Changing the Data Type and Field Length of Existing Fields

If a data element is assigned to the field, you must change the technical field attributes (data type, length, number of decimal places) in the domain of the data element. Do this as follows:

  1. Go to the field maintenance routine of the table by selecting the name of the data element in the data element maintenance routine.
  2. Go to the domain maintenance routine.
  3. Choose Domain ® Display ® Change.
  4. Make the required changes and save your input.

    5. Make sure that this change affects all the table fields which refer to the particular domain. Foreign keys could become inconsistent and conversions required. You should therefore consider the effects of this action before changing the domain by checking how the domain is used in other tables with Utilities ® Where-used list (in the maintenance routine of the domain).

  5. Activate the domain.

Proceed as follows if the field was created by directly entering the type:

  1. Choose Goto ® Direct type entry in the field maintenance routine of the table.
  2. Change the entries for the type and length.
  3. If you want to change the number of decimal places of a field, select the field name. You will go to the detailed display of the field attributes, where you can make the required entry in the Decimal places field.

You will usually have to convert the table if you change the field attributes.