FIX: Unable to Truncate a Table That Had a Constraint Defined

 Last reviewed: April 9, 1997
Article ID: Q156287

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft SQL Server, versions 6.0 and 6.5
BUG #: 15572 (6.0), 15405 (6.5)

SYMPTOMS

The TRUNCATE statement fails with the following error message: 

   Msg 4712, Level 16, State 1
   Cannot truncate table '<tablename>' because it is being referenced by a
   foreign key constraint.
Deleting from the table produces the following error: 

   Msg 439, Level 16, State 1
   Unable to find foreign key constraints for table '<tablename>' in dbid
   'x' though table is flagged as having them.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, do the following:

  1. Back up the database.

  2. Drop and re-create the table.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft SQL Server versions 6.0 and 6.5. This problem has been corrected in U.S. Service Pack 2 for Microsoft SQL Server version 6.5. For more information, contact your primary support provider.

MORE INFORMATION

This problem occurs if the table once had a constraint defined, but the constraint was later removed by the ALTER statement.

Additional query words:
Keywords : kbbug6.00 kbbug6.50 kbfix6.50.sp2 kbnetwork SSrvDRI
Version : 6.0 6.5
Platform : WINDOWS

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Last reviewed: April 9, 1997
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