Dynamically Naming the Constraint

A constraint is nothing but a condition placed on the column or object. Let's see a small example of creating a Primary Key constraint.

CREATE TABLE SANTHOSH_TABLE (NAME VARCHAR(100),ID INT PRIMARY KEY,DOB DATETIME)

---- INSERT RECORDS INTO THE TABLE ----------
INSERT INTO SANTHOSH_TABLE VALUES('VENKAT',1,'1/1/2010')
INSERT INTO SANTHOSH_TABLE VALUES('LINGAM',2,'1/1/2009')
INSERT INTO SANTHOSH_TABLE VALUES('ILAM',3,'1/2/2010')
INSERT INTO SANTHOSH_TABLE VALUES('SANTHOSH',4,'1/3/2010')
INSERT INTO SANTHOSH_TABLE VALUES('SIVARAM',5,'1/4/2010')

SELECT * FROM SANTHOSH_TABLE



The Primary key constraint name is PK__SANTHOSH__3214EC2762AFA012 which looks tough to remember the name. This name is automatically generated by SQL Server. Can we change it to a specific name for the Constriant?
The following query will drop (delete) the constraint located for the table.

--------- DROP CONSTRAINT ON THE TABLE
ALTER TABLE SANTHOSH_TABLE DROP CONSTRAINT PK__SANTHOSH__3214EC2762AFA012
Now, lets see how to name a constraint.

---- DROPPING THE TABLE------------
DROP TABLE SANTHOSH_TABLE

---- NAMING THE CONSTRAINTS EXPLICITLY------------
CREATE TABLE SANTHOSH_TABLE (NAME VARCHAR(100),ID INT ,DOB DATETIME,
CONSTRAINT PK_ID_SANTHOSH PRIMARY KEY (ID))

Cheers,
Venkatesan Prabu .J