How to Insert Value into an Identity Column

In database tables, normally identity columns are used as primary keys that automatically generates numeric values for every new inserted row.

For this identity (AutoNumber) column, you are not allow to insert your own value. So what if you really want to insert your own value into the column?

A very easy way to do this. I will show you how to do this.

Firstly, create a table Sample by using the script below into your database.

CREATE TABLE Sample (
Id INT NOT NULL IDENTITY(1,1) PRIMARY KEY,
Name VARCHAR(50) NOT NULL )
GO

Normally if we want to insert a new row into this table, you will have to only insert the value of Name, as script below:

INSERT INTO Sample(Name) VALUES ('July')

Now, we try to insert a value into the Id column.

INSERT INTO Sample(Id, Name) VALUES (11, 'July')

When this query is executed, an error will be generated:

Msg 544, Level 16, State 1, Line 1
Cannot insert explicit value for identity column in table 'Sample' when IDENTITY_INSERT is set to OFF.

To insert this record into table without any error, you just need to enable the IDENTITY_INSERT. It should look like this:

SET IDENTITY_INSERT Sample ON

INSERT INTO Sample(Id, Name) VALUES (11, 'July')

SET IDENTITY_INSERT Sample OFF

But there are some points that you need to be aware of about IDENTITY_INSERT.

1.   Only 1 table can have the IDENTITY_INSERT property set to ON at a time. If you try to enable IDENTITY_INSERT to ON for a second table while a SET IDENTITY_INSERT ON statement is issued for another table, SQL Server will return an error message.
2.    If the value that you have inserted is greater than the current identity seed in your table, the new inserted value will be set as the current identity seed.

For example, table Sample has its current identity value 1 and you want to insert a new row with the identity value 11. When you insert another new row, your identity value will start from 12, instead of 1.

SET IDENTITY_INSERT Sample ON

INSERT INTO Sample(Id, Name) VALUES (11, 'July')

SET IDENTITY_INSERT Sample OFF

INSERT INTO Sample(Name) VALUES ('August')

Result:

Id Name
11 July
12 August

Cheers.