Cannot insert explicit value for identity column in table 'table' when IDENTITY_INSERT is set to OFF

Question

I have the below error when I execute the following script. What is the error about, and how it can be resolved?

Insert table(OperationID,OpDescription,Filte         


        

Answer 1

You're inserting values for OperationId that is an identity column.

You can turn on identity insert on the table like this so that you can specify your own identity values.

SET IDENTITY_INSERT Table1 ON

INSERT INTO Table1
/*Note the column list is REQUIRED here, not optional*/
            (OperationID,
             OpDescription,
             FilterID)
VALUES      (20,
             'Hierachy Update',
             1)

SET IDENTITY_INSERT Table1 OFF 

Answer 2

There are basically 2 different ways to INSERT records without having an error:

1) When the IDENTITY_INSERT is set OFF. The PRIMARY KEY "ID" MUST NOT BE PRESENT

2) When the IDENTITY_INSERT is set ON. The PRIMARY KEY "ID" MUST BE PRESENT

As per the following example from the same Table created with an IDENTITY PRIMARY KEY:

CREATE TABLE [dbo].[Persons] (    
    ID INT IDENTITY(1,1) PRIMARY KEY,
    LastName VARCHAR(40) NOT NULL,
    FirstName VARCHAR(40)
);

1) In the first example, you can insert new records into the table without getting an error when the IDENTITY_INSERT is OFF. The PRIMARY KEY "ID" MUST NOT BE PRESENT from the "INSERT INTO" Statements and a unique ID value will be added automatically:. If the ID is present from the INSERT in this case, you will get the error "Cannot insert explicit value for identify column in table..."

SET IDENTITY_INSERT [dbo].[Persons] OFF;
INSERT INTO [dbo].[Persons] (FirstName,LastName)
VALUES ('JANE','DOE'); 
INSERT INTO Persons (FirstName,LastName) 
VALUES ('JOE','BROWN');

OUTPUT of TABLE [dbo].[Persons] will be:

ID    LastName   FirstName
1     DOE        Jane
2     BROWN      JOE

2) In the Second example, you can insert new records into the table without getting an error when the IDENTITY_INSERT is ON. The PRIMARY KEY "ID" MUST BE PRESENT from the "INSERT INTO" Statements as long as the ID value does not already exist: If the ID is NOT present from the INSERT in this case, you will get the error "Explicit value must be specified for identity column table..."

SET IDENTITY_INSERT [dbo].[Persons] ON;
INSERT INTO [dbo].[Persons] (ID,FirstName,LastName)
VALUES (5,'JOHN','WHITE'); 
INSERT INTO [dbo].[Persons] (ID,FirstName,LastName)
VALUES (3,'JACK','BLACK'); 

OUTPUT of TABLE [dbo].[Persons] will be:

ID    LastName   FirstName
1     DOE        Jane
2     BROWN      JOE
3     BLACK      JACK
5     WHITE      JOHN

Answer 3

The problem raised from using non-typed DBContext or DBSet if you using Interface and implement method of savechanges in a generic way

If this is your case I propose to strongly typed DBContex for example

MyDBContext.MyEntity.Add(mynewObject)

then .Savechanges will work

Answer 4

There is pre-mentioned OperationId in your query which should not be there as it is auto increamented

Insert table(OperationID,OpDescription,FilterID)
values (20,'Hierachy Update',1)

so your query will be

Insert table(OpDescription,FilterID)
values ('Hierachy Update',1)