Add a column with a default value to an existing table in SQL Server

Question

How can I add a column with a default value to an existing table in SQL Server 2000 / SQL Server 2005?

Answer 1

This can be done in the SSMS GUI as well. I show a default date below but the default value can be whatever, of course.

1. Put your table in design view (Right click on the table in object explorer->Design)
2. Add a column to the table (or click on the column you want to update if it already exists)
3. In Column Properties below, enter (getdate()) or 'abc' or 0 or whatever value you want in Default Value or Binding field as pictured below:

Answer 2

ALTER TABLE MYTABLE ADD MYNEWCOLUMN VARCHAR(200) DEFAULT 'SNUGGLES'

Answer 3

Use:

ALTER TABLE {TABLENAME} 
ADD {COLUMNNAME} {TYPE} {NULL|NOT NULL} 
CONSTRAINT {CONSTRAINT_NAME} DEFAULT {DEFAULT_VALUE}

Reference: ALTER TABLE (Transact-SQL) (MSDN)

Answer 4

Try this

ALTER TABLE Product
ADD ProductID INT NOT NULL DEFAULT(1)
GO

Answer 5

IF NOT EXISTS (
    SELECT * FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS
    WHERE TABLE_NAME ='TABLENAME' AND COLUMN_NAME = 'COLUMNNAME'
)
BEGIN
    ALTER TABLE TABLENAME ADD COLUMNNAME Nvarchar(MAX) Not Null default
END

Answer 6

Use:

-- Add a column with a default DateTime  
-- to capture when each record is added.

ALTER TABLE myTableName  
ADD RecordAddedDate SMALLDATETIME NULL DEFAULT (GETDATE())  
GO