SQL Server, Clean your Database Records and reset Identity Columns, The Shortest Path

by mosessaur| 09 December 2007| 3 Comments

Well, I had a small issue regarding writing a script to clean a database we have and reset its identity columns in all tables. Although the database wasn't huge one (less than 100 tables) I had to trace relations to be able to delete child table's records before parent's ones because of the foreign key constraints. The solution is disable the foreign keys and delete records with no fear of any errors then enables the constraints again.
Well, I found a solution to disable all constraints without the need to go on each table and disable it manually. and I was happy to know that I can use this solution in deleting all records from all tables. Not only this I was able to use the same solution to reset identity columns in all tables.
The solution was to use this built in stored procedure sp_MSforeachtable. For help about this proc search for it in Books online or use this sp_helptext sp_MSForeachtable.
Now back to my 6 lines, bellow is how I re-zeroed my Database:

   1: /*Disable Constraints & Triggers*/
   2: exec sp_MSforeachtable 'ALTER TABLE ? NOCHECK CONSTRAINT ALL'
   3: exec sp_MSforeachtable 'ALTER TABLE ? DISABLE TRIGGER ALL'
   4:  
   5: /*Perform delete operation on all table for cleanup*/
   6: exec sp_MSforeachtable 'DELETE ?'
   7:  
   8: /*Enable Constraints & Triggers again*/
   9: exec sp_MSforeachtable 'ALTER TABLE ? CHECK CONSTRAINT ALL'
  10: exec sp_MSforeachtable 'ALTER TABLE ? ENABLE TRIGGER ALL'
  11:  
  12: /*Reset Identity on tables with identity column*/
  13: exec sp_MSforeachtable 'IF OBJECTPROPERTY(OBJECT_ID(''?''), ''TableHasIdentity'') = 1 BEGIN DBCC CHECKIDENT (''?'',RESEED,0) END'
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Comments (3) -

jon
jon United Kingdom on 2/3/2009 7:30 AM Thats really useful thanks. How could it be improved to preserve some tables though? We are currently deploying our product to another customer and realising that its quite difficult to go back to a clean database without breaking some of its functionality. Some tables will have Types etc. used in drop downs which will require preserving.
adhie
adhie Indonesia on 7/10/2009 10:51 AM Dear Mosa,

Thanks , that realy useful. make me easier to clean database

Regards,
Adi Karunia
Milesh
Milesh India on 8/5/2009 1:41 AM Good And Useful article

Thaaaxz keeep up the good work

Regards
Milesh
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