Renaming a column and replacing references to the old column name

Is there a utility out there to allow be able to rename a column in a table
and then scan the database for any objects (procs, functions, views) that use
this column and rename them as well. we have a db with some badly named
columns that are confusing the hell out of developers and want to rename
globally.That would be not easy to do this automatically, if two columns have the same
name (refering to your poor designed database) you can do something like a
search % replace). The safest way would be to iterate (manually) rhough all
the object and change that.
Sorry about that.
"markbate" wrote:
> Is there a utility out there to allow be able to rename a column in a table
> and then scan the database for any objects (procs, functions, views) that use
> this column and rename them as well. we have a db with some badly named
> columns that are confusing the hell out of developers and want to rename
> globally.|||example - we want to rename a column called Deleted - to Active. Then scan
all procs to see where this table.column combination is used in any procs,
functions, views etc and rename as well, hope that is a little clearer. There
must be a utility out there that does this but I cany find one. thanks
"Jens Sü�meyer" wrote:
> That would be not easy to do this automatically, if two columns have the same
> name (refering to your poor designed database) you can do something like a
> search % replace). The safest way would be to iterate (manually) rhough all
> the object and change that.
> Sorry about that.
> "markbate" wrote:
> > Is there a utility out there to allow be able to rename a column in a table
> > and then scan the database for any objects (procs, functions, views) that use
> > this column and rename them as well. we have a db with some badly named
> > columns that are confusing the hell out of developers and want to rename
> > globally.|||You can use Enterprise Manager to generate creation scripts for all
objects, then search and replace the names and re-run the scripts.
I recommend you keep all your scripts in a source control system - then
you minimize the need to go back to the database to find the objects to
be changed.
--
David Portas
SQL Server MVP
--|||Search & Replace will work if you can rely on your definitions.
You want to change the name "Active" to "Deleted" on a special table. You
run S&R that´ll will change also that columns in other which should not be
changed (You should keep a hand on the automatic process), that can bring you
some weird problems if you don´t do that in a accurate way.
HTH, jens Suessmeyer.
"markbate" wrote:
> example - we want to rename a column called Deleted - to Active. Then scan
> all procs to see where this table.column combination is used in any procs,
> functions, views etc and rename as well, hope that is a little clearer. There
> must be a utility out there that does this but I cany find one. thanks
> "Jens Sü�meyer" wrote:
> > That would be not easy to do this automatically, if two columns have the same
> > name (refering to your poor designed database) you can do something like a
> > search % replace). The safest way would be to iterate (manually) rhough all
> > the object and change that.
> >
> > Sorry about that.
> >
> > "markbate" wrote:
> >
> > > Is there a utility out there to allow be able to rename a column in a table
> > > and then scan the database for any objects (procs, functions, views) that use
> > > this column and rename them as well. we have a db with some badly named
> > > columns that are confusing the hell out of developers and want to rename
> > > globally.|||This is how I do this:
For a start I have all my source code within source control.
I change the create statement in question and run a build using to see what
breaks, then I can check out all the relevant scripts and make my changes
until I have no build breaks. I can then check everything back in and create
a custom script to rename the column, adding this to source control. I use DB
Ghost (http://www.dbghost.com) and not just because I created it but because
this is the only fool proof way of introducing changes that don't break the
system with the added bonus of all the history of changes in my source
control.
regards,
Mark Baekdal
http://www.dbghost.com
http://www.innovartis.co.uk
+44 (0)208 241 1762
Build, Comparison and Synchronization from Source Control = Database change
management for SQL Server
"markbate" wrote:
> Is there a utility out there to allow be able to rename a column in a table
> and then scan the database for any objects (procs, functions, views) that use
> this column and rename them as well. we have a db with some badly named
> columns that are confusing the hell out of developers and want to rename
> globally.