Sql – Change Data Type Varchar To Varbinary(max) In SQL Server

sqlsql server

I want to change varchar to varbinary(max) in SQL Server with this query:

ALTER TABLE  [dbo].[Attachments]
ALTER COLUMN [Content]  varbinary(max)  NOT NULL

but this throws the following exception:

Implicit conversion from data type varchar to varbinary(max) is not allowed. Use the CONVERT function to run this query

What should I change in this situation ?

Best Answer

Are you sure you want varbinary(max)? If so, I believe you need to do this in steps:

ALTER TABLE Attachments
ADD Content2 varbinary(max)

UPDATE Attachments
SET Content2 = CONVERT(varbinary(MAX),Content)

ALTER TABLE Attachments
DROP COLUMN Content

sp_RENAME 'Attachments.[Content2]' , '[Content]', 'COLUMN'

Depending on the nature of the table, it might be faster to convert it via a select into:

SELECT Content = CAST(Content AS VARBINARY(MAX))
       ,other fields
INTO NewTable
FROM OldTable

Then drop the old table and rename the new:

DROP TABLE OldTable
GO
SP_RENAME 'NewTable', 'OldTable'

Syntax:

ALTER TABLE {TABLENAME} 
ADD {COLUMNNAME} {TYPE} {NULL|NOT NULL} 
CONSTRAINT {CONSTRAINT_NAME} DEFAULT {DEFAULT_VALUE}
WITH VALUES

Example:

ALTER TABLE SomeTable
        ADD SomeCol Bit NULL --Or NOT NULL.
 CONSTRAINT D_SomeTable_SomeCol --When Omitted a Default-Constraint Name is autogenerated.
    DEFAULT (0)--Optional Default-Constraint.
WITH VALUES --Add if Column is Nullable and you want the Default Value for Existing Records.

Notes:

Optional Constraint Name:
If you leave out CONSTRAINT D_SomeTable_SomeCol then SQL Server will autogenerate
a Default-Contraint with a funny Name like: DF__SomeTa__SomeC__4FB7FEF6

Optional With-Values Statement:
The WITH VALUES is only needed when your Column is Nullable
and you want the Default Value used for Existing Records.
If your Column is NOT NULL, then it will automatically use the Default Value
for all Existing Records, whether you specify WITH VALUES or not.

How Inserts work with a Default-Constraint:
If you insert a Record into SomeTable and do not Specify SomeCol's value, then it will Default to 0.
If you insert a Record and Specify SomeCol's value as NULL (and your column allows nulls),
then the Default-Constraint will not be used and NULL will be inserted as the Value.

Notes were based on everyone's great feedback below.
Special Thanks to:
@Yatrix, @WalterStabosz, @YahooSerious, and @StackMan for their Comments.

Sql – How to return only the Date from a SQL Server DateTime datatype

SELECT DATEADD(dd, 0, DATEDIFF(dd, 0, @your_date))

for example

SELECT DATEADD(dd, 0, DATEDIFF(dd, 0, GETDATE()))

gives me

2008-09-22 00:00:00.000

Pros:

No varchar<->datetime conversions required
No need to think about locale

Best Answer

Related Solutions

Sql – Add a column with a default value to an existing table in SQL Server

Syntax:

Example:

Notes:

Sql – How to return only the Date from a SQL Server DateTime datatype

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