How to Alter Table Name in SQL Server 2012
In SQL Server 2012, altering the name of a table is a straightforward process that can be achieved using the ALTER TABLE statement. Whether you need to rename a table due to a change in the database schema or simply for better readability, this guide will walk you through the steps to rename a table in SQL Server 2012.
Firstly, you need to connect to the SQL Server instance where the table resides. Once connected, you can execute the following SQL command to rename the table:
“`sql
EXEC sp_rename ‘OldTableName’, ‘NewTableName’, ‘table’;
“`
Here, ‘OldTableName’ is the current name of the table you want to rename, and ‘NewTableName’ is the new name you wish to assign to the table. The ‘table’ keyword specifies that you are renaming a table.
Before executing this command, it’s essential to ensure that the new table name does not violate any naming conventions or already exist in the database. Additionally, keep in mind that renaming a table will not affect any associated objects, such as views, stored procedures, or foreign keys.
Let’s go through an example to illustrate the process:
Suppose you have a table named ‘Employees’ in your database, and you want to rename it to ‘Staff’. To do this, you would execute the following command:
“`sql
EXEC sp_rename ‘Employees’, ‘Staff’, ‘table’;
“`
After executing this command, the ‘Employees’ table will be renamed to ‘Staff’ in your SQL Server 2012 database.
It’s worth noting that the sp_rename system stored procedure is the recommended method for renaming tables in SQL Server 2012. However, if you prefer using Transact-SQL (T-SQL) syntax, you can achieve the same result by using the following command:
“`sql
ALTER TABLE OldTableName RENAME TO NewTableName;
“`
Again, replace ‘OldTableName’ with the current name of the table and ‘NewTableName’ with the desired new name.
In conclusion, renaming a table in SQL Server 2012 is a simple task that can be accomplished using the ALTER TABLE statement or the sp_rename system stored procedure. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can easily rename a table in your SQL Server 2012 database.
