Question

how do I change a field to allow null values

Asked by: sikyala

I have a field that currently does not accept null values when inserting a record. I need to modify that field to accept null values. It is not the primary key in the table. What is the syntax for doing this?

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Asked On
2009-04-27 at 07:23:14ID24358319
Tags

Oracle 10G

Topics

Oracle Product Info

,

Oracle 10.x

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Answers

 

by: mmeiselPosted on 2009-04-27 at 07:25:57ID: 24241986

Example:

ALTER TABLE
   customer
MODIFY
   (
   cust_name varchar2(100) not null,
   cust_hair_color  varchar2(20)
   )
;


http://www.dba-oracle.com/t_alter_table_modify_column_syntax_example.htm

 

by: sdstuberPosted on 2009-04-27 at 07:26:43ID: 24241999

alter table YOUR_TABLE modify YOUR_COLUMN null

 

by: awking00Posted on 2009-04-27 at 09:53:54ID: 24243529

sdstuber,
I think the syntax requires parentheses with that usage -
alter table YOUR_TABLE modify (YOUR_COLUMN null);
but I also think you can use -
alter table YOUR_TABLE modify COLUMN YOUR_COLUMN null;

 

by: sdstuberPosted on 2009-04-27 at 10:03:11ID: 24243612

nope, works exactly as posted

 

by: sdstuberPosted on 2009-04-27 at 10:04:57ID: 24243630

I tested it before posting

  • ee.txt
    • 160 bytes

    alter table

 

by: awking00Posted on 2009-04-27 at 10:05:41ID: 24243637

Okay, I ran into that issue once before but I think it was for an earlier version. Sorry.

 

by: sdstuberPosted on 2009-04-27 at 10:07:31ID: 24243652

no problem,  I tested on 10g and 11g,  didn't go back any further because the posted zone was 10.x

 

by: sikyalaPosted on 2009-04-27 at 11:10:24ID: 24244148

Thanks sdstuber!

 

by: sventhanPosted on 2009-04-27 at 11:12:16ID: 24244165

What was the error message when you insert nulls?

 

by: sikyalaPosted on 2009-04-27 at 11:15:28ID: 24244197

It was someone else working on a development server. They just asked me if I could fix the problem. I found out recently that they made the field in question a primary key and it should not be a primary key. So I am trying to figure out the name of the primary key so that I can drop it and then change the column to accept null values.

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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