Cross Database Foreign Keys

Does somebody knows if it is possible to have a Foreign key constraint where
the primary key resides in a table in an other database? If this is possibl
e how do I define it through the EM or a sql syntax is fine to? I am happy t
o with a reference in BOL (
book online).
e.g TABLE INVOICE in database B has a foreign column PARENT_ID with his pri
mary key ID in table PARENT in database C.
Database B Database C
TABLE INVOICE - [PARENT_ID] --> [ID] - TABLE PARENTYou cannot have FK's crossing databases. If you want to enforce the rule, yo
u can use triggers.
Tibor Karaszi, SQL Server MVP
http://www.karaszi.com/sqlserver/default.asp
"jacques" <anonymous@.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:40FD755B-169D-493F-B66E-9CBCF9A9D57D@.microsoft.com...
> Does somebody knows if it is possible to have a Foreign key constraint where the p
rimary key resides in a
table in an other database? If this is possible how do I define it through t
he EM or a sql syntax is fine to?
I am happy to with a reference in BOL (book online).
> e.g TABLE INVOICE in database B has a foreign column PARENT_ID with his primary k
ey ID in table PARENT in
database C.
> Database B Database C
> TABLE INVOICE - [PARENT_ID] --> [ID] - TABLE PARENT
>
>|||I believe Tibor has answered your question but may I ask why you store
closely related data in different databases? There are some situations
where this may be desirable but it is better to keep related data in the
same physical database if possible. This allows you to enforce integrity
via DRI and easily provide consistent backups.
Hope this helps.
Dan Guzman
SQL Server MVP
"jacques" <anonymous@.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:40FD755B-169D-493F-B66E-9CBCF9A9D57D@.microsoft.com...
> Does somebody knows if it is possible to have a Foreign key constraint
where the primary key resides in a table in an other database? If this is
possible how do I define it through the EM or a sql syntax is fine to? I am
happy to with a reference in BOL (book online).
> e.g TABLE INVOICE in database B has a foreign column PARENT_ID with his
primary key ID in table PARENT in database C.
> Database B Database C
> TABLE INVOICE - [PARENT_ID] --> [ID] - TABLE PARENT
>
>