25/09/13

Oracle "alter table" modify column Syntax example

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Oracle alter table modify column Syntax example

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For complete tips on Oracle alter table syntax, see the book "Easy Oracle Jumpstart". Oracle provides "alter table" syntax to modify data columns in-place in this form:
a l t e rt a b l e t a b l e _ n a m e m o d i f y c o l u m n _ n a m e d a t a t y p e ;

If you are brave you can use a single "alter table" syntax to modify multiple columns:
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a l t e rt a b l e t a b l e _ n a m e m o d i f y ( c o l u m n 1 _ n a m e c o l u m n 2 _ n a m e c o l u m n 3 _ n a m e c o l u m n 4 _ n a m e ) ;

c o l u m n 1 _ d a t a t y p e , c o l u m n 2 _ d a t a t y p e , c o l u m n 3 _ d a t a t y p e , c o l u m n 4 _ d a t a t y p e

Here are some examples of Oracle "alter table" syntax to modify data columns and note that you can add constraints like NOT NULL:
A L T E RT A B L E c u s t o m e r M O D I F Y ( c u s t _ n a m ev a r c h a r 2 ( 1 0 0 )n o tn u l l , c u s t _ h a i r _ c o l o r v a r c h a r 2 ( 2 0 ) ) ;

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We can also use Oracle "alter table" syntax in dynamic PL/SQL to modify data columns
B E G I N S Q L _ S T R I N G: =' A L T E RT A B L E' | | : T A B L E _ N A M E | | 'M O D I F Y' | | : C O L U M N _ N A M E | | 'V A R C H A R 2 ( 1 0 0 ) ' ; ... E N D ;

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Oracle "alter table" modify column Syntax example

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Oracle "alter table" modify column Syntax example

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