Change user type from char to vchar

We have a requirement to change a user defined type from char(4) to vchar(4)
.
I was wondering whether there's a easier(quickest) method to do this as oppo
sed to:
- Drop dependent storedprocs and views
- rename type
- add type with new def
- reattach table columns
- drop old type
- recreate storedprocs,views
Yes, we have quite a few tables, storedproc and views that reference this ty
pe.
Thanks,
ManodALTER TABLE ...
ALTER COLUMN
The stored procedure, view, and function dependencies should not matter;
however, you probably will have to drop and recreate any PKC, UC, FKC, CC,
and Defaults that may be created on this field.
If you use the database designer tool, EM will usually script out a new
table with all of the dependency drops and recreates, move all of the data,
and drop and rename the tables for you.
This is usually not the best way to do this, especially for very large
tables, but you can "SAVE AS SCRIPT" instead of executing it. This is a
good way to learn at least the details if not a poorer solution.
Sincerely,
Anthony Thomas
"sandiyan" <sandiyan@.yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
news:69e9c64b.0503090211.3552c797@.posting.google.com...
We have a requirement to change a user defined type from char(4) to
vchar(4).
I was wondering whether there's a easier(quickest) method to do this as
opposed to:
- Drop dependent storedprocs and views
- rename type
- add type with new def
- reattach table columns
- drop old type
- recreate storedprocs,views
Yes, we have quite a few tables, storedproc and views that reference this
type.
Thanks,
Manod|||Thanks Anthony...I was hoping that there would be an easier option than goin
g
through and sorting out dependencies and etc...
I hope this will be addressed in sql2005 - my bet is not!
regards,
Sandiyan.
"Anthony Thomas" wrote:

> ALTER TABLE ...
> ALTER COLUMN
> The stored procedure, view, and function dependencies should not matter;
> however, you probably will have to drop and recreate any PKC, UC, FKC, CC,
> and Defaults that may be created on this field.
> If you use the database designer tool, EM will usually script out a new
> table with all of the dependency drops and recreates, move all of the data
,
> and drop and rename the tables for you.
> This is usually not the best way to do this, especially for very large
> tables, but you can "SAVE AS SCRIPT" instead of executing it. This is a
> good way to learn at least the details if not a poorer solution.
> Sincerely,
>
> Anthony Thomas|||Well, there is. As I stated before, if you use the Table Designer through
the EM, it will handle all of the scripting for you. It usually will just
do the creat, copy, drop, replace method, which can work, but it will take a
lot of resources to pull off on larger tables. The same could be done, just
do the same thing except save as script instead save. Keep the drop and
create dependencies, just replace the create, copy, and rename table pieces
with a single ALTER TABLE ... ALTER COLUMN statement. At leas this way, you
would have to parse the dependencies.
There is a caveat to this, however; the EM uses the sysdependencies to
script out all the drops and creates. If you have ever renamed an object
without dropping and recreating the dependencies, and have gotten that
little error message, this means the records in this system table have not
been updated to reflect the name change. So, the little wizard inside the
EM scripter will not catch everything...but your errors will.
Good luck.
Anthony Thomas
"Sandiyan" <sandiyan@.yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
news:15EEA5C6-8281-41FB-8287-085E1193F84F@.microsoft.com...
Thanks Anthony...I was hoping that there would be an easier option than
going
through and sorting out dependencies and etc...
I hope this will be addressed in sql2005 - my bet is not!
regards,
Sandiyan.
"Anthony Thomas" wrote:

> ALTER TABLE ...
> ALTER COLUMN
> The stored procedure, view, and function dependencies should not matter;
> however, you probably will have to drop and recreate any PKC, UC, FKC, CC,
> and Defaults that may be created on this field.
> If you use the database designer tool, EM will usually script out a new
> table with all of the dependency drops and recreates, move all of the
data,
> and drop and rename the tables for you.
> This is usually not the best way to do this, especially for very large
> tables, but you can "SAVE AS SCRIPT" instead of executing it. This is a
> good way to learn at least the details if not a poorer solution.
> Sincerely,
>
> Anthony Thomas