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Increasing Varchar length (Quick Question)

  • February 25, 2009 at 9:44 am

    #197543

    I tested this but I wanted to confirm - if I increase the length of a varchar field using ALTER TABLE ... ALTER COLUMN, it only changes the table metadata right? I don't have to worry about massive IO and locking the table for a long time...

  • February 25, 2009 at 9:46 am

    #950114

    Yeah, that should be fine. Shrinking might cause more of a lock, but growing isn't usually a problem.

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  • February 25, 2009 at 10:08 am

    #950127

    Correct. Increasing the size is just a metadata operation. Reduce it and you could be in trouble 😉


    * Noel

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