Question

I’m trying to do this query

INSERT INTO dbo.tbl_A_archive
  SELECT *
  FROM SERVER0031.DB.dbo.tbl_A

but even after I ran

set identity_insert dbo.tbl_A_archive on

I am getting this error message

An explicit value for the identity column in table ‘dbo.tbl_A_archive’ can only be specified when a column list is used and IDENTITY_INSERT is ON.

tbl_A is a huge table in rows and width, i.e. it has a LOT of columns. I do not want to have to type all the columns out manually. How can I get this to work?

Answer 1

Summary

SQL Server won’t let you insert an explicit value in an identity column unless you use a column list. Thus, you have the following options:

1. Make a column list (either manually or using tools, see below)

OR

2. make the identity column in tbl_A_archive a regular, non-identity column: If your table is an archive table and you always specify an explicit value for the identity column, why do you even need an identity column? Just use a regular int instead.

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Details on Solution 1

Instead of

SET IDENTITY_INSERT archive_table ON;

INSERT INTO archive_table
  SELECT *
  FROM source_table;

SET IDENTITY_INSERT archive_table OFF;

you need to write

SET IDENTITY_INSERT archive_table ON;

INSERT INTO archive_table (field1, field2, ...)
  SELECT field1, field2, ...
  FROM source_table;

SET IDENTITY_INSERT archive_table OFF;

with field1, field2, ... containing the names of all columns in your tables. If you want to auto-generate that list of columns, have a look at Dave’s answer or Andomar’s answer.

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Details on Solution 2

Unfortunately, it is not possible to just "change the type" of an identity int column to a non-identity int column. Basically, you have the following options:

• If the archive table does not contain data yet, drop the column and add a new one without identity.

OR

• Use SQL Server Management Studio to set the Identity Specification/(Is Identity) property of the identity column in your archive table to No. Behind the scenes, this will create a script to re-create the table and copy existing data, so, to do that, you will also need to unset Tools/Options/Designers/Table and Database Designers/Prevent saving changes that require table re-creation.

OR

• Use one of the workarounds described in this answer: Remove Identity from a column in a table