Re: Newbie oracle questions

Tyler Schoenke <schoenke_at_mfa.com> wrote:
>I just started using Oracle a few months ago, and am getting into modifying
>tables. I have some questions on features that I haven't been able to locate.
>Is there a way to delete columns without dropping a table?
>Is there a way to rename columns without dropping a table?

 With Oracle itself, no. I use a product called SQL DBA from platinum technologies, that does it for me. I am not sure exactly how it works, but it does.

>When doing major reconstruction to a table, what is the best way to move data
>out? I figured that one could create a new table, do a insert/select
>combination to pull the data out of the old table, into the new.

Try CREATE TABLE <name> AS <select from old table>;   (This will do what it says, and copy all the data from the select statement into the new table - no commit is necessary).

>If this would work, can you rename a table once it has been created?

Try RENAME <old_name> TO <new_name>;

  Hope this helps!!

• Hank