Helen , i take a look at the column (in ibexpert) and say it´s
an integer.
I know i must drop the PK but i was trying to avoid this, since
the PK has 11 dependencies (all other FK´s).
I should let the lazy part of me out and do some work.
Thanks.
Pablo Sánchez.

> At 10:18 PM 8/05/2003 +0000, you wrote:
> >Hi, i must change a column type from string to integer.
> >Note that the column is PK.
> >
> >1. Create new column (column1) with same type (string)
> >
> >2. Put the values from original column to column1
> > -> update mytable set column1 = column
> >
> >3. Change original column type (to integer)
>
> Changing data type from char or varchar to integer ought not to

work. Did

> you try to commit this change? Did you check the metadata to see

whether

> it is really integer now?
>
> You must commit after each step. The steps need to be
>
> 1. Create new column (column0) of type integer
> commit
> 2. Copy and cast the values from the original column into this column:
>
> --> update mytable set column0 = cast(column as integer);
> commit
>
> 3. Drop the PK constraint on the original column (first

deactivating the

> PK's index and any dependencies on it)
> commit
>
> 4. Recreate the PK column:
>
> alter table mytable add Column integer not null;
> commit;
>
> 5. Pump the values into it from column0
>
> update mytable set column = column0;
> commit;
>
> 6. Recreate the PK constraint
>
> commit
>
> 7. Drop column0
>
> 8. If you like, you can move the PK column back to its original

position

>
> alter table mytable
> alter column position 1
>
> and commit.
>
> cheers
> heLen