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ALTER TABLE [dbo].[YOUR_TABLE]<br />
ADD CONSTRAINT [LengthConstraint] CHECK (DATALENGTH([your_column])<wbr /> = 8 ) WITH NOCHECK
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ALTER TABLE [dbo].[YOUR_TABLE]
ADD CONSTRAINT [LengthConstraint] CHECK (DATALENGTH([your_column]) = 8 ) WITH NOCHECK

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ged325,<br />
if it is a NOCHECK, then even a 9 character or 7 can get in unsuspected, right?<br />
<br />
we only want the old records that are 6 in length.. and anything new should be 8 in length (no NULLs)
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ged325,
if it is a NOCHECK, then even a 9 character or 7 can get in unsuspected, right?

we only want the old records that are 6 in length.. and anything new should be 8 in length (no NULLs)

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i got it now.. thanks ged325!
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there is a column in which the data allowed previously was 6 characters. . Now with the new logic, they are expanded to allow 8 characters only. Is there a constraint that can be designed in SQL Server that will CHECK to make sure all new entries from now on will allow and strictly expect 8 characters, but will allow the existing 6 records as is without complaining, but will not allow any new entries with 6 characters?
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there is a column in which the data allowed previously was 6 characters. . Now with the new logic, they are expanded to allow 8 characters only. Is there a constraint that can be designed in SQL Server that will CHECK to make sure all new entries from now on will allow and strictly expect 8 characters, but will allow the existing 6 records as is without complaining, but will not allow any new entries with 6 characters?

constraint to allow past data but enforce new rule from now on?

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 is a suite of relational database management system (RDBMS) products providing multi-user database access functionality.Component services include integration (SSIS), reporting (SSRS), analysis (SSAS), data quality, master data, T-SQL and performance tuning. Major improvements include the  Always On technologies and support for unstructured data types.

Microsoft SQL Server 2008

Microsoft SQL Server 2005 is a suite of relational database management system (RDBMS) products providing multi-user database access functionality.Component services include integration (SSIS), reporting (SSRS), analysis (SSAS), data quality, master data, T-SQL and performance tuning. It includes support for managing XML data and allows a database server to be exposed over web services using Tabular Data Stream (TDS) packets encapsulated within SOAP (protocol) requests.