AlterDataType Method

SQL-DMO

SQL-DMO

AlterDataType Method

The AlterDataType method alters the data type of the referenced column.

Applies To

Column2 Object

Syntax

object.AlterDataType( Datatype , [ Length ] , [ Precision ] , [ Scale ] )

Parts

object

Expression that evaluates to an object in the Applies To list

DataType

String that specifies the new data type

Length

Optional long integer that specifies the length of a string data type

Precision

Optional long integer that specifies the precision of a numeric data type

Scale

Optional long integer that specifies the scale of a numeric data type.

Prototype (C/C++)

HRESULT AlterDataType(
SQLDMO_LPCSTR DataType,
long Length,
long Precision,
long Scale);

Remarks

When using AlterDataType to convert the data type of an existing column to a new data type, the two data types must be compatible. For example, an int data type can be converted to a decimal data type, and a char data type can be converted to an nvarchar data type. However string data types cannot be converted to numeric data types.

Note  If an application calls AlterDataType on an instance of SQL Server version 7.0, the constant, SQLDMO_E_SQL80ONLY, and the message "This property or method requires Microsoft SQL Server 2000" are returned.

See Also

DataType Property

Using Data Types