I had to rename a column in a table in an oracle database.

SQL

Unfortunately the oracle documentation was not working for me and I had to play around a bit and search the internet until I found the following syntax to be working.

alter table tableName rename column oldName to newName;

Some things to watch out for.

You have to use simple column names.

The oracle documentation listed asĀ first result in a google search provided the following example, which did not work for me.

RENAME COLUMN EMPLOYEE.MANAGER TO SUPERVISOR

I am puzzled as to why the above syntax did not work for me while the alter table statement worked fine, since I was able to create the table in the first place

It looks as if I just misinterpreted the oracle documentation and the rename statement always has to be combined with an alter table statement.

References

Oracle documentation

https://docs.oracle.com/javadb/10.6.2.1/ref/rrefsqljrenamecolumnstatement.html

Another resource using a syntax, which worked for me.

http://www.dba-oracle.com/t_rename_column_table.htm