Oracle-L: RE: Suggestions solicited - Change Column Datatype from Number to

From: DENNIS WILLIAMS <DWILLIAMS_at_LIFETOUCH.COM>
Date: Thu, 24 Oct 2002 12:35:51 -0800
Message-ID: <F001.004F3062.20021024123551@fatcity.com>

Deepak, If there are many columns on these tables, your method may be best. However, this will generate a lot of redo. You can usually accomplish this with a CTAS nologging, which won't generate redo. If you really don't want to change the location, you can:

create table temp as select * from table1 nologging drop table table1
create table table1 (column, column . . . ) as select * from temp nologging

drop table temp

Dennis Williams
DBA, 40%OCP
Lifetouch, Inc.
dwilliams_at_lifetouch.com

-----Original Message-----
Sent: Thursday, October 24, 2002 3:15 PM To: Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L

We have a need to change the datatype of several columns in a table from number to varchar2. Most of the rows have data in these columns hence a direct 'alter table ...' will not work.

We plan to create a temp table, move the data from these colums to that table, modify the column datatype from number to varchar2 and then update the colums with the data that was moved to the temp table.

Any suggestions/comments or a better way to do this ? Oh, and we are on 8.1.7.1

thanx
deepak

--

Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com
--

Author: DENNIS WILLIAMS
INET: DWILLIAMS_at_LIFETOUCH.COM

Fat City Network Services    -- 858-538-5051 http://www.fatcity.com
San Diego, California        -- Mailing list and web hosting services
---------------------------------------------------------------------

To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an E-Mail message to: ListGuru_at_fatcity.com (note EXACT spelling of 'ListGuru') and in the message BODY, include a line containing: UNSUB ORACLE-L (or the name of mailing list you want to be removed from). You may also send the HELP command for other information (like subscribing). Received on Thu Oct 24 2002 - 15:35:51 CDT