Rename column SQL Server 2008

Renaming a column in a database is a common task that often arises when users want to change the database schema. In SQL Server 2008, renaming columns can be done efficiently using the sp_rename system-stored procedure, as the ALTER TABLE RENAME COLUMN syntax is not supported in this version.

This article explains how to rename columns in SQL Server 2008 using SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) and T-SQL commands

Rename Column in SQL Server 2008

In SQL Server 2008, renaming a column in a table is done using the sp_rename stored procedure. This procedure allows us to change the name of an existing column without having to drop and recreate the column.

• Schema updates: When a column name no longer reflects its data or purpose.
  
• Application changes: The structure of the database needs to adapt to changes in application requirements.
  
• Improved readability: Making column names more descriptive for better clarity.

Methods to Rename a Column in SQL Server 2008

In SQL Server 2008, the primary method to rename a column is by using the sp_rename system-stored procedure. This procedure allows you to change the name of a column while preserving its data and relationships.

Employees Table

To understand how we can rename columns in SQL Server, consider the following Employees table First, create the table and insert sample data as follows:

Query:

-- Create the Employees table
CREATE TABLE Employees (
    EmployeeID INT,
    EmployeeName VARCHAR(100),
    Department VARCHAR(50),
    Location VARCHAR(50),
    Salary DECIMAL(10, 2)
);

-- Insert data into the Employees table
INSERT INTO Employees (EmployeeID, EmployeeName, Department, Location, Salary) VALUES
(101, 'John Smith', 'HR', 'New York', 55000.00),
(102, 'Jane Doe', 'IT', 'San Francisco', 68000.00),
(103, 'Sam Johnson', 'Marketing', 'Chicago', 72000.00),
(104, 'Lisa Brown', 'Sales', 'Miami', 50000.00);

Output:

Explanation:

• The Employees table displays the data we inserted, with columns for EmployeeID, EmployeeName, Department, Location, and Salary.
  
• Each row represents an employee, including their ID, name, department, work location, and salary.
  
• This table serves as the basis for demonstrating how to rename columns and view the impact of such changes in SQL Server.

1. Using the sp_rename System Stored Procedure

To rename a column of a database in SQL Server 2008, we can use the sp_rename system stored procedure.

The sp_rename procedure is a built-in system stored procedure in SQL Server that allows users to rename various database objects, including tables, columns, views, and indexes.

The following syntax is used to rename a column in SQL Server 2008:

Syntax:

EXEC sp_rename 'table_name.old_column_name', 'new_column_name', 'COLUMN'

Keyterms:

• table_name: is the name of the table containing the column you want to rename.
  
• old_column_name: is the current name of the column.
  
• new_column_name: is the desired new name for the column.
  
• COLUMN: is a parameter tells SQL Server 2008 that a column is being renamed.

Example

To change the column name from Location to OfficeLocation of the above table Employees we will have to run the following query

Query:

EXEC sp_rename 'Employees.Location', 'OfficeLocation', 'COLUMN'

Output:

Explanation:

 The EXEC sp_rename command renames the Location column to OfficeLocation in the Employees table. The resulting table schema reflects this change, displaying the new column name ‘OfficeLocation‘ instead of Location, with all data remaining intact.

Conclusion

In conclusion, SQL Server 2008, provides efficient tools for renaming columns, primarily using the sp_rename system stored procedure since the ALTER TABLE RENAME COLUMN syntax is not supported. Users can effectively manage and update their database schemas using these methods.

FAQs

1. How to change column name in SQL Server 2008 R2?

Use the sp_rename stored procedure to change a column name. For example:

EXEC sp_rename 'table_name.old_column_name', 'new_column_name', 'COLUMN';

2. How to rename a column in SQL query?

In SQL Server, use the sp_rename command to rename a column:

EXEC sp_rename 'table_name.old_column_name', 'new_column_name', 'COLUMN';

3. How do I rename a database in SQL Server 2008?

Use the ALTER DATABASE statement to rename a database:

ALTER DATABASE old_db_name MODIFY NAME = new_db_name;

4. How do you rename a table in SQL Server 2008 r2?

To rename a table in SQL Server 2008 R2, use the sp_rename stored procedure. The syntax is:

EXEC sp_rename 'old_table_name', 'new_table_name';