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Best answer by ParthaSarathy

Hi @rbiri ,

When you change the datatype of an attribute, you have to update the database structure. While doing this, you can notice in SQL statement that the existing old data type column will get dropped and a new field will get created in the table with new datatype, with the same internal name.

ALTER TABLE SchemaName ADD COLUMN sMyColumn VARCHAR(255); ANALYZE SchemaName; ALTER TABLE SchemaName DROP COLUMN iMyColumn;

So while dropping the old data type column, all the data will also get deleted along with the field. And a new field will get created with the new data type and data will be empty for this field.

To save the data, you can export the data to a CSV file and after changing the data type and updating the database structure, import the file using import workflow and update the records into the schema.

3 replies

_Manoj_Kumar_
Community Advisor
_Manoj_Kumar_Community Advisor
Community Advisor
May 27, 2024

Hello @rbiri  If you are changing int to string then it should be ok. I have not done it myself but i would suggest testing it on a lower env first.

 

If you see anything is breaking then create a new attribute as string and move data from old attribute to new attribute by in the correct datatype. 

     Manoj     Find me on LinkedIn
    ParthaSarathy
    Community Advisor
    ParthaSarathyCommunity AdvisorAccepted solution
    Community Advisor
    May 27, 2024

    Hi @rbiri ,

    When you change the datatype of an attribute, you have to update the database structure. While doing this, you can notice in SQL statement that the existing old data type column will get dropped and a new field will get created in the table with new datatype, with the same internal name.

    ALTER TABLE SchemaName ADD COLUMN sMyColumn VARCHAR(255); ANALYZE SchemaName; ALTER TABLE SchemaName DROP COLUMN iMyColumn;

    So while dropping the old data type column, all the data will also get deleted along with the field. And a new field will get created with the new data type and data will be empty for this field.

    To save the data, you can export the data to a CSV file and after changing the data type and updating the database structure, import the file using import workflow and update the records into the schema.

     ~  ParthaSarathy S~  Click here to join ADOBE CAMPAIGN USER GROUP for Quarterly In-person | Hybrid | Virtual Meetups
      Sukrity_Wadhwa
      Community Manager
      Sukrity_WadhwaCommunity Manager
      Community Manager
      June 13, 2024

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      Sukrity Wadhwa
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