Specify Computed Columns in a Table

Article
06/13/2017

A computed column is a virtual column that is not physically stored in the table, unless the column is marked PERSISTED. A computed column expression can use data from other columns to calculate a value for the column to which it belongs. You can specify an expression for a computed column in SQL Server 2014 by using SQL Server Management Studio or Transact-SQL.

In This Topic

Before you begin:

Limitations and Restrictions

Security
To specify a computed column, using:

SQL Server Management Studio

Transact-SQL

Before You Begin

Limitations and Restrictions

A computed column cannot be used as a DEFAULT or FOREIGN KEY constraint definition or with a NOT NULL constraint definition. However, if the computed column value is defined by a deterministic expression and the data type of the result is allowed in index columns, a computed column can be used as a key column in an index or as part of any PRIMARY KEY or UNIQUE constraint. For example, if the table has integer columns a and b, the computed column a + b may be indexed, but computed column a + DATEPART(dd, GETDATE()) cannot be indexed, because the value might change in subsequent invocations.
A computed column cannot be the target of an INSERT or UPDATE statement.

Security

Permissions

Requires ALTER permission on the table.

Using SQL Server Management Studio

To add a new computed column

In Object Explorer, expand the table for which you want to add the new computed column. Right-click Columns and select New Column.
Enter the column name and accept the default data type (nchar(10)). The Database Engine determines the data type of the computed column by applying the rules of data type precedence to the expressions specified in the formula. For example, if the formula references a column of type money and a column of type int, the computed column will be of type money because that data type has the higher precedence. For more information, see Data Type Precedence (Transact-SQL).
In the Column Properties tab, expand the Computed Column Specification property.
In the (Formula) child property, enter the expression for this column in the grid cell to the right. For example, in a SalesTotal column, the formula you enter might be SubTotal+TaxAmt+Freight, which adds the value in these columns for each row in the table.

Important

When a formula combines two expressions of different data types, the rules for data type precedence specify that the data type with the lower precedence is converted to the data type with the higher precedence. If the conversion is not a supported implicit conversion, the error "Error validating the formula for column column_name." is returned. Use the CAST or CONVERT function to resolve the data type conflict. For example, if a column of type nvarchar is combined with a column of type int, the integer type must be converted to nvarchar as shown in this formula ('Prod'+CONVERT(nvarchar(23),ProductID)). For more information, see CAST and CONVERT (Transact-SQL).
Indicate whether the data is persisted by choosing Yes or No from the drop-down for the Is Persisted child property.
On the File menu, click Savetable name.

To add a computed column definition to an existing column

In Object Explorer, right-click the table with the column for which you want to change and expand the Columns folder.
Right-click the column for which you want to specify a computed column formula and click Delete. Click OK.
Add a new column and specify the computed column formula by following the previous procedure to add a new computed column.

Using Transact-SQL

To add a computed column when creating a table

Connect to the Database Engine.
From the Standard bar, click New Query.

Copy and paste the following example into the query window and then click Execute. The example creates a table with a computed column that multiplies the value in the QtyAvailable column times the value in the UnitPrice column.

CREATE TABLE dbo.Products   
(  
    ProductID int IDENTITY (1,1) NOT NULL  
  , QtyAvailable smallint  
  , UnitPrice money  
  , InventoryValue AS QtyAvailable * UnitPrice  
);  

-- Insert values into the table.  
INSERT INTO dbo.Products (QtyAvailable, UnitPrice)  
VALUES (25, 2.00), (10, 1.5);  

-- Display the rows in the table.  
SELECT ProductID, QtyAvailable, UnitPrice, InventoryValue  
FROM dbo.Products;

To add a new computed column to an existing table

Connect to the Database Engine.
From the Standard bar, click New Query.
Copy and paste the following example into the query window and then click Execute. The following example adds a new column to the table created in the previous example.
```
ALTER TABLE dbo.Products ADD RetailValue AS (QtyAvailable * UnitPrice * 1.35);  
```

To change an existing column to a computed column

Connect to the Database Engine.
From the Standard bar, click New Query.
To change an existing column to a computed column you must drop and re-create the computed column. Copy and paste the following example into the query window and then click Execute. The following example modifies the column added in the previous example.
```
ALTER TABLE dbo.Products DROP COLUMN RetailValue;  
GO  
ALTER TABLE dbo.Products ADD RetailValue AS (QtyAvailable * UnitPrice * 1.5);  
```
For more information, see ALTER TABLE (Transact-SQL).

Share via