Columns: Dropping, Altering???

I'm a complete Newbie, new to Oracle and to SQL in general. Despite the 50lbs + of books which came with Ora 7 for Netware, it isn't too difficult. The concepts book really helps.

My question is how do you drop, rename, or shrink the size of columns in a table? The only thing I found was the ability to ALTER TABLE your way to shrinked columns, as long as the column is all NULLs. These seem like everyday commands, and even if they aren't supported that fact should at least be pointed out in the manuals.

I have the OraFAQ and notice that (sec 2.18) a column can not be renamed using normal SQL...the only way is direct manipulation of SYS data dictionary files. How could this be true and why?

Todd Epple
tepple_at_ucs.indiana.edu Received on Fri Jan 13 1995 - 05:59:00 CET