17.3. Changing the Data Type of a Column #

Execute the following query:

  SELECT metastore.change_column_type('schema_name.table_name' or 'table_name', 'column_name', 'new_data_type');

Where:

  • schema_name: The name of the analytical schema where the table is created.

    Optional parameter. If you do not specify it, the current schema is used.

  • table_name: The name of the analytical table where the column is created.

  • column_name: The name of the column whose data type is changed.

  • data_type: The new data type of the column.

    For more information about supported data types, refer to Section G.3.

Example 17.3. 

  SELECT metastore.change_column_type('testtable', 'third_col', 'uint8');

Once the query is executed, pgpro_metastore performs the following actions:

  1. Verifies user privileges.

  2. Ensures that the new column data type does not match the previous one.

  3. Ensures that the analytical table is empty or that the new data type is compatible with the previous one:

    • int8 can be changed to int16, int32, or int64

    • int16 can be changed to int32 or int64

    • int32 can be changed to int64

    • uint8 can be changed to uint16, uint32, or uint64

    • uint16 can be changed to uint32 or uint64

    • uint32 can be changed to uint64

    • float32 can be changed to float64

  4. Updates the column_type value for the column in the pga_column metadata table.

  5. Updates the view_sql value for the analytical table.