Drop default constraint on a column in TSQL

Question

I have a table with a column like this that is currently live:

name NVARCHAR(128) NOT NULL DEFAULT \'\'

Answer 1

I would suggest:

DECLARE @sqlStatement nvarchar(MAX),
        @tableName nvarchar(50) = 'TripEvent',
        @columnName nvarchar(50) = 'CreatedDate';

SELECT                  @sqlStatement = 'ALTER TABLE ' + @tableName + ' DROP CONSTRAINT ' + dc.name + ';'
        FROM            sys.default_constraints AS dc
            LEFT JOIN   sys.columns AS sc
                ON      (dc.parent_column_id = sc.column_id)
        WHERE           dc.parent_object_id = OBJECT_ID(@tableName)
        AND         type_desc = 'DEFAULT_CONSTRAINT'
        AND         sc.name = @columnName
PRINT'   ['+@tableName+']:'+@@SERVERNAME+'.'+DB_NAME()+'@'+CONVERT(VarChar, GETDATE(), 127)+';  '+@sqlStatement;
IF(LEN(@sqlStatement)>0)EXEC sp_executesql @sqlStatement

Answer 2

This is how you would drop the constraint

ALTER TABLE <schema_name, sysname, dbo>.<table_name, sysname, table_name>
   DROP CONSTRAINT <default_constraint_name, sysname, default_constraint_name>
GO

With a script

-- t-sql scriptlet to drop all constraints on a table
DECLARE @database nvarchar(50)
DECLARE @table nvarchar(50)

set @database = 'dotnetnuke'
set @table = 'tabs'

DECLARE @sql nvarchar(255)
WHILE EXISTS(select * from INFORMATION_SCHEMA.TABLE_CONSTRAINTS where constraint_catalog = @database and table_name = @table)
BEGIN
    select    @sql = 'ALTER TABLE ' + @table + ' DROP CONSTRAINT ' + CONSTRAINT_NAME 
    from    INFORMATION_SCHEMA.TABLE_CONSTRAINTS 
    where    constraint_catalog = @database and 
            table_name = @table
    exec    sp_executesql @sql
END

Credits go to Jon Galloway http://weblogs.asp.net/jgalloway/archive/2006/04/12/442616.aspx

Answer 3

I would like to refer a previous question, Because I have faced same problem and solved by this solution. First of all a constraint is always built with a Hash value in it's name. So problem is this HASH is varies in different Machine or Database. For example DF__Companies__IsGlo__6AB17FE4 here 6AB17FE4 is the hash value(8 bit). So I am referring a single script which will be fruitful to all

DECLARE @Command NVARCHAR(MAX)
     declare @table_name nvarchar(256)
     declare @col_name nvarchar(256)
     set @table_name = N'ProcedureAlerts'
     set @col_name = N'EmailSent'

     select @Command ='Alter Table dbo.ProcedureAlerts Drop Constraint [' + ( select d.name
     from 
         sys.tables t
         join sys.default_constraints d on d.parent_object_id = t.object_id
         join sys.columns c on c.object_id = t.object_id
                               and c.column_id = d.parent_column_id
     where 
         t.name = @table_name
         and c.name = @col_name) + ']'

    --print @Command
    exec sp_executesql @Command

It will drop your default constraint. However if you want to create it again you can simply try this

ALTER TABLE [dbo].[ProcedureAlerts] ADD DEFAULT((0)) FOR [EmailSent]

Finally, just simply run a DROP command to drop the column.