Change a Nullable column to NOT NULL with Default Value

I came across an old table today with a datetime column called 'Created' which allows nulls. Now, I'd want to change this so that it is NOT NULL, and also include a constraint to add in a default value (getdate()).

So far I've got the following script, which works fine provided that i've cleaned up all the nulls beforehand:

ALTER TABLE dbo.MyTable ALTER COLUMN Created DATETIME NOT NULL 

Is there any way to also specify the default value as well on the ALTER statement?

I think you will need to do this as three separate statements. I've been looking around and everything i've seen seems to suggest you can do it if you are adding a column, but not if you are altering one.

ALTER TABLE dbo.MyTable
ADD CONSTRAINT my_Con DEFAULT GETDATE() for created

UPDATE MyTable SET Created = GetDate() where Created IS NULL

ALTER TABLE dbo.MyTable 
ALTER COLUMN Created DATETIME NOT NULL 

You may have to first update all the records that are null to the default value then use the alter table statement.

Update dbo.TableName
Set
Created="01/01/2000"
where Created is NULL

you need to execute two queries:

One - to add the default value to the column required

> ALTER TABLE 'Table_Name` ADD DEFAULT 'value' FOR 'Column_Name'

i want add default value to Column IsDeleted as below:

> Example: ALTER TABLE [dbo].[Employees] ADD Default 0 for IsDeleted

Two - to alter the column value nullable to not null

> ALTER TABLE 'table_name' ALTER COLUMN 'column_name' 'data_type' NOT NULL

i want to make the column IsDeleted as not null

> ALTER TABLE [dbo].[Employees] Alter Column IsDeleted BIT NOT NULL

If its SQL Server you can do it on the column properties within design view

Try this?:

ALTER TABLE dbo.TableName 
  ADD CONSTRAINT DF_TableName_ColumnName
    DEFAULT '01/01/2000' FOR ColumnName

Try this > ALTER TABLE table_name ALTER COLUMN col_name data_type NOT NULL;