How can I add a column with a default value to an existing table in SQL Server 2000 / SQL Server 2005?
How can I add a column with a default value to an existing table in SQL Server 2000 / SQL Server 2005? ALTER TABLE SomeTable ADD SomeCol Bit NULL --Or NOT NULL. CONSTRAINT D_SomeTable_SomeCol --When Omitted a Default-Constraint Name is autogenerated. DEFAULT (0)--Optional Default-Constraint.
Syntax. The basic syntax of an ALTER TABLE command to add a New Column in an existing table is as follows. ALTER TABLE table_name ADD column_name datatype; The basic syntax of an ALTER TABLE command to DROP COLUMN in an existing table is as follows.
ALTER TABLE {TABLENAME} ADD {COLUMNNAME} {TYPE} {NULL|NOT NULL} CONSTRAINT {CONSTRAINT_NAME} DEFAULT {DEFAULT_VALUE} WITH VALUES
ALTER TABLE SomeTable ADD SomeCol Bit NULL --Or NOT NULL. CONSTRAINT D_SomeTable_SomeCol --When Omitted a Default-Constraint Name is autogenerated. DEFAULT (0)--Optional Default-Constraint. WITH VALUES --Add if Column is Nullable and you want the Default Value for Existing Records.
Optional Constraint Name:
If you leave out CONSTRAINT D_SomeTable_SomeCol
then SQL Server will autogenerate
a Default-Contraint with a funny Name like: DF__SomeTa__SomeC__4FB7FEF6
Optional With-Values Statement:
The WITH VALUES
is only needed when your Column is Nullable
and you want the Default Value used for Existing Records.
If your Column is NOT NULL
, then it will automatically use the Default Value
for all Existing Records, whether you specify WITH VALUES
or not.
How Inserts work with a Default-Constraint:
If you insert a Record into SomeTable
and do not Specify SomeCol
's value, then it will Default to 0
.
If you insert a Record and Specify SomeCol
's value as NULL
(and your column allows nulls),
then the Default-Constraint will not be used and NULL
will be inserted as the Value.
Notes were based on everyone's great feedback below.
Special Thanks to:
@Yatrix, @WalterStabosz, @YahooSerious, and @StackMan for their Comments.
ALTER TABLE Protocols ADD ProtocolTypeID int NOT NULL DEFAULT(1) GO
The inclusion of the DEFAULT fills the column in existing rows with the default value, so the NOT NULL constraint is not violated.
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