Add Foreign Key relationship between two Databases

sql sql-server tsql foreign-keys
Sam picture Sam · Dec 15, 2010 · Viewed 98.3k times · Source

I have two tables in two different databases. In table1 (in database1) there is a column called column1 and it is a primary key. Now in table2 (in database2) there is a column called column2 and I want to add it as a foreign key.

I tried to add it and it gave me the following error:

Msg 1763, Level 16, State 0, Line 1
Cross-database foreign key references are not supported. Foreign key Database2.table2.

Msg 1750, Level 16, State 0, Line 1
Could not create constraint. See previous errors.

How do I do that since the tables are in different databases.

Answer

John Hartsock picture John Hartsock · Dec 15, 2010

You would need to manage the referential constraint across databases using a Trigger.

Basically you create an insert, update trigger to verify the existence of the Key in the Primary key table. If the key does not exist then revert the insert or update and then handle the exception.

Example:

Create Trigger dbo.MyTableTrigger ON dbo.MyTable, After Insert, Update
As
Begin

   If NOT Exists(select PK from OtherDB.dbo.TableName where PK in (Select FK from inserted) BEGIN
      -- Handle the Referential Error Here
   END

END

Edited: Just to clarify. This is not the best approach with enforcing referential integrity. Ideally you would want both tables in the same db but if that is not possible. Then the above is a potential work around for you.

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