd like the new column to show up in SSMS above these columns.
If I am scripting all my database changes, is there a way to preserve this order at the end of the table?
FYI, I'm not trying to institute a flame war on if this should even be done. If you want to read about a thread that degenerates quickly into that, here's a good one:
http://www.developersdex.com/sql/message.asp?p=581&r=5014513
You have to create a temp table that mirrors the original table's schema but with the column order that you want, then copy the contents of the original to temp. Delete the original and rename the temp.
This is what SQL Management Studio does behind the scenes.
With a schema sync tool, you can generate these scripts automatically.
go into SQL Server management Studio, and "design" an existing table. Insert a column in the middle, right click in an empty area and select Generate Change Script...
Now look at the script it creates. it will basically create a temp table with the proper column order, insert the data from the original table, drop the original table, and rename the temp table. This is probably what you'll need to do.
You may also need to uncheck this option to allow creation of change scripts
The answer is yes, it is technically possible, but you will have a headache doing so and it will take a long time to execute and set up.
One: Create/Copy/Drop/Rename
This is actually what SQL Server is doing in the graphical interface: here's an example of the script it is generating and executing when you click the 'save' button after adding a new column to the beginning of a table.
/* To prevent any potential data loss issues, you should review this script in detail before running it outside the context of the database designer.*/
BEGIN TRANSACTION
SET QUOTED_IDENTIFIER ON
SET ARITHABORT ON
SET NUMERIC_ROUNDABORT OFF
SET CONCAT_NULL_YIELDS_NULL ON
SET ANSI_NULLS ON
SET ANSI_PADDING ON
SET ANSI_WARNINGS ON
COMMIT
BEGIN TRANSACTION
GO
CREATE TABLE dbo.Tmp_SomeTable
(
MyNewColumn int NOT NULL,
OriginalIntColumn int NULL,
OriginalVarcharColumn varchar(100) NULL
) ON [PRIMARY]
TEXTIMAGE_ON [PRIMARY]
GO
ALTER TABLE dbo.Tmp_SomeTable SET (LOCK_ESCALATION = TABLE)
GO
SET IDENTITY_INSERT dbo.Tmp_SomeTable ON
GO
IF EXISTS(SELECT * FROM dbo.SomeTable)
EXEC('INSERT INTO dbo.Tmp_SomeTable (OriginalIntColumn, OriginalVarcharColumn FROM dbo.SomeTable WITH (HOLDLOCK TABLOCKX)')
GO
SET IDENTITY_INSERT dbo.Tmp_SomeTable OFF
GO
DROP TABLE dbo.SomeTable
GO
EXECUTE sp_rename N'dbo.Tmp_SomeTable', N'SomeTable', 'OBJECT'
GO
GO
COMMIT
Two: ADD COLUMN / UPDATE / DROP COLUMN / RENAME
This method basically involves creating a copy of any existing columns that you want to add to the 'right' of your new column, transferring the data to the new column, then dropping the originals and renaming the new ones. This will play havoc with any indexes or constraints you have, since you have to repoint them. It's technically possible, but again time-consuming both in terms of development and execution.
CREATE TABLE MyTest (a int, b int, d int, e int)
INSERT INTO MyTest (a,b,d,e) VALUES(1,2,4,5)
SELECT * FROM MyTest -- your current table
ALTER TABLE MyTest ADD c int -- add a new column
ALTER TABLE MyTest ADD d_new int -- create copies of the existing columns you want to move
ALTER TABLE MyTest ADD e_new int
UPDATE MyTest SET d_new = d, e_new = e -- transfer data to the new columns
ALTER TABLE MyTest DROP COLUMN d -- remove the originals
ALTER TABLE MyTest DROP COLUMN e
EXEC SP_RENAME 'MyTest.d_new', 'd'; -- rename the new columns
EXEC SP_RENAME 'MyTest.e_new', 'e';
SELECT * FROM MyTest
DROP TABLE MyTest -- clean up the sample
Three: Live with it
This mightily offends my sense of order ... but sometimes, it just isn't worth reshuffling.
To my knowledge there is no known method to change the order of the column. Behind the scenes SQL Management Studio does what Jose Basilio said. And if you have a big table then it is impractical to change the column orders like this way.
You can use a "view". With SQL views you can use any order you like without getting affected by the table column changes.
I am using SSMS 18. I did in simple way
Opened design of table
positioning the required column by dragging it
And as per the answer from KM (second in thread) - uncheck the option to allow creation of change scripts refer image above.
Save the changes.
Done. Check your table now.
TFS 2013 will do this for you automatically.
Add the new column(s) to your table anyway you like, and then commit your changes to TFS. From there you can open the table's sql file in Visual Studio and manually move the order of the columns in the T-SQL CREATE script. Then you can update your target database by using VS's schema compare tool found under Tools > SQL Server > New Schema Comparison. Choose your Database project with your change as the source, and the database you want to update as the target. Compare, select the table's script, and Update. VS will drop and add automatically. All your data will be safe, and indexes too.
What i think is simple is to add the column ALTER TABLE table1 ADD .. and then create a tmp table like tmp_table1 from the select like
SELECT col1,col2,col5,col3,col4 into tmp_table1 from table1;
and then drop table1 and rename the tmp_table1 to table1, that is it. I hope it will help someone
Select all the columns into a temp table, and create a new table with the new column you want. Then drop the old table, select all the columns from the temp table, and insert them into the new table with the reordered column. No data is lost.
SELECT * FROM TEMP
SELECT * FROM originaltbl
SELECT * FROM #Stagintbl
DECLARE #ColumnName nvarchar(max);
SET #ColumnName=(SELECT
DISTINCT STUFF((
SELECT ',' + a.COLUMN_NAME
FROM (
SELECT Column_name
FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS
WHERE TABLE_NAME='originaltbl') a
for xml path('')
),1,1,'') AS ColumnName)
DECLARE #Sqlquery nvarchar(max)
SET #Sqlquery = 'SELECT ' + #ColumnName + ' FROM #Stagintbl' + '';
INSERT INTO originaltbl
EXECUTE(#Sqlquery)
Dirty and simple.
Export table to csv.
Insert new data at desired position.
Drop table.
Create new table with desired column specifications.
Load columns from csv to new table.
I am not sure if the thread is still active. I was having the same query with MySQL database. Right clicking the table and selecting 'ALTER' auto generated the below code. Sample provided from sakila db and it worked. Just find out the column after which you want to place your new column and use 'AFTER' keyword
ALTER TABLE `sakila`.`actor`
CHANGE COLUMN `middle_name` `middle_name` VARCHAR(50) NULL DEFAULT NULL AFTER `first_name`;
In SQL Server (in my case, 2005) how can I add the identity property to an existing table column using T-SQL?
Something like:
alter table tblFoo
alter column bar identity(1,1)
I don't beleive you can do that. Your best bet is to create a new identity column and copy the data over using an identity insert command (if you indeed want to keep the old values).
Here is a decent article describing the process in detail:
http://www.mssqltips.com/tip.asp?tip=1397
The solution posted by Vikash doesn't work; it produces an "Incorrect syntax" error in SQL Management Studio (2005, as the OP specified). The fact that the "Compact Edition" of SQL Server supports this kind of operation is just a shortcut, because the real process is more like what Robert & JohnFX said--creating a duplicate table, populating the data, renaming the original & new tables appropriately.
If you want to keep the values that already exist in the field that needs to be an identity, you could do something like this:
CREATE TABLE tname2 (etc.)
INSERT INTO tname2 FROM tname1
DROP TABLE tname1
CREATE TABLE tname1 (with IDENTITY specified)
SET IDENTITY_INSERT tname1 ON
INSERT INTO tname1 FROM tname2
SET IDENTITY_INSERT tname1 OFF
DROP tname2
Of course, dropping and re-creating a table (tname1) that is used by live code is NOT recommended! :)
Is the table populated? If not drop and recreate the table.
If it is populated what values already exist in the column? If they are values you don't want to keep.
Create a new table as you desire it, load the records from your old table into your new talbe and let the database populate the identity column as normal. Rename your original table and rename the new one to the correct name :).
Finally if the column you wish to make identity currently contains primary key values and is being referenced already by other tables you will need to totally re think if you're sure this is what you want to do :)
There is no direct way of doing this except:
A) through SQL i.e.:
-- make sure you have the correct CREATE TABLE script ready with IDENTITY
SELECT * INTO abcTable_copy FROM abcTable
DROP TABLE abcTable
CREATE TABLE abcTable -- this time with the IDENTITY column
SET IDENTITY_INSERT abcTable ON
INSERT INTO abcTable (..specify all columns!) FROM (..specify all columns!) abcTable_copy
SET INDENTITY_INSERT abcTable OFF
DROP TABLE abcTable_copy
-- I would suggest to verify the contents of both tables
-- before dropping the copy table
B) Through MSSMS which will do exactly the same in the background but will less fat-fingering.
In the MSSMS Object Explorer right click the table you need to modify
Select "design" Select the column you'd like to add IDENTITY to
Change the identity setting from NO -> YES (possibly seed)
Ctr+S the table
This will drop and recreate the table with all original data in it.
If you get a warning:
Go to MSSMS Tools -> Options -> Designers -> Table and database Designers
and uncheck the option "Prevent saving changes that require table re-creation"
Things to be careful about:
your DB has enough disk space before you do this
the DB is not in use (especially the table you are changing)
make sure to backup your DB before doing it
if the table has a lot of data (over 1G) try it somewhere else first
before using in real DB
Create a New Table
SELECT * INTO Table_New FROM Table_Current WHERE 1 = 0;
Drop Column from New Table
Alter table Table_New drop column id;
Add column with identity
Alter table Table_New add id int primary key identity;
Get All Data in New Table
SET IDENTITY_INSERT Table_New ON;
INSERT INTO Table_New (id, Name,CreatedDate,Modified)
SELECT id, Name,CreatedDate,Modified FROM Table_Current;
SET IDENTITY_INSERT Table_New OFF;
Drop old Table
drop table Table_Current;
Rename New Table as old One
EXEC sp_rename 'Table_New', 'Table_Current';
alter table tablename
alter column columnname
add Identity(100,1)
I am working with SQL Server (I am a SQL Server noob) and trying to alter a table. I want to CREATE TABLE LIKE to safely store data while I drop keys and constraints and all the other rigamorole that SQL Server seems to require when altering on the original table but I have not been able to find a match to that command...
you want to recreate the same structure?
how about this
SELECT *
into test
FROM myRealTable
where 0=1
no data will be inserted into the new table
You can do
SELECT * INTO #MyTable_tmp FROM MyTable
Then modify your MyTable, and copy your data back in. Other approaches I've seen is to create a new table call it Mytable_Tmp (Not a temp table), which will be your new table.
Then copy your data doing any migrations you need. Then you will drop the original table and do a rename on Mytable.
Or you can get one of the many excellant tools that compare databases and generate difference scripts or VSTS DB Edition (Comes with developer) and you can do a diff script from a project file to a DB.
Edit
When you run SELECT * INTO #MyTable FROM MyTable, SQL Server creates a new temporary table called #MyTable that matches each column and data type from your select clause. In this case we are selecting * so it will match MyTable. This only creates the columns it doesn't copy defaults, constraints indexes or anything else.