Question

Here’s my script:

INSERT INTO
 AP09
SELECT
  cds AS CDSCODE
FROM
  P_Schools
WHERE 
  active = 1;

There are ten columns in the AP09 table. All but the primary key (CDSCODE) are nullable. I just want to insert CDSCODEs from another table, and have the rest default to null. Instead I get an error:

SQL Server Database Error: Insert Error: Column name or number of supplied values does not match table definition.

If I supply the right number of nulls, the insert works. But the Microsoft documentation says (for INSERT command):

The Database Engine automatically provides a value for the column if the column: 

--Has an IDENTITY property. The next incremental identity value is used.
--Has a default. The default value for the column is used.
--Has a timestamp data type. The current timestamp value is used.
--Is nullable. A null value is used.
--Is a computed column. The calculated value is used.

Anyone know why this does not seem to be working as advertised? This is costing me a lot of time, as I have to do this for a number of tables! (It’s SQL Server 2005 BTW)

Answer 1

Since the table AP09 and CDSCODE dont have the same number of columns … you need to specify the cols to insert. Try something like this –

INSERT INTO
 AP09 (Col1)

SELECT
  cds AS CDSCODE 
FROM
  P_Schools
WHERE 
  active = 1;