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How to add not null column in SQL Server 2005

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bhavna_816 bhavna_816 is offline

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How to add not null column in SQL Server 2005

Apr 7th, 2008

I have to add a not null column in a table.
I am using

 Help with Code Tags 
 MS SQL Syntax (Toggle Plain Text) 
IF NOT EXISTS(SELECT * FROM information_schema.COLUMNS WHERE column_name = 'xyz' 
AND table_name = 'abc') 	
BEGIN
	ALTER TABLE abc	WITH NOCHECK ADD xyz MONEY NOT NULL
END
IF NOT EXISTS(SELECT * FROM information_schema.columns WHERE column_name = 'xyz' 
AND table_name = 'abc') 	
BEGIN
	ALTER TABLE abc	WITH NOCHECK ADD xyz MONEY NOT NULL
END

It gives me error
ALTER TABLE only allows columns to be added that can contain nulls, or have a DEFAULT definition specified, or the column being added is an identity or timestamp column, or alternatively if none of the previous conditions are satisfied the table must be empty to allow addition of this column. Column 'xyz' cannot be added to non-empty table 'abc' because it does not satisfy these conditions.

can anybody have any idea, what's wrong with my SP?

?

Last edited by peter_budo; Apr 7th, 2008 at 5:25 am. Reason: Keep It Organized - please use [code] tags

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Ramy Mahrous Ramy Mahrous is offline

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Re: How to add not null column in SQL Server 2005

Apr 7th, 2008

You can't, simply when you add a column all rows before this adding have this column = null, so you can remove all rows and add a non-nullable column.

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plazmo

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Re: How to add not null column in SQL Server 2005

Apr 15th, 2008

if you want to add a not null column to a table with rows, you need to set a default value to the new column.

adding a new column without a default value would put a null in the column for each row, which would be breaking the not null rule.