Did you encountered a problem where you wanted to change your database collation to default or even just changing it to a different type? I guess what you had initially done (like me) was to change the collation of the Database
well that does not quite work well as the existing columns will not be changed and retain its current collation type, only the newly created objects will use this new collation type. So you are left to the option of changing the columns one at a time by going to the column property and restoring it to default or choosing the collation type you want.
Well that’s great if you need to change 10 columns or less but what if you want to change the whole database? What if it’s a primary key or a foreign key? Well isn’t that a nightmare? Well I will give you an easy solution and all you need to do is to run 6 easy steps. If you don’t want to recreate the database and pump data by using DTS or SSIS then this is the solution for you just make sure backup and restore everything before doing any changes.
Step 1: Prepare your DB and Change the collation to your desired one.
Like I had said backup your database as a part of the preparation, once that’s done change your collation to the desired type by going to the database properties by right clicking on the database and choosing properties, once your on the properties window choose options and you can see the collation from there, choose what you want then hit OK. This will ensure that new objects created will be using the new collation.
Step 2: Create you Change Collation Script.
Next is to create a script to change the collation of every object in your database. You need to use the information_schema to extract columns needed to be changed and from there we run a loop on all objects creating alter scripts on each item. Since it is a collation change we will only need fields that uses character types and text types. What you need is to have a lot of commands similar to this
ALTER TABLE TABLENAME ALTER COLUMN COLUMNNAME varchar(100) COLLATE Latin1_General_CI_AS NULL
So here is the code to generate that
OPEN MyTableCursor FETCH NEXT FROM MyTableCursor INTO @TableName WHILE @@FETCH_STATUS = 0 BEGIN DECLARE MyColumnCursor Cursor FOR SELECT COLUMN_NAME,DATA_TYPE, CHARACTER_MAXIMUM_LENGTH,IS_NULLABLE from information_schema.columns WHERE table_name = @TableName AND (Data_Type LIKE '%char%' OR Data_Type LIKE '%text%') AND COLLATION_NAME <> @CollationName ORDER BY ordinal_position Open MyColumnCursor FETCH NEXT FROM MyColumnCursor INTO @ColumnName, @DataType, @CharacterMaxLen, @IsNullable WHILE @@FETCH_STATUS = 0 BEGIN SET @SQLText = 'ALTER TABLE ' + @TableName + ' ALTER COLUMN [' + @ColumnName + '] ' + @DataType + '(' + CASE WHEN @CharacterMaxLen = -1 THEN 'MAX' ELSE @CharacterMaxLen END + ') COLLATE ' + @CollationName + ' ' + CASE WHEN @IsNullable = 'NO' THEN 'NOT NULL' ELSE 'NULL' END PRINT @SQLText FETCH NEXT FROM MyColumnCursor INTO @ColumnName, @DataType, @CharacterMaxLen, @IsNullable END CLOSE MyColumnCursor DEALLOCATE MyColumnCursor FETCH NEXT FROM MyTableCursor INTO @TableName END CLOSE MyTableCursor DEALLOCATE MyTableCursor
Run it then save the script for later use. Lets call the script “ChangeCollation.sql”
If you don’t have relationships, primary keys and foreign keys then you don’t need to do the next step.
Step 3: Create a Stored Procedure to Script Indexes and Relationships
Well if you have relationships, primary keys and foreign keys then that’s a good practice but you need to script them as you need to drop those before changing the collation. Initially I thought I can do this with the wizard and choose to script indexes but it does not create on its own the table creation is always included so with a little help from Google I don’t have to write a single piece of code. I found this really good script to do it and I got it from here http://sqlblog.com/blogs/adam_machanic/archive/2010/04/04/rejuvinated-script-creates-and-drops-for-candidate-keys-and-referencing-foreign-keys.aspx
I only separated the Create Indexes and Drop Indexes as we need to run a process in the middle.
Here is the Create Index script courtesy of Adam Machanic
/* Script Table Keys (C) 2010 Adam Machanic - amachanic@gmail.com http://sqlblog.com/blogs/adam_machanic/archive/2010/04/04/rejuvinated-script-creates-and-drops-for-candidate-keys-and-referencing-foreign-keys.aspx This script produces a script of all of the candidate keys (primary keys or unique constraints) as well as referencing foreign keys, for the target table. To use, put SSMS into "results in text" mode and run the script. The output will be a formatted script that you can cut and paste to use elsewhere. Don't forget to configure the maximum text size before using. The default is 256 characters--not enough for many cases. Tools->Options->Query Results->Results to Text->Maximum number of characters->8192 */ CREATE PROC [dbo].[ScriptCreateTableKeys] @table_name SYSNAME AS BEGIN SET NOCOUNT ON --Note: Disabled keys and constraints are ignored --TODO: Drop and re-create referencing XML indexes, FTS catalogs DECLARE @crlf CHAR(2) SET @crlf = CHAR(13) + CHAR(10) DECLARE @version CHAR(4) SET @version = SUBSTRING(@@VERSION, LEN('Microsoft SQL Server') + 2, 4) DECLARE @object_id INT SET @object_id = OBJECT_ID(@table_name) DECLARE @sql NVARCHAR(MAX) IF @version NOT IN ('2005', '2008') BEGIN RAISERROR('This script only supports SQL Server 2005 and 2008', 16, 1) RETURN END SET @sql = '' + 'SELECT ' + 'CASE ' + 'WHEN 1 IN (i.is_primary_key, i.is_unique_constraint) THEN ' + '''ALTER TABLE '' + ' + 'QUOTENAME(OBJECT_SCHEMA_NAME(i.object_id)) + ''.'' + ' + 'QUOTENAME(OBJECT_NAME(i.object_id)) + @crlf + ' + '''ADD '' + ' + 'CASE k.is_system_named ' + 'WHEN 0 THEN ''CONSTRAINT '' + QUOTENAME(k.name) + @crlf ' + 'ELSE '''' ' + 'END + ' + 'CASE k.type ' + 'WHEN ''UQ'' THEN ''UNIQUE'' ' + 'ELSE ''PRIMARY KEY'' ' + 'END + '' '' + ' + 'i.type_desc + @crlf + ' + 'kc.key_columns + @crlf ' + 'ELSE ' + '''CREATE UNIQUE '' + i.type_desc + '' INDEX '' + ' + 'QUOTENAME(i.name) + @crlf + ' + '''ON '' + ' + 'QUOTENAME(OBJECT_SCHEMA_NAME(i.object_id)) + ''.'' + ' + 'QUOTENAME(OBJECT_NAME(i.object_id)) + @crlf + ' + 'kc.key_columns + @crlf + ' + 'COALESCE ' + '( ' + '''INCLUDE '' + @crlf + ' + '''( '' + @crlf + ' + 'STUFF ' + '( ' + '( ' + 'SELECT ' + '( ' + 'SELECT ' + ''','' + @crlf + '' '' + QUOTENAME(c.name) AS [text()] ' + 'FROM sys.index_columns AS ic ' + 'JOIN sys.columns AS c ON ' + 'c.object_id = ic.object_id ' + 'AND c.column_id = ic.column_id ' + 'WHERE ' + 'ic.object_id = i.object_id ' + 'AND ic.index_id = i.index_id ' + 'AND ic.is_included_column = 1 ' + 'ORDER BY ' + 'ic.key_ordinal ' + 'FOR XML PATH(''''), TYPE ' + ').value(''.'', ''VARCHAR(MAX)'') ' + '), ' + '1, ' + '3, ' + ''''' ' + ') + @crlf + ' + ''')'' + @crlf, ' + ''''' ' + ') ' + 'END + ' + '''WITH '' + @crlf + ' + '''('' + @crlf + ' + ''' PAD_INDEX = '' + ' + 'CASE CONVERT(VARCHAR, i.is_padded) ' + 'WHEN 1 THEN ''ON'' ' + 'ELSE ''OFF'' ' + 'END + '','' + @crlf + ' + 'CASE i.fill_factor ' + 'WHEN 0 THEN '''' ' + 'ELSE ' + ''' FILLFACTOR = '' + ' + 'CONVERT(VARCHAR, i.fill_factor) + '','' + @crlf ' + 'END + ' + ''' IGNORE_DUP_KEY = '' + ' + 'CASE CONVERT(VARCHAR, i.ignore_dup_key) ' + 'WHEN 1 THEN ''ON'' ' + 'ELSE ''OFF'' ' + 'END + '','' + @crlf + ' + ''' ALLOW_ROW_LOCKS = '' + ' + 'CASE CONVERT(VARCHAR, i.allow_row_locks) ' + 'WHEN 1 THEN ''ON'' ' + 'ELSE ''OFF'' ' + 'END + '','' + @crlf + ' + ''' ALLOW_PAGE_LOCKS = '' + ' + 'CASE CONVERT(VARCHAR, i.allow_page_locks) ' + 'WHEN 1 THEN ''ON'' ' + 'ELSE ''OFF'' ' + 'END + ' + CASE @version WHEN '2005' THEN '' ELSE ''','' + @crlf + ' + ''' DATA_COMPRESSION = '' + ' + '( ' + 'SELECT ' + 'CASE ' + 'WHEN MIN(p.data_compression_desc) = MAX(p.data_compression_desc) THEN MAX(p.data_compression_desc) ' + 'ELSE ''[PARTITIONS USE MULTIPLE COMPRESSION TYPES]'' ' + 'END ' + 'FROM sys.partitions AS p ' + 'WHERE ' + 'p.object_id = i.object_id ' + 'AND p.index_id = i.index_id ' + ') ' END + '+ @crlf + ' + ''') '' + @crlf + ' + '''ON '' + ds.data_space + '';'' + ' + '@crlf + @crlf COLLATE database_default AS [-- Create Candidate Keys] ' + 'FROM sys.indexes AS i ' + 'LEFT OUTER JOIN sys.key_constraints AS k ON ' + 'k.parent_object_id = i.object_id ' + 'AND k.unique_index_id = i.index_id ' + 'CROSS APPLY ' + '( ' + 'SELECT ' + '''( '' + @crlf + ' + 'STUFF ' + '( ' + '( ' + 'SELECT ' + '( ' + 'SELECT ' + ''','' + @crlf + '' '' + QUOTENAME(c.name) AS [text()] ' + 'FROM sys.index_columns AS ic ' + 'JOIN sys.columns AS c ON ' + 'c.object_id = ic.object_id ' + 'AND c.column_id = ic.column_id ' + 'WHERE ' + 'ic.object_id = i.object_id ' + 'AND ic.index_id = i.index_id ' + 'AND ic.key_ordinal > 0 ' + 'ORDER BY ' + 'ic.key_ordinal ' + 'FOR XML PATH(''''), TYPE ' + ').value(''.'', ''VARCHAR(MAX)'') ' + '), ' + '1, ' + '3, ' + ''''' ' + ') + @crlf + ' + ''')'' ' + ') AS kc (key_columns) ' + 'CROSS APPLY ' + '( ' + 'SELECT ' + 'QUOTENAME(d.name) + ' + 'CASE d.type ' + 'WHEN ''PS'' THEN ' + '+ ' + '''('' + ' + '( ' + 'SELECT ' + 'QUOTENAME(c.name) ' + 'FROM sys.index_columns AS ic ' + 'JOIN sys.columns AS c ON ' + 'c.object_id = ic.object_id ' + 'AND c.column_id = ic.column_id ' + 'WHERE ' + 'ic.object_id = i.object_id ' + 'AND ic.index_id = i.index_id ' + 'AND ic.partition_ordinal = 1 ' + ') + ' + ''')'' ' + 'ELSE '''' ' + 'END ' + 'FROM sys.data_spaces AS d ' + 'WHERE ' + 'd.data_space_id = i.data_space_id ' + ') AS ds (data_space) ' + 'WHERE ' + 'i.object_id = @object_id ' + 'AND i.is_unique = 1 ' + --filtered and hypothetical indexes cannot be candidate keys CASE @version WHEN '2008' THEN 'AND i.has_filter = 0 ' ELSE '' END + 'AND i.is_hypothetical = 0 ' + 'AND i.is_disabled = 0 ' + 'ORDER BY ' + 'i.index_id ' EXEC sp_executesql @sql, N'@object_id INT, @crlf CHAR(2)', @object_id, @crlf SELECT 'ALTER TABLE ' + QUOTENAME(OBJECT_SCHEMA_NAME(fk.parent_object_id)) + '.' + QUOTENAME(OBJECT_NAME(fk.parent_object_id)) + @crlf + CASE fk.is_not_trusted WHEN 0 THEN 'WITH CHECK ' ELSE 'WITH NOCHECK ' END + 'ADD ' + CASE fk.is_system_named WHEN 0 THEN 'CONSTRAINT ' + QUOTENAME(name) + @crlf ELSE '' END + 'FOREIGN KEY ' + @crlf + '( ' + @crlf + STUFF ( ( SELECT ( SELECT ',' + @crlf + ' ' + QUOTENAME(c.name) AS [text()] FROM sys.foreign_key_columns AS fc JOIN sys.columns AS c ON c.object_id = fc.parent_object_id AND c.column_id = fc.parent_column_id WHERE fc.constraint_object_id = fk.object_id ORDER BY fc.constraint_column_id FOR XML PATH(''), TYPE ).value('.', 'VARCHAR(MAX)') ), 1, 3, '' ) + @crlf + ') ' + 'REFERENCES ' + QUOTENAME(OBJECT_SCHEMA_NAME(fk.referenced_object_id)) + '.' + QUOTENAME(OBJECT_NAME(fk.referenced_object_id)) + @crlf + '( ' + @crlf + STUFF ( ( SELECT ( SELECT ',' + @crlf + ' ' + QUOTENAME(c.name) AS [text()] FROM sys.foreign_key_columns AS fc JOIN sys.columns AS c ON c.object_id = fc.referenced_object_id AND c.column_id = fc.referenced_column_id WHERE fc.constraint_object_id = fk.object_id ORDER BY fc.constraint_column_id FOR XML PATH(''), TYPE ).value('.', 'VARCHAR(MAX)') ), 1, 3, '' ) + @crlf + ');' + @crlf + @crlf COLLATE database_default AS [-- Create Referencing FKs] FROM sys.foreign_keys AS fk WHERE referenced_object_id = @object_id AND is_disabled = 0 ORDER BY key_index_id END
Step 4: Create Stored Procedure to Script Drop Indexes and Relationships
Now you also need to create the drop scripts, these is the other half of Adam Machanic’s script
CREATE PROC [dbo].[ScriptDropTableKeys] @table_name SYSNAME AS BEGIN SET NOCOUNT ON --Note: Disabled keys and constraints are ignored --TODO: Drop and re-create referencing XML indexes, FTS catalogs DECLARE @crlf CHAR(2) SET @crlf = CHAR(13) + CHAR(10) DECLARE @version CHAR(4) SET @version = SUBSTRING(@@VERSION, LEN('Microsoft SQL Server') + 2, 4) DECLARE @object_id INT SET @object_id = OBJECT_ID(@table_name) DECLARE @sql NVARCHAR(MAX) IF @version NOT IN ('2005', '2008') BEGIN RAISERROR('This script only supports SQL Server 2005 and 2008', 16, 1) RETURN END SELECT 'ALTER TABLE ' + QUOTENAME(OBJECT_SCHEMA_NAME(parent_object_id)) + '.' + QUOTENAME(OBJECT_NAME(parent_object_id)) + @crlf + 'DROP CONSTRAINT ' + QUOTENAME(name) + ';' + @crlf + @crlf COLLATE database_default AS [-- Drop Referencing FKs] FROM sys.foreign_keys WHERE referenced_object_id = @object_id AND is_disabled = 0 ORDER BY key_index_id DESC SET @sql = '' + 'SELECT ' + 'statement AS [-- Drop Candidate Keys] ' + 'FROM ' + '( ' + 'SELECT ' + 'CASE ' + 'WHEN 1 IN (i.is_unique_constraint, i.is_primary_key) THEN ' + '''ALTER TABLE '' + ' + 'QUOTENAME(OBJECT_SCHEMA_NAME(i.object_id)) + ''.'' + ' + 'QUOTENAME(OBJECT_NAME(i.object_id)) + @crlf + ' + '''DROP CONSTRAINT '' + QUOTENAME(i.name) + '';'' + ' + '@crlf + @crlf COLLATE database_default ' + 'ELSE ' + '''DROP INDEX '' + QUOTENAME(i.name) + @crlf + ' + '''ON '' + ' + 'QUOTENAME(OBJECT_SCHEMA_NAME(object_id)) + ''.'' + ' + 'QUOTENAME(OBJECT_NAME(object_id)) + '';'' + ' + '@crlf + @crlf COLLATE database_default ' + 'END AS statement, ' + 'i.index_id ' + 'FROM sys.indexes AS i ' + 'WHERE ' + 'i.object_id = @object_id ' + 'AND i.is_unique = 1 ' + --filtered and hypothetical indexes cannot be candidate keys CASE @version WHEN '2008' THEN 'AND i.has_filter = 0 ' ELSE '' END + 'AND i.is_hypothetical = 0 ' + 'AND i.is_disabled = 0 ' + ') AS x ' + 'ORDER BY ' + 'index_id DESC ' EXEC sp_executesql @sql, N'@object_id INT, @crlf CHAR(2)', @object_id, @crlf END
Step 5: Bringing them all together
Now you have the two stored procedure all you have to do is to loop though all tables in you database and pass that as the parameter of the Stored Procedure. First we use the ScriptCreateTableKeys.
DECLARE @TableName nvarchar(255) DECLARE MyTableCursor Cursor FOR SELECT name FROM sys.tables WHERE [type] = 'U' and name <> 'sysdiagrams' ORDER BY name OPEN MyTableCursor FETCH NEXT FROM MyTableCursor INTO @TableName WHILE @@FETCH_STATUS = 0 BEGIN EXEC ScriptCreateTableKeys @TableName FETCH NEXT FROM MyTableCursor INTO @TableName END CLOSE MyTableCursor DEALLOCATE MyTableCursor
Then lets use the ScriptDropTableKeys
DECLARE @TableName nvarchar(255) DECLARE MyTableCursor Cursor FOR SELECT name FROM sys.tables WHERE [type] = 'U' and name <> 'sysdiagrams' ORDER BY name OPEN MyTableCursor FETCH NEXT FROM MyTableCursor INTO @TableName WHILE @@FETCH_STATUS = 0 BEGIN EXEC ScriptDropTableKeys @TableName FETCH NEXT FROM MyTableCursor INTO @TableName END CLOSE MyTableCursor DEALLOCATE MyTableCursor
Just make sure when you execute them output the results as text so you can easily copy and paste the results.
Save the first results as “CreateKeysAndIndexes.sql” and the second as “DropKeysAndIndexes.sql”
Step 6: Run you saved scripts
In this order run your scripts and wait for the results, time wait might vary depending on your database size.
a. DropKeysAndIndexes.sql
b. ChangeCollation.sql
c. CreateKeysAndIndexes.sql
The change collation sample is missing its variable declarations. Thanks for sharing your ideas on changing collation.
Yes, variable declarations are missing, including the declaration for the MyTableCursor
I am failing at Step-1 itself as my database has check constraints and computed columns. I cannot change the collation of the database from Properties dialog. I want to change the collation from ‘SQL_Latin1_General_Pref_CP1_CI_AS’ to ‘SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS’.
I am stuck at the below error(partial). All check constraints and computed columns are schema bound.
Any help/advice please?
Alter failed for Database ‘testdb’. (Microsoft.SqlServer.Smo)
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
An exception occurred while executing a Transact-SQL statement or batch. (Microsoft.SqlServer.ConnectionInfo)
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The object ‘pager_phone_format’ is dependent on database collation. The database collation cannot be changed if a schema-bound object depends on it. Remove the dependencies on the database collation and then retry the operation.
ALTER DATABASE failed. The default collation of database ‘testdb’ cannot be set to SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS. (Microsoft SQL Server, Error: 5075)
Like the error you get I suggest you need to remove that dependency
I am looking for a script/scripts that will script out all the check constraints like the stored procs you provided for foriegn keys and also the drop scripts to remove the dependency. Was hoping if you have them already. Thanks for the reply!
You guys are the bomb….Thanks for saving plenty hours of work time to figure this out
In the following link is the first script complete, in order to create de alter table collation… queries…
This is a wonderfull Post.
I can’t see the link, can you send me it?
What link? its all active after I checked it
Hi, nice scripts, saved mee al lot of work with a database with nearly 3000 Indexes (big DMS :o).
If you not already found it: the first Script is listed at technet:
http://gallery.technet.microsoft.com/scriptcenter/Change-Collation-of-64f0b6c3
Dont you like it when people post your work without crediting it to you, thanks for the heads up