In SQL Server, you can use the SP_RENAME stored procedure to change the name of a column in a table. The general syntax for renaming a column is as follows:
EXEC SP_RENAME 'TableName.OldColumnName', 'NewColumnName', 'COLUMN';
Here’s a breakdown of the parameters:
- TableName.OldColumnName: This specifies the name of the table and the old name of the column that you want to rename.
- NewColumnName: This is the new name that you want to assign to the column.
- 'COLUMN': This indicates that you are renaming a column. It's important to specify this string to inform SQL Server what you are renaming (other options exist for renaming other objects).
Example
Suppose you have a table called Employees, and you want to rename a column from FirstName to First_Name. You would execute the following command:
EXEC SP_RENAME 'Employees.FirstName', 'First_Name', 'COLUMN';
Important Notes
- Permissions: To use SP_RENAME, you need to have the necessary permissions on the table.
- Dependencies: Be aware that renaming a column may affect stored procedures, views, and functions that reference the old column name. You’ll need to update any dependent objects accordingly.
- Transaction Log: Renaming a column is a logged operation, which means that it will be recorded in the transaction log.
With these considerations, you can safely rename columns in your SQL Server tables using SP_RENAME.