How do I give a name to a primary key constraint? - sql

Question

I have (another) question about indexing.
I use the following code:
CREATE TABLE [dbo].[PnrDetails1](
[OId] [int] IDENTITY(1,1) NOT NULL ,
[file_name] [varchar](256) NOT NULL,
[gds_id] [int] NOT NULL,
[pnr_locator] [varchar](15) NOT NULL,
[first_cust_name] [varchar](50) NOT NULL,
[ticket_number] [varchar](20) NOT NULL,
[full_price] [decimal](18, 0) NOT NULL,
[currency_desc] [varchar](4) NOT NULL,
[user_name] [varchar](50) NOT NULL,
[save_time] [datetime] NOT NULL,
[update_time] [datetime] NOT NULL,
[clerk_id] [int] NOT NULL,
[isUpdated] [bit] NOT NULL,
[isDeleted] [bit] NOT NULL,
[pnr_file_id] [int] NOT NULL
) ON [PRIMARY]
ALTER TABLE [dbo].[PnrDetails1] ADD PRIMARY KEY CLUSTERED
(
[OId] ASC
)ON [PRIMARY]
this is actually a script sql server 2008 created for me,
but when I look at the object explorer I see an ugly name for the index (something like PK_PnrDetai_CB394B1958F2C25C). How can I change it? If so?

Answer 1

While I agree with #marc_s that you should always declare these names up front, I disagree that you have to drop and re-create:
EXEC sp_rename 'PK_PnrDetai_CB394B1958F2C25C', 'my_new_shiny_name', OBJECT;

Answer 2

You can (and you should) explicitly give a name to your primary key constraint:
ALTER TABLE [dbo].[PnrDetails1]
ADD CONSTRAINT PK_PnrDetails1
PRIMARY KEY CLUSTERED([OId] ASC) ON [PRIMARY]
You can only do this at the time of creation - so in your case, you probably have to drop it first, and then re-create it with the proper, readable name.

Answer 3

Or use this, if the table already exists:
DECLARE #new_pk_name VARCHAR(MAX)='pk_new_name' --here set new name of primary key
DECLARE #table VARCHAR(MAX)='dbo.table_name' --here set name of the table
DECLARE #old_pk_name VARCHAR(MAX)
SELECT
#old_pk_name=name
FROM sys.key_constraints
WHERE [type] = 'PK'
AND [parent_object_id] = OBJECT_ID(#table);
SET #old_pk_name=#table+'.'+#old_pk_name;
EXEC sp_rename #old_pk_name, #new_pk_name;
GO