How to Convert a VARCHAR2 Column to a CLOB Column [ID
754542.1]
Modified:Mar
1, 2013
Type:HOWTO
Status:PUBLISHED
Priority:3
Comments (0)
In this Document
Goal
Solution
Applies to:
Oracle Server - Enterprise Edition - Version: 9.2.0.1 and later [Release: 9.2 and later ]
Information in this document applies to any platform.
Goal
The following SQL script demonstrates how to convert a VARCHAR2 column to a CLOB
column.
Solution
Run the following script from SQL*Plus:
-- Create a test table
DROP TABLE varchar_to_clob;
CREATE TABLE varchar_to_clob (col1 NUMBER, col2 VARCHAR2(4000));
-- Populate the table with sample data
INSERT INTO varchar_to_clob (col1, col2) VALUES (1, 'This is a test item 1');
INSERT INTO varchar_to_clob (col1, col2) VALUES (2, 'This is a test item 2');
-- Validate the data has been inserted properly
SELECT * FROM varchar_to_clob;
-- Add a new CLOB column to the table
ALTER TABLE varchar_to_clob ADD col3 CLOB;
-- Verify the change
DESC varchar_to_clob
-- Perform the following update statement which converts and copies
-- the VARCHAR2 data into the newly created CLOB column
UPDATE varchar_to_clob SET col3 = TO_CLOB(col2);
-- Verify the change
SELECT * FROM varchar_to_clob;
-- Drop the VARCHAR2 column as it is no longer needed
ALTER TABLE varchar_to_clob DROP COLUMN col2;
-- Change the name of col3 to col2
ALTER TABLE varchar_to_clob RENAME COLUMN col3 TO col2;
-- Verify the change
DESC varchar_to_clob
-- Validate the date has been converted properly
SELECT * FROM varchar_to_clob;
Sample output from running the script:
SQL> -- Create a test table
SQL> DROP TABLE varchar_to_clob;
DROP TABLE varchar_to_clob
*
ERROR at line 1:
ORA-00942: table or view does not exist
SQL> CREATE TABLE varchar_to_clob (col1 NUMBER, col2 VARCHAR2(4000)
);
Table created.
SQL>
SQL> -- Populate the table with sample data
SQL> INSERT INTO varchar_to_clob (col1, col2) VALUES (1, 'This is a test item
1');
1 row created.
SQL> INSERT INTO varchar_to_clob (col1, col2) VALUES (2, 'This is a test item
2');
1 row created.
SQL>
SQL> -- Validate the data has been inserted properly
SQL> SELECT * FROM varchar_to_clob;
COL1 COL2
---------- -----------------------1 This is a test item 1
2 This is a test item 2
SQL>
SQL> -- Add a new CLOB column to the table
SQL> ALTER TABLE varchar_to_clob ADD col3 CLOB;
Table altered.
SQL>
SQL> -- Verify the change
SQL> DESC varchar_to_clob
Name
Null? Type
----------------------------------------- -------- ---------------------------COL1
NUMBER
COL2
VARCHAR2(4000)
COL3
CLOB
SQL>
SQL> -- Perform the following update statement which converts and copies
SQL> -- the VARCHAR2 data into the newly created CLOB column
SQL> UPDATE varchar_to_clob SET col3 = TO_CLOB(col2);
2 rows updated.
SQL>
SQL> -- Verify the change
SQL> SELECT * FROM varchar_to_clob;
COL1 COL2
COL3
---------- ------------------------ -----------------------1 This is a test item 1 This is a test item 1
2 This is a test item 2 This is a test item 2
SQL>
SQL> -- Drop the VARCHAR2 column as it is no longer needed
SQL> ALTER TABLE varchar_to_clob DROP COLUMN col2;
Table altered.
SQL>
SQL> -- Change the name of col3 to col2
SQL> ALTER TABLE varchar_to_clob RENAME COLUMN col3 TO col2;
Table altered.
SQL>
SQL> -- Verify the change
SQL> DESC varchar_to_clob
Name
Null? Type
----------------------------------------- -------- ---------------------------COL1
NUMBER
COL2
CLOB
SQL>
SQL> -- Validate the date has been converted properly
SQL> SELECT * FROM varchar_to_clob;
COL1 COL2
---------- -----------------------1 This is a test item 1
2 This is a test item 2
SQL>
