SQL Server 2017

By using db<>fiddle, you agree to license everything you submit by Creative Commons CC0.

create table t1 (
  i int not null primary key
);
create table t2 (
  i int not null primary key
    foreign key references t1(i)
    on delete cascade
);
create table t3 (
  i int not null primary key
    foreign key references t2(i)
    on delete cascade
);
create table t4 (
  i int not null primary key default 3
    foreign key references t3(i)
    on delete cascade
);
alter table t4
  add constraint fk_t4_t1
  foreign key (i)
  references t1(i)
  on delete set default; 
 
Msg 1785 Level 16 State 0 Line 1
Introducing FOREIGN KEY constraint 'fk_t4_t1' on table 't4' may cause cycles or multiple cascade paths. Specify ON DELETE NO ACTION or ON UPDATE NO ACTION, or modify other FOREIGN KEY constraints.
Msg 1750 Level 16 State 1 Line 1
Could not create constraint or index. See previous errors.

insert t1 (i) values (1),(2),(3),(4),(5);
insert t2 (i) values (1),(2),(3),(4);
insert t3 (i) values (1),(2),(3);
insert t4 (i) values (1),(2);
14 rows affected

select v.v, 
       t1.i t1, 
       t2.i t2, 
       t3.i t3, 
       t4.i t4
from (values (1),(2),(3),(4),(5)) v (v)
left join t4 on t4.i = v.v
left join t3 on t3.i = v.v
left join t2 on t2.i = v.v
left join t1 on t1.i = v.v;


v
t1
t2
t3
t4


1
1
1
1
1

2
2
2
2
2

3
3
3
3
null

4
4
4
null
null

5
5
null
null
null


delete t1 
where i = 1;
1 rows affected

select v.v, 
       t1.i t1, 
       t2.i t2, 
       t3.i t3, 
       t4.i t4
from (values (1),(2),(3),(4),(5)) v (v)
left join t4 on t4.i = v.v
left join t3 on t3.i = v.v
left join t2 on t2.i = v.v
left join t1 on t1.i = v.v;


v
t1
t2
t3
t4


1
null
null
null
null

2
2
2
2
2

3
3
3
3
null

4
4
4
null
null

5
5
null
null
null

v	t1	t2	t3	t4
1	1	1	1	1
2	2	2	2	2
3	3	3	3	null
4	4	4	null	null
5	5	null	null	null

v	t1	t2	t3	t4
1	null	null	null	null
2	2	2	2	2
3	3	3	3	null
4	4	4	null	null
5	5	null	null	null