How to Change a Table's Name (129098)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Visual FoxPro for Windows 3.0
This article was previously published under Q129098

SUMMARY

In versions prior to 3.0, you needed to follow a rather cumbersome process to change the name of a table (.DBF). Visual FoxPro version 3.0 provides one native command (RENAME TABLE) to carry out the task.

MORE INFORMATION

The RENAME TABLE command works only with tables that exist in a Database Container (.DBC). If you try to use RENAME TABLE on a FREE table and no DBC is open or current, this error is generated:
No database is open or set as the current database.
If you try to use RENAME TABLE on a FREE table and a DBC is open and current, this error is generated:
Cannot find object <Table_name> in the database.
The RENAME TABLE command doesn't rename the file (.DBF). It gives the table an ALIAS and updates the .DBC file accordingly. Using RENAME TABLE is the same as using the NAME clause in the CREATE TABLE SQL command.

You can do the same thing through the interface. Bring up a Table Designer for any table that exists in a DBC. Note that the upper-left corner of the Table Designer holds a Table Name text box titled. Changing the name in this text box produces the same result as the RENAME TABLE command.

You should not use the the RENAME command to rename a .DBF file for tables that exist in a DBC because it can cause referencing problems. If you must use the RENAME command, use the VALIDATE DATABASE command to update the appropriate references in the DBC.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:2/12/2000
Keywords:kberrmsg KB129098
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