Re: alter column from varchar(32) to varchar(255) without view re-creation - Mailing list pgsql-sql

On Tue, Feb 24, 2009 at 4:27 PM, Emi Lu <emilu@encs.concordia.ca> wrote:
> Good morning,
>
> I am using PostgreSQL 8.0.15.
>
> Is there a way that I can easily alter column type from varchar(32) to
> varchar(255) but do not have to worry about views dependent on it?

You should test it carefully and it is considered a bad practice -
I'll probably get sued for recommending this :-), but you may try:

SELECT * from pg_attribute where attname = 'colname' and  attrelid =
(SELECT oid FROM pg_class WHERE relname='_tablename');

UPDATE pg_attribute set atttypmod = 4+_new_length_in_your_case_255
where attrelid = _attrelid_from_above_ and attname = 'colname';

Regards,
Marcin