From: "Rudi Starcevic" <rudi@oasis.net.au>
To: pginfo <pginfo@t1.unisoftbg.com>
Cc: pgsql-sql@postgresql.org
Subject: Re: changing column size and type.
Date: Wed, 16 Apr 2003 23:09:31 +1000
Message-Id: <20030416130931.M25027@oasis.net.au>
In-Reply-To: <3E9D1F55.9582B0E6@t1.unisoftbg.com>
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	<3E9D1F55.9582B0E6@t1.unisoftbg.com>
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Ivan,

Oops sorry about that ..
I should have read your email closer.
Have you seen Joel Burton's doc at:
http://techdocs.postgresql.org/techdocs/updatingcolumns.php

Looks like you may need to use temporary tables and move
the data back and forth.

That's the way I do it.
I'm pretty sure this also how it's done using the phpPgAdmin
web admin tool.
I guess since phpPgAdmin's a web tool the task is achieved 'online'.

Cheers
Best regards
Rudi.


> Hi Rudi,
> 
> I readet the doc, but it is about how to ann new column.
> That is well documented in pgDoc's.
> 
> I will to change the column type of existing column.
> For example if my columnt was declared as int4, I will to change it 
> to int8. Or if it was varchar(20) I will to make it varchar(100) and 
> so on. Also I will it without to dump the db.
> 
> regards,
> ivan.
> 
> Rudi Starcevic wrote:
> 
> >  Ivan,
> >
> > This link show's how to do it online.
> >
> > http://www.edoceo.com/liberum/default.php?doc=postgresql-tricks
> >
> > There are other links around too.
> >
> > Cheers
> > Rudi
> >
> >
> > pginfo wrote:
> >
> >> Hi George,
> >>
> >> It is possible to do it so, but I wanted some better solution.
> >> For example with oracle I can do it "online".
> >>
> >> regards,
> >> ivan.
> >>
> >> George Weaver wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >> > Hi Ivan,
> >> >
> >> > I don't know if this is a recommended practice or not, but you can
> >> > try the
> >> > following.
> >> >
> >> > Use PgDump to back up the entire database as a text file.  Edit the
> >> > backup
> >> > text file and change the CREATE TABLE statement for the table you
> >> > want to
> >> > change, changing the column width to the new width desired.
> >> > Restore the
> >> > database.  The database will be restored with the new width for the
> >> > column
> >> > in the table.
> >> >
> >> > The ability to do this depends on the size of the database, whether
> >> > it can
> >> > be taken off line, etc. etc.
> >> >
> >> > HTH
> >> > George
> >> >
> >> > ----- Original Message -----
> >> > From: "pginfo" <pginfo@t1.unisoftbg.com>
> >> > To: <pgsql-sql@postgresql.org>
> >> > Sent: Tuesday, April 15, 2003 9:21 AM
> >> > Subject: [SQL] changing column size and type.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >>  Hi,
> >> >>
> >> >>  I am using pg 7.3.2.
> >> >>
> >> >>  Is it possible to change:
> >> >>  - column size ot existing table.
> >> >>  - columnt size ( it is varchar basicaly).
> >> >>
> >> >>  The problem is that the table have many freferences from and to
> >> >>  it.
> >> >>
> >> >>  many thanks,
> >> >>  ivan.
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>  ---------------------------(end of
> >> >>  broadcast)---------------------------
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> >> >>
> >> >>  http://www.postgresql.org/docs/faqs/FAQ.html
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >>
> >> ---------------------------(end of
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> >>
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> >>
> >>
> >