Why does SQL Server keep creating a DF constraint?

Question

I\'m trying to create upgrade and backout scripts in SQL. The upgrade script adds a column like so:

IF NOT EXISTS (SELECT * FROM sys.columns WHERE Name = N\'Col         


        

Answer 1

Run this:

declare @name as nvarchar(255);
SELECT @name = name FROM dbo.sysobjects 
WHERE name LIKE 'DF__XXX__YYY__%' and type = 'D'

IF @name IS NOT NULL BEGIN
    EXEC('ALTER TABLE XXX DROP CONSTRAINT ' + @name);
END

Answer 2

This is the default constraint that is added because of the DEFAULT(0) in your newly added column.

You can name this yourself so it has a known fixed name rather than relying on the auto name generation.

ALTER TABLE TableName
    ADD ColumnName bit NOT NULL CONSTRAINT DF_Some_Fixed_Name DEFAULT(0) 

Then to remove the column and constraint together

ALTER TABLE dbo.TableName
DROP CONSTRAINT DF_Some_Fixed_Name, COLUMN ColumnName

Answer 3

Run this if you want remove constraint:

DECLARE @tableName NVARCHAR(255) = '[INSERT]';
DECLARE @first5CharsFromColumnName NVARCHAR(255) = '[INSERT]';
DECLARE @name NVARCHAR(255);
SELECT @name = d.name FROM dbo.sysobjects d
INNER JOIN dbo.sysobjects t ON t.id = d.parent_obj
WHERE d.name LIKE '%'+@first5CharsFromColumnName+'%' AND d.type = 'D' AND t.name = @tableName

IF @name IS NOT NULL BEGIN
    EXEC('ALTER TABLE '+@tableName+' DROP CONSTRAINT ' + @name);
END