To use Change Tracking, it must first be enabled at the database level before it can be enabled for individual tables. The ALTER DATABASE ... SET CHANGETRACKING = ON command is the required initial step. This command configures the database-wide settings for the feature, such as the retention period and auto-cleanup behavior. Only after this database-level configuration is complete can you proceed to enable change tracking on specific tables using the ALTER TABLE statement. Therefore, this is the correct first step in the solution.

A. Run the sys.spcdcenabledb stored procedure.

This procedure enables Change Data Capture (CDC), which is a different feature from Change Tracking. CDC captures historical data changes, whereas Change Tracking only records that a change occurred.

B. Run the alter table statement and specify the enable changetracking clause.

This is the second step in the process. You cannot enable Change Tracking on a table until it has been enabled for the database itself (the action in option C).

D. Run the spaddarticle stored procedure.

This stored procedure is used for setting up SQL Server Replication. It adds an article (typically a table) to a publication, which is unrelated to Change Tracking.

---

1. Microsoft Learn. (2023). Enable and Disable Change Tracking (SQL Server).

Reference: In the "Enabling Change Tracking for a Database" section

the documentation states

"Before you can use change tracking

you must enable it at the database level." It then provides the exact syntax shown in option C: ALTER DATABASE SET CHANGETRACKING = ON (...).

URL: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/relational-databases/track-changes/enable-and-disable-change-tracking-sql-server

2. Microsoft Learn. (2024). ALTER DATABASE SET Options (Transact-SQL).

Reference: Under the "Arguments" section for CHANGETRACKING

it details the syntax for enabling the feature at the database level

confirming that this is a database-level setting that must be configured first.

URL: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/t-sql/statements/alter-database-transact-sql-set-options

3. Microsoft Learn. (2023). sys.spcdcenabledb (Transact-SQL).

Reference: The documentation explicitly states

"Enables change data capture (CDC) for the current database." This confirms that option A pertains to CDC

not Change Tracking.

URL: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/relational-databases/system-stored-procedures/sys-sp-cdc-enable-db-transact-sql