How to fix Error 1002 on Windows Server 2025 / Windows 11

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Troubleshooting Guide: Error 1002 – “Specified Scale %d Is Invalid” in SQL Server 2025

Why This Error Happens

This error occurs when a Transact-SQL statement defines a numeric, decimal, or datetime2/time data type with a scale value that falls outside the permissible range (typically 0 to 38, depending on the data type). It is commonly triggered by manually scripted DDL statements, migrated code from older applications, or ORM-generated schemas that pass an incorrect precision/scale pair. Corrupted or mismatched schema definitions during database migration to SQL Server 2025 can also propagate invalid scale values into automated deployment scripts.

Step-by-Step Resolution Guide

Step 1: Identify the Offending Line and Statement

  • Note the exact “Line %d” reference provided in the error message from SSMS or the application log.
  • Open the corresponding .sql script or stored procedure definition in SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) 21 on Windows Server 2025 / Windows 11.
  • Locate the DECIMAL(p,s), NUMERIC(p,s), DATETIME2(s), or TIME(s) declaration on that line.

Step 2: Correct the Precision and Scale Values

  • For DECIMAL/NUMERIC types, ensure the scale value is less than or equal to the precision value and does not exceed 38 (e.g., DECIMAL(18,2) is valid; DECIMAL(18,40) is not).
  • For DATETIME2, DATETIMEOFFSET, and TIME types, ensure the scale is between 0 and 7 (e.g., DATETIME2(7) is the maximum allowed fractional seconds precision).
  • Update the script using a text editor or directly in SSMS Query Editor, then save the corrected file to C:\Scripts\SQL\ or your deployment repository.

Step 3: Re-run the Script in a Validation Environment

  • Execute the corrected script against a non-production or staging instance first using sqlcmd -S <ServerName> -i "C:\Scripts\SQL\CorrectedScript.sql".
  • Check the SQL Server Error Log located at C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL17.MSSQLSERVER\MSSQL\Log\ERRORLOG to confirm Error 1002 no longer appears.

Step 4: Audit Related Scripts and ORM Mappings

  • If the error originated from an Entity Framework, Hibernate, or other ORM-generated migration, review the model’s column attributes (e.g., [Column(TypeName = "decimal(18,2)")]) for incorrect scale configurations.
  • Regenerate the migration script after correcting the model definitions to prevent recurrence across future deployments.

Alternative or Verification Steps

  • Verify the fix by querying INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS or sys.columns joined with sys.types on the affected table to confirm the precision and scale values now match your intended schema design.
  • If the error persists despite corrections, run DBCC CHECKDB to rule out metadata corruption, and consider restoring the affected database object from a known-good backup taken prior to the schema change.