This problem is probably encountered by all new users of SQL Server Management Studio but here is another entry on the redundant Internet that points out the simple fix.

You’ve fired up SQL Server Management Studio and decided to modify one or more aspects of one or more columns of a table. You make your changes, click the close box, and then click “Yes” when prompted to save changes. You’re then presented with this error message:

Savings changes is not permitted. The changes you have made require the following tables to be dropped and re-created. You have either made changes to a table that can’t be re-created or enabled the option Prevent saving changes that require the table to be re-created.

Great, seems like a moderately helpful error message, except for the fact that where you’d find that particular option is not specified!

🙂

The answer is easy once you know it, and even “self-evident” except for when you’re in a hurry and haven’t shifted into “SQL Server Product Manager” mode!

In Management Studio, click on the Tools menu, then Options…. In the left navigation pane, click on Designers. Finally, uncheck the box next to “Prevent saving changes that require table re-creation.”

Problem solved!