How to: Delete Primary Keys
Delete a primary key constraint when you want to remove the requirement for uniqueness for the values entered in a column or a combination or columns.
Note
A new version of Table Designer appears for databases in the SQL Server 2012 format. This topic describes the old version of Table Designer, which you use with databases in earlier formats of SQL Server.
In the new version, you can change a table definition through a graphical interface or directly in a script pane. If you use the graphical interface, the table’s definition is automatically updated in the script pane. To apply the SQL code in the script pane, choose the Update button. For more information about the new version, see How to: Create Database Objects Using Table Designer.
Note
Your computer might show different names or locations for some of the Visual Studio user interface elements in the following instructions. The Visual Studio edition that you have and the settings that you use determine these elements. For more information, see Customizing Development Settings in Visual Studio.
To delete a primary key constraint
In Server Explorer, select the table with the primary key, and from the Data menu click Open Table Definition.
The table opens in Table Designer.
In the table grid, right-click the row with the primary key and choose Remove Primary Key to toggle the setting from on to off.
Note
To undo this action, close the table without saving the changes. Deleting a primary key cannot be undone without losing all other changes made to the table.
The constraint is deleted from the database when you save the table or diagram.