Constraint Modification for a column.

Alien3 · New User Joined: 03 Nov 2005 Posts: 2

Hi,

A column in a table has been defined as Not Null.
I need to make it Not Null with default.
Could somebody please advice how to do it without recreating the table.

Thanks

ravisan · New User Joined: 13 Sep 2005 Posts: 14 Location: chennai

I think , we can try using ALTER.......?

tam · New User Joined: 02 Nov 2005 Posts: 12 Location: zz

I think first you've to drop that column and then add it as not null with default.

ALTER TABLE <table_name>
ADD COLUMN <column_name> <column_type>
NOT NULL WITH DEFAULT

Alien3 · New User Joined: 03 Nov 2005 Posts: 2

Hi Tam,

Thanks for the suggestion but the table contains data.
If i drop the column won't i lose the data?

tam · New User Joined: 02 Nov 2005 Posts: 12 Location: zz

Hi Alien3,
Yeah you'll lose data but I'm not sure if you can update the column type without dropping the column.