SQL Error 30080 - The full-text population on table [table name] cannot be started because the full-text catalog is importing data from existing catalogs.
Earlier today I received an error while running an update script on a client's SQL Server 2008 database. The script was trying to add FTS to a new field in the table
The error code 30080 had the message The full-text population on table [table name] cannot be started because the
full-text catalog is importing data from existing catalogs. After the
import operation finishes, rerun the command.
I search the web but didn't get much help as the only solution I could find involved restarting the SQL Server which wasn't an option. Also there wasn't any additional help in the SQL logs, I tried restoring the database and updating again (only same issue occurred) and even waited for an hour then trying the script again.
In the end my solution was to:
In SQL Server Management Studio open Database > Storage > Full Text Catalogs > Right click Properties
In the general setting select 'Rebuild catalog' and click OK.
Then I can run the script without errors.
I'm not sure why this issue occurred in the first place but at least the database is updated and running as expected now. Hope this helps anyone with the same issue.