Saving changes after table edit in SQL Server Management Studio

rem picture rem · Dec 28, 2009 · Viewed 227.8k times · Source

If I want to save any changes in a table, previously saved in SQL Server Management Studio (no data in table present) I get an error message:

Saving changes is not permitted. The changes you have made require the following tables to be dropped and re-created. You have either made changes to a table that can't be re-created or enabled the option Prevent saving changes that require the table to be re-created.

What can prevent the table to be easily edited? Or, is it the usual way for SQL Server Management Studio to require re-creating table for editing? What is it - this "option Prevent saving changes"?

Answer

Pedro picture Pedro · Dec 28, 2009

Go into Tools -> Options -> Designers-> Uncheck "Prevent saving changes that require table re-creation". Voila.

That happens because sometimes it is necessary to drop and recreate a table in order to change something. This can take a while, since all data must be copied to a temp table and then re-inserted in the new table. Since SQL Server by default doesn't trust you, you need to say "OK, I know what I'm doing, now let me do my work."