How to Alter Table Column Collation in SQL Server 2008
In SQL Server 2008, altering the collation of a table column can be a crucial task when dealing with data that requires specific character set and sort order settings. Collation determines how string comparison and sorting are performed in SQL Server. This article will guide you through the steps to alter the collation of a table column in SQL Server 2008.
Understanding Collation in SQL Server 2008
Collation in SQL Server 2008 is a combination of a character set and a sort order. It defines how string comparison and sorting operations are performed. For example, the default collation for SQL Server is SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS, which uses the Latin1 character set and case-insensitive, accent-insensitive, and accent-sensitive sort orders.
Steps to Alter Table Column Collation
To alter the collation of a table column in SQL Server 2008, follow these steps:
1. Open SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) and connect to your SQL Server instance.
2. In the Object Explorer, expand the server tree, then expand the “Databases” folder, and select the database that contains the table you want to modify.
3. Right-click on the table and select “Design” to open the table designer.
4. In the table designer, click on the column whose collation you want to change.
5. In the “Column Properties” window, locate the “Collation” property.
6. Click on the dropdown list next to the “Collation” property and select the desired collation from the list of available collations.
7. Click “OK” to save the changes and close the table designer.
Example: Altering Collation of a Column
Let’s say you have a table named “Employees” with a column named “LastName” that has the default collation. You want to change the collation of the “LastName” column to “Latin1_General_CI_AS” to perform case-insensitive comparisons.
1. Open SSMS and connect to your SQL Server instance.
2. In the Object Explorer, expand the server tree, then expand the “Databases” folder, and select the “YourDatabase” database.
3. Right-click on the “Employees” table and select “Design” to open the table designer.
4. Click on the “LastName” column to select it.
5. In the “Column Properties” window, locate the “Collation” property.
6. Click on the dropdown list next to the “Collation” property and select “Latin1_General_CI_AS” from the list of available collations.
7. Click “OK” to save the changes and close the table designer.
Conclusion
Altering the collation of a table column in SQL Server 2008 is a straightforward process that can be achieved by following the steps outlined in this article. By understanding the importance of collation and the available collation options, you can ensure that your data is sorted and compared correctly according to your requirements.
