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Microsoft SQL Server
>>What is the easiest way to make column unique?
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>>I created a unique index on the field but I really dont need the index, so the overhead of the managing the index seems excessive. Is there any other way to make a column unique? Im thinking some sort of check constraint that does a select but I get an error every time I use a query in a check constraint.
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>>Any ideas?
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>>Eric
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>From the BOL:
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>"SQL Server automatically creates a UNIQUE index to enforce the uniqueness requirement of the UNIQUE constraint. Therefore, if an attempt to insert a duplicate row is made, SQL Server returns an error message that says the UNIQUE constraint has been violated and does not add the row to the table. Unless a clustered index is explicitly specified, a unique, nonclustered index is created by default to enforce the UNIQUE constraint."
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>You complain about overhead... but, whould you rather have SQL Scan the whole table each time you add/update a record to make sure the value is unique?
Very true.
When I posted this message I didnt know what I know now. I though that you could only create unique indexs, not constraints. A unique constraint is exactly what I was looking for.
Thanks for the advice though :)
Eric
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