Question

I am getting an error when trying to create a relationship within two tables in Sql Server 2005. I am attempting to create the relationships using the database diagram feature. I have a Player table and a Message table. I want to create two relationships from the Message table to the Player table. I can successfully create the first relationship from Message.From to Player.PlayerId. When I attempt to create the second relationship from Message.To to Player.PlayerId I get an error that says…

‘Player’ table saved successfully
‘Message’ table
– Unable to create relationship ‘FK_Message_Player_To’. The ALTER
TABLE statement conflicted with the
FOREIGN KEY constraint
“FK_Message_Player_To”. The conflict
occurred in database
“TPF”, table
“dbo.Player”, column ‘PlayerId’.

Message
===================
MessageId INT PK,
From INT, -- refers to Player PK
To INT -- also refers to Player PK

Player
=================
PlayerId INT PK,
FirstName NVARCHAR(50),
LastName NVARCHAR(50)

I would like to know what the most optimal way of solving this issue is. Any explanation is greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

This error occurs if you have data in the table that conflicts with the key you are trying to create.

Either delete the offending data in the “To” field, or change the “Check Existing Data on Creation or Re-enabling” option to “No”.