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Define SQL Azure Table Column Properties

In a model based on a SQL Azure target server, you use the SQL Azure tab in the Table Column Editor to manage the data type, null option, and other properties for the selected column.

Note: The options described here are the basic options available for most physical data types. There can be more options available depending on the physical data type you assign to the table column. We recommend that you refer to your SQL Azure documentation for more information about using these properties.

To define SQL Azure table column properties

1. Right-click a table column in the Model Explorer and click Properties.

   The SQL Azure Table Column Editor opens.

2. Select the table from the Table drop-down that contains the column that you want to define.
3. Select the column in the Navigation Grid that you want to define and work with the following options:

   Note: Click New on the toolbar to create a new column. Use the Enter filter text box to filter a very large list of columns to quickly locate the one that you want to define.

   Physical Name

   Specifies the physical name of the column. You can change the name of the column in this field.

   Domain Parent

   Specifies the domain parent of the column. Select the domain parent from the drop-down list.

   Physical Data Type

   Specifies the physical data type for the selected column. Select a physical data type from the drop-down list.

   Primary Key

   Specifies to designate the selected column as a primary key column. Select the check box to enable this option.

   Physical Only

   Specifies whether the column is suppressed from a logical model (as an attribute) and appears in a physical model only.

   Foreign Key

   Specifies to designate the selected column as a foreign key column. Select the check box to enable this option.

4. Click the SQL Azure tab and work with the following options:

   Physical Data type

   Lets you select a data type from the drop-down list to apply to the selected column. If the selected data type requires a value for precision, scale, or both, enter the value inside the data type parentheses. For example, you can select the DECIMAL() data type and specify a precision of 2 and a scale of 10 inside the parentheses to assign the data type DECIMAL(2,10) to the selected column.

   Null Option

   Specifies the null setting for the column. Select a null option from the drop-down list.

   Average Width

   Lets you enter an estimated average width for the column if variable width is allowed based on the data type you assigned. If it is not allowed, an error is displayed in the Details section at the bottom of the editor. You can later use the Volumetrics dialog to calculate table and database size estimates based on these and other values.

   Percent Null

   Lets you enter the estimated percentage of nulls used for that column if the option is available. For example, you can estimate a variable width ADDRESS 2 column assigned a width of 50 characters, to be NULL about 30 percent of the time. Use whole numbers. You can later use the Volumetrics dialog to calculate table and database size estimates based on these and other values.

   Collation

   Specifies the collation name for the column. Enter the collation name in this field.

   Populate All Rows With Default Value

   Specifies to populate new rows with default column values. Select the check box to enable this option.

   Expression

   Lets you enter expression text for the table column. You can use the toolbar options to cut, copy, or paste text, reset inheritance, open the Macro Toolbox, or open the Text Editor.

   Persisted

   Specifies that the computed column is PERSISTED. A column marked PERSISTED is physically stored in a table and not a virtual column. When you select the check box for this option, enter the expression to use to define the value of the computed column in the SQL text area.

5. Click Close.

   SQL Azure table column properties are defined and the SQL Azure Table Column Editor closes.