--- title: Foreign Key Mode (Model Object) description: Foreign Key Mode (ForeignKeyConstraintMode) decides whether a table gets foreign-key constraints and whether the database checks them. --- [Skip to content](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/foreign-key-mode-model-object#main-content) [Contact us](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/kb-tickets/new?hsLang=en) [Go to Customer Portal](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/customer-portal?hsLang=en) [![TRI\_Logo\_biGENIUS\_2020\_RGB\_s](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Marketing/TRI_Logo_biGENIUS_2020_RGB_s.png?width=150&height=42&name=TRI_Logo_biGENIUS_2020_RGB_s.png)](https://www.bigenius-x.com/) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Contact us](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/kb-tickets/new) - [Go to Customer Portal](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/customer-portal) How can we help you? - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [biGENIUS-X Knowledge Base](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/?hsLang=en) 2. [Generators](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/generators?hsLang=en) 3. [Properties](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/generators?hsLang=en#properties) # Foreign Key Mode (Model Object) **Applies to** Platform: Microsoft SQL Server · Snowflake · Snowflake dbt · Databricks · Databricks dbt · Fabric Lakehouse · Fabric Warehouse · Oracle Architecture: Data Vault · Dimensional · Data Mart Foreign Key Mode (`ForeignKeyConstraintMode`) decides whether a table gets foreign-key constraints and whether the database checks them. The constraints point to the objects the model object references. ### Where to set it Set the property when you [edit a model object](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/edit-a-model-object?hsLang=en). It is offered on these types: - Data Vault: all Link and Satellite types, PIT and Business PIT. Oracle does not offer it on Business Driving Key Link. - Dimensional: Entity and Fact. - Data Mart: Mart Fact. On the other Data Mart types, Foreign Key Mode has no effect. ### Values and defaults - `None`: no constraints. - `Create Disabled` (default): the constraints are created, but the database does not check them. - `Create Enforced` (Microsoft SQL Server and Oracle only): the constraints are created and checked at the end of each layer load. Fabric Lakehouse offers only `None`, which is also its default. ### Effect on generated output - Microsoft SQL Server: `Create Disabled` adds the constraint and then disables it with `NOCHECK CONSTRAINT`. - Oracle: both modes create the constraint with `RELY DISABLE NOVALIDATE`. With `Create Enforced`, the load enables it at the end of each layer load. - Snowflake, Databricks and Fabric Warehouse: the constraint is declared `NOT ENFORCED`. Databricks declares it only with [Use Unity Catalog](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/use-unity-catalog-project?hsLang=en) `true`. - Databricks dbt: the constraint is declared with `type: foreign_key` in the model YAML files. With `Create Enforced`, the constraints are checked at the end of each layer load. When a row has no parent, the load fails at the end of the layer. ### Example A Link on Microsoft SQL Server with `Create Enforced` references a Hub. Load 1 loads customers 1 and 2 into both. Load 2 delivers customer 3 to the Link only. The load fails at the end of the Raw Vault layer with: ``` Msg 547: The ALTER TABLE statement conflicted with the FOREIGN KEY constraint "FK_RDV_LNK_single_customer_hub_lnk_RDV_HUB_load_customer_hub_ CUSTOMER". ``` ### Failure symptoms and recovery #### The load fails at the end of a layer with error 547 Message: `The ALTER TABLE statement conflicted with the FOREIGN KEY constraint ""` Cause: a table with `Create Enforced` holds rows whose parent row is missing, on Microsoft SQL Server. Fix: load the missing parent rows, for example into the Hub, and run the load again. ### Related articles - Reference: [Use Unity Catalog (Project)](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/use-unity-catalog-project?hsLang=en), [Use Unique Constraints (Project)](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/use-unique-constraints-project?hsLang=en), [Deployment Options (Project)](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/deployment-options-project?hsLang=en) - See also: [Understand Data Quality rules overview](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/understand-data-quality-rules-overview?hsLang=en), [Missing Foreign Keys (Data Quality Rule)](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/missing-foreign-keys-data-quality-rule?hsLang=en) - [Getting started](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/getting-started?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Guidelines](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/getting-started?hsLang=en#guidelines) - [Start working](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/getting-started?hsLang=en#start-working) - [Account](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/getting-started?hsLang=en#account) - 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