title: An explicit value for the identity column in table 'customers' can only be specified when a column list is used and IDENTITY_INSERT is ON
body: <blockquote>
    <p><strong>Possible Duplicate:</strong><br>
    <a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/1334012/cannot-insert-explicit-value-for-identity-column-in-table-table-when-identity">Cannot insert explicit value for identity column in table ‘table’ when IDENTITY_INSERT is set to OFF</a>  </p>
  </blockquote>
  
  
  
  <p>I am new to SQL. I am trying to write a <code>INSERT</code> query in SQL server 2008 Express edition. </p>
  
  <p>The query is :</p>
  
  <pre><code>insert into customers
  values(201, 'Singh', 'rajnish', '101 bhandup', 'mumbai', 'mp', 33321, 0, null, 123.89, 25.00)
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>But I am getting following error.</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>An explicit value for the identity column in table 'customers' can only be specified when a column list is used and IDENTITY_INSERT is ON.</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>I searched stackoverflow. Found some similar type of questions but unable to understand the explanation. Kindly help me to understand the error and rectify it.</p>
  
  <p>EDIT :</p>
  
  <p>I tried to do :</p>
  
  <pre><code>SET IDENTITY_INSERT customers ON;
  insert into customers
  values(201, 'Singh', 'rajnish', '101 bhandup', 'mumbai', 'mp', 33321, 0, null, 123.89, 25.00)
  SET IDENTITY_INSERT customers OFF;
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>but again I am getting the same error.</p>