Sql – Creating a composite foreign key in SQL Server 2008

sqlsql-server-2008

I have two tables that I'd like to create a foreign key for.

Primary Table

PK - Key1 - varchar(20)
PK - Key2 - date

Secondary Table

PK - AutoID
FK - Key1 - varchar(20)
FK - Key2 - date

When I try to create the relationship between the primary and secondary table, I keep getting the message

The columns in the Primary Table do not match a primary key or unique
constraint.

There can be many records in the secondary table with the same Key1 and Key2 so we made the primary key an auto created number.

Any thoughts on how I can set up the foreign key relationship between these two tables?

Best Answer

A foreign key MUST refer to columns that compose a unique index (PK or UK) with the same number of column, their types and order. E.g.:

CREATE TABLE PrimaryTable (
  Key1 varchar(20),
  Key2 date)
GO

ALTER TABLE PrimaryTable ADD CONSTRAINT PK
  PRIMARY KEY (Key1, Key2)
GO

CREATE TABLE SecondaryTable (
  AutoID int IDENTITY,
  Key1 varchar(20),
  Key2 date)
GO

ALTER TABLE SecondaryTable ADD CONSTRAINT FK
  FOREIGN KEY (Key1, Key2) REFERENCES PrimaryTable (Key1, Key2)
GO

Syntax:

ALTER TABLE {TABLENAME} 
ADD {COLUMNNAME} {TYPE} {NULL|NOT NULL} 
CONSTRAINT {CONSTRAINT_NAME} DEFAULT {DEFAULT_VALUE}
WITH VALUES

Example:

ALTER TABLE SomeTable
        ADD SomeCol Bit NULL --Or NOT NULL.
 CONSTRAINT D_SomeTable_SomeCol --When Omitted a Default-Constraint Name is autogenerated.
    DEFAULT (0)--Optional Default-Constraint.
WITH VALUES --Add if Column is Nullable and you want the Default Value for Existing Records.

Notes:

Optional Constraint Name:
If you leave out CONSTRAINT D_SomeTable_SomeCol then SQL Server will autogenerate
a Default-Contraint with a funny Name like: DF__SomeTa__SomeC__4FB7FEF6

Optional With-Values Statement:
The WITH VALUES is only needed when your Column is Nullable
and you want the Default Value used for Existing Records.
If your Column is NOT NULL, then it will automatically use the Default Value
for all Existing Records, whether you specify WITH VALUES or not.

How Inserts work with a Default-Constraint:
If you insert a Record into SomeTable and do not Specify SomeCol's value, then it will Default to 0.
If you insert a Record and Specify SomeCol's value as NULL (and your column allows nulls),
then the Default-Constraint will not be used and NULL will be inserted as the Value.

Notes were based on everyone's great feedback below.
Special Thanks to:
@Yatrix, @WalterStabosz, @YahooSerious, and @StackMan for their Comments.

Sql – How to return only the Date from a SQL Server DateTime datatype

SELECT DATEADD(dd, 0, DATEDIFF(dd, 0, @your_date))

for example

SELECT DATEADD(dd, 0, DATEDIFF(dd, 0, GETDATE()))

gives me

2008-09-22 00:00:00.000

Pros:

No varchar<->datetime conversions required
No need to think about locale

Best Answer

Related Solutions

Sql – Add a column with a default value to an existing table in SQL Server

Syntax:

Example:

Notes:

Sql – How to return only the Date from a SQL Server DateTime datatype

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