Can not insert a new column in a table

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SQL-Server-2008

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Hi Friends:

I have a "Product" table in which I want to create a new columns "Modified_By" and "Modified_Date_Time". This columns does not allow nulls.

However, as the database already has data, in order to create this column I had to defined as "allowing nulls". Then, I run a process which updated the new column. The last step was to uncheck the "Allow nulls" property, but when I tried to save the table changes, I got the following error:

'Product_Details' table - Unable to modify table.
Cannot insert the value NULL into column 'Modified_Date_Time', table 'Vendor Products.dbo.Tmp_Product_Details'; column does not allow nulls. INSERT fails. The statement has been terminated.

All the rows were succesfully updated with the correct value in the "Modified_By" and "Modified_Date_Time" column, so I don't know why I get this error...Anyway, it seems like a new "temporary" table was created by SQL Server 2008, because I don't have any table with the name "Tmp_Orders"

Any help is appreciated..Thanks :)

Posted 11-Dec-12 5:18am

Joy1979

Updated 11-Dec-12 6:00am

fjdiewornncalwe

v2

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2 solutions

Solution 1

Try setting a default value for the column when you turn off accepting nulls. That should allow you to change it.

Posted 11-Dec-12 5:35am

OriginalGriff

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Joy1979 11-Dec-12 11:38am

Hi..Thx for your reply. I tried with this query but it gave me column with -1 as data in it.

Alter Table Product_Details
Add Modified_By varchar (50) NOT NULL default -1

I tried other query which is not allowing me to add any of column.

ALTER TABLE Product_Details ALTER COLUMN Modified_By varchar (50) NOT NULL

..Please advise.

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fjdiewornncalwe · Accepted Answer · 2012-12-11T06:02:00

Solution 2

When I've had to do this in the past, I've done it in a multi-step process. Mostly because it's just easy to validate each step of the process and it's easy to do. (KISS principle)

1) Create your new columns will NULL allowed initially.
2) Update your data to have valid values in these columns.
3) Alter the tables to make the columns NOT NULL.

Posted 11-Dec-12 6:02am

fjdiewornncalwe

Updated 11-Dec-12 6:03am

v2

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Member 11969558 10-Oct-19 2:06am

Thank you very much "fjdiewornncalwe". It's work for me.
Very fine and Thanks in Advance.

Regards . . .