title: SQL SET DEFAULT not working in MS Access
body: <blockquote>
    <p><strong>Possible Duplicate:</strong><br>
    <a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/10440990/default-clause-in-alter-table-statement-resulting-in-syntax-error">DEFAULT clause in ALTER TABLE statement resulting in syntax error</a>  </p>
  </blockquote>
  
  
  
  <p>I am trying to execute the following statement using a SQL query within MS Access;</p>
  
  <pre><code>ALTER TABLE [table] ALTER COLUMN [column] SET DEFAULT 'default value'
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>However, I get a dialog displaying the error <code>Syntax error in ALTER TABLE statement.</code></p>
  
  <p>And when I click OK it highlights the word <code>DEFAULT</code>. I also tried the following statement;</p>
  
  <pre><code>ALTER TABLE [table]
  ADD CONSTRAINT [Default] DEFAULT 'default value' FOR [column]
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>And I get another error <code>Syntax error in CONSTRAINT clause.</code></p>
  
  <p>What is the correct syntax for setting a default value in MS Access?  The db file is Access 2003 format.</p>