Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Can't save table design changes in SQL Server 2008

The default settings in SQL Server 2008 do not allow you to modify and save the design of a table if it requires that table be dropped and recreated. Instead, you'll get a nice error message that looks like this



This is nice if you don't want to accidentally change the design of a table, but I have a feeling most people that are in the SQL Management Studio application are using it for just that. The good news is this is easy to fix and only requires you to change one thing.

Within SQL Management Studio, go to Tools->Options->Designers->Table and Database Designers, then uncheck the box that says "Prevent saving changes that require table re-creation" and click OK. That's it, now you can change the design of your SQL table(s) and save them.


Thanks to vinodummy.com for pointing me in the right direction

12 comments:

  1. RussellApril 14, 2010 at 2:43 PM

    Thanks for posting this.

    ReplyDelete
  2. rslyghApril 14, 2010 at 9:15 PM

    You're welcome. And to anyone reading these comments, no, I did not leave a comment to myself.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AmberCFAugust 11, 2010 at 10:51 AM

    Thanks, Dude. You're awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  4. quynhntnFebruary 17, 2011 at 7:45 PM

    I had the same problem. Thanks for share.

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousApril 20, 2011 at 1:27 PM

    This was frustrating the (*#&$@(*&#$ out of me. THANK YOU

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousAugust 8, 2011 at 10:26 AM

    Dude,

    Thanks, You saved my Time and A......

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousDecember 25, 2011 at 3:12 PM

    Thanks a lot, that was really annoying to not be able to make any changes to the table design. Nice holiday gift you are for this community.

    In Gratitude, Nina

    ReplyDelete
  8. AnonymousMarch 8, 2012 at 6:06 PM

    Thanks, Dude. You saved me a lot of work

    ReplyDelete
  9. AnonymousOctober 17, 2012 at 8:12 AM

    I love a straight answer - thanks to you and google

    ReplyDelete
  10. AnonymousMay 11, 2015 at 11:24 AM

    Thanks a lot. This was very helpful. Robet Dube

    ReplyDelete
  11. UnknownMay 30, 2016 at 8:13 PM

    terima kasih teman :)
    jazakallah khoiron

    ReplyDelete
  12. comuter engeneeringOctober 20, 2016 at 10:46 AM

    I want to save a new data diagram, How?
    this way dose not work, when I am trying to save a new data diagram>
    Please, can you help me :(

    ReplyDelete

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