Sql-server – Error in partition switching in SQL Server 2014 when migrating a database from SQL Server 2005

When you are working with partition switching, SQL Server will need to verify that the source table/partition boundaries can fit in the destination table/partition boundaries. In other words, you're trying to switch data from dbo.temp_table to dbo.play_table's partition 2. Think of it like this, the data for the c1 in dbo.temp_table is constrained only by the data type (int), so you can have values ranging from -2,147,483,648 to 2,147,483,647. But conversely, you're destination (dbo.play_table partition 2) has a range from 4 to 2,147,483,647.

Your data does not violate this, but it is the metadata that can't allow this. You could just as easily insert the value -10 into dbo.temp_table. The partition switching would fail the same way and make more sense, as -10 does not fit in dbo.play_table's 2nd partition boundaries.

If you wanted to make this code work, you'd need to explicitly tell SQL Server that dbo.temp_table will never have any data that won't fit in dbo.play_table's 2nd partition. You could do this with a check constraint:

/******************************************************************************
    your code omitted for brevity
******************************************************************************/

-- move contents of play_table to temp_table, which is not partitioned
-- but is in the same filegroup
ALTER TABLE dbo.play_table
    SWITCH PARTITION 2 TO temp_table;
PRINT 'Switched from partitioned table to non-partitioned table';

/******************************************************************************
    added check constraint so that data can fit in the destination partition
******************************************************************************/
alter table dbo.temp_table
add constraint CK_TempTable_C1 check (c1 >= 4);
go
/******************************************************************************
    end of added code
******************************************************************************/

-- move data back to partitioned play_table from unpartitioned temp_table
-- this will no longer FAIL
ALTER TABLE dbo.temp_table
    SWITCH TO play_table partition 2;
PRINT 'Switched from non-partitioned table to partitioned table';

/******************************************************************************
    your code omitted for brevity
******************************************************************************/

That above sample addition to your code makes this a working solution. Now SQL Server knows that the data in dbo.temp_table can fit in partition 2 of dbo.play_table because of the added check constraint to dbo.temp_table.

You can not set the compatibility level of a SQL Server 2005 instance to anything higher. Hence the upgrade path:

Create SQL Server 2012 Server / Instance.

• Option 1: Backup / Restore; change compatibility level.
• Option 2: Detach, copy, Attach; change compatibility level.

Option 1 is most used because you have overlap (old is available, new can be tested). Rollback to previous is certain.

Misread your question. You want to remain at SQL 2005 compatibility: Don't change compatibility level during option 1 or 2. Compatibility is configured at the database level.