Re: Change column datatype from INT to BIGINT

I guess it depends on how far you are from the column reaching its max
value and if it's also a primary key on the table or not.

Assuming you still have enough time for this conversion:

If column is NOT primary key:

1. Ensure you have enough space in your database
2. Add a new bigint column
3. Add a trigger to populate a new column from the original as the changes
come in
4. Back populate new column for the existing records
5. Take a small downtime window:
a) rename old column to something like column_old
b) rename new column as old column
6. validate and drop old column

If the column is also a Primary key, there are few more steps required
before you can swap

~ Michael

On Mon, Mar 11, 2024 at 1:12 PM srinivasan s <srinioracledba7(at)gmail(dot)com>
wrote:

> Hi everyone
>
> Hope you’re doing good!
>
> We need to change the data type of one of the columns in the large table
> from INT to BIGINT because it reaches the maximum integer value. What is
> the best way to do this conversion from INT to BIGINT with no downtime or
> very minimal impact, I look forward to receiving help from the experts
> here. Thanks
>