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&gt;&gt;Is it possible to do this without me having to empty out the table?<br />
<br />
The answer to your question is: yes.<br />
<br />
The post above provides the syntax.<br />
<br />
The alter table command will fail if there is data that Oracle cannot convert.
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>>Is it possible to do this without me having to empty out the table?

The answer to your question is: yes.

The post above provides the syntax.

The alter table command will fail if there is data that Oracle cannot convert.

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Experts,<br />
<br />
I have a table with a column for order quantities. Right now the column is varchar2. I need to change it to number.<br />
<br />
Is it possible to do this without me having to empty out the table?<br />
<br />
All of the rows have numbers in it. <br />
<br />
Thanks,
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Experts,

I have a table with a column for order quantities. Right now the column is varchar2. I need to change it to number.

Is it possible to do this without me having to empty out the table?

All of the rows have numbers in it. 

Thanks,

Changing data type on column with data already in it.

Oracle is an object-relational database management system. It supports a large number of languages and application development frameworks. Its primary languages are SQL, PL/SQL and Java, but it also includes support for C and C++. Oracle also has its own enterprise modules and application server software.