Rename Tables (Database Engine)

You can rename a table in SQL Server 2012 by using SQL Server Management Studio or Transact-SQL.

Warning

Think carefully before you rename a table. If existing queries, views, user-defined functions, stored procedures, or programs refer to that table, the name modification will make these objects invalid.

In This Topic

• Before you begin:

  Limitations and Restrictions

  Security

• To rename a table, using:

  SQL Server Management Studio

  Transact-SQL

Before You Begin

Limitations and Restrictions

Renaming a table will not automatically rename references to that table. You must manually modify any objects that reference the renamed table. For example, if you rename a table and that table is referenced in a trigger, you must modify the trigger to reflect the new table name. Use sys.sql_expression_dependencies to list dependencies on the table before renaming it.

Security

Permissions

Requires ALTER permission on the table.

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Using SQL Server Management Studio

To rename a table

1. In Object Explorer, right-click the table you want to rename and choose Design from the shortcut menu.

2. From the View menu, choose Properties.

3. In the field for the Name value in the Properties window, type a new name for the table.

4. To cancel this action, press the ESC key before leaving this field.

5. From the File menu choose Save table name.

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Using Transact-SQL

To rename a table

1. In Object Explorer, connect to an instance of Database Engine.

2. On the Standard bar, click New Query.

3. The following example renames the SalesTerritory table to SalesTerr in the Sales schema. Copy and paste the following example into the query window and click Execute.

   USE AdventureWorks2012; 
   GO
   EXEC sp_rename 'Sales.SalesTerritory', 'SalesTerr';
   

For additional examples, see sp_rename (Transact-SQL).

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