Question

Does anyone know if there is a way to achieve the same affect as a datetime column with a default binding of getdate() with computed columns?

I have tried setting the formula to getdate() and persist to Yes but I get an error

Computed column 'InsertDateTime' in table 'Tmp_Table' cannot be persisted because the column is non-deterministic.

Answer 1

forget the “computed column” and make it a regular not null column, with a default to GETDATE(), or use an INSTEAD OF UPDATE/INSERT trigger to set it.

you can’t make a computed column use a function that constantly returns a different value (based on the same parameter values), it must return the same value each time (based on the same parameter values). Read this: Deterministic and Nondeterministic Functions

All functions are deterministic or nondeterministic:

• Deterministic functions always return the same result any time
  they are called with a specific set of input values.
• Nondeterministic functions may return different results each time
  they are called with a specific set of input values.

Whether a function is deterministic or nondeterministic is called the
determinism of the function.

For example, the DATEADD built-in function is deterministic because it
always returns the same result for any given set of argument values
for its three parameters. GETDATE is not deterministic because it is
always invoked with the same argument, yet the value it returns
changes each time it is executed.