Moderator, please close this question.
Main Topics
Browse All TopicsWe got a requirement where we have to store alphanumerics in a number field. Here is the scenario:
Currently we store Operating Unit (number so far) information in the field GROUP_ID of GL_INTERFACE which is also used by many other GL tables like GL_INTERFACE_CONTROL, GL_INTERFACE_HISTORY and GL_CONSOLIDATION_HISTORY. Now operating unit information is going to be alphanumeric.
Can we ALTER these table and modify the field structure of GROUP_ID from NUMBER(15) to VARCHAR(15) ?
Is this change safe or not?
What would be impact due to this change?
Thanks for your answers in advance.
This Question has been solved and asker verified All Experts Exchange premium technology solutions are available to subscription members.
Experts Exchange has been collecting answers to technology questions since 1996…3 million and counting! If you have a question, chances are we already have your answer.
If you can't find the exact answer you're looking for, ask our exclusive community of 50,000 experts. You’ll get a personalized answer from a trusted professional.
Thousands of free tech tips, tricks, how-to’s and tutorials are available in our peer reviewed articles section. See for yourself how smart our experts are, no login required.
Access the answers to your technology questions today.
30-day free trial. Register in 60 seconds.
Members of the expert community talk about why the experience at Experts Exchange is different than what you will find anywhere else.

Try it out and discover for yourself.
30-day free trial. Register in 60 seconds.
Join the community of experts here and help other tech pros by answering question in your area of expertise. You can earn FREE access to all Experts Exchange's premium features and resources.
Business Accounts
Answer for Membership
by: sujith80Posted on 2007-06-20 at 19:32:20ID: 19330179
Generally it is not advisable to make structural changes to the base tables. These changes may need tracking down the dependencies for objects and programs.
To get the best answer, raise a ticket with the Oracle Support.