Microsoft® SQL Server 2012 Unleashed

Modifying Tables

You often need to modify database tables after you create them. Fortunately, you can use several tools to accomplish this task. These tools are the same set of tools you can use to add, modify, and delete tables: the SSMS Object Explorer, Table Designer, Database Diagram Editor, and T-SQL. The following sections touch on each of these tools but focus most heavily on the use of T-SQL.

Regardless of the method you use, you must always exercise caution when modifying tables, particularly in a production environment. Table relationships and the impact to data that may already exist in a table are key considerations in modifying a table. A visual tool such as a database diagram can assist you in determining the impact to related ...