Modify user-defined functions

Applies to: SQL Server Azure SQL Database Azure SQL Managed Instance

You can modify user-defined functions in SQL Server by using SQL Server Management Studio or Transact-SQL. Modifying user-defined functions as described below won't change the functions' permissions, nor will it affect any dependent functions, stored procedures, or triggers.

Limitations and restrictions

ALTER FUNCTION can't be used to perform any of the following actions:

• Change a scalar-valued function to a table-valued function, or vice versa.

• Change an inline function to a multistatement function, or vice versa.

• Change a Transact-SQL function to a CLR function, or vice-versa.

Permissions

Requires ALTER permission on the function or on the schema. If the function specifies a user-defined type, requires EXECUTE permission on the type.

Use SQL Server Management Studio

1. Select the plus sign next to the database that contains the function you wish to modify.

2. Select the plus sign next to the Programmability folder.

3. Select the plus sign next to the folder that contains the function you wish to modify:

   • Table-valued Function

   • Scalar-valued Function

   • Aggregate Function

4. Right-click the function you want to modify and select Modify.

5. In the Query Window, make the necessary changes to the ALTER FUNCTION statement.

6. On the File menu, select Savefunction_name.

Use Transact-SQL

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

2. On the Standard bar, select New Query.

3. Copy and paste the following examples into the query window and select Execute.

   The following code sample alters a scalar-valued function.

   SQL

   -- Scalar-Valued Function
   USE [AdventureWorks2022]
   GO
   ALTER FUNCTION [dbo].[ufnGetAccountingEndDate]()
   RETURNS [datetime]
   AS
   BEGIN
       RETURN DATEADD(millisecond, -2, CONVERT(datetime, '20040701', 112));
   END;
   

   The following code sample alters a table-valued function.

   SQL

   -- Table-Valued Function
   USE [AdventureWorks2022]
   GO
   ALTER FUNCTION [dbo].[ufnGetContactInformation](@PersonID int)
   RETURNS @retContactInformation TABLE
   (
       -- Columns returned by the function
       [PersonID] int NOT NULL,
       [FirstName] [nvarchar](50) NULL,
       [LastName] [nvarchar](50) NULL,
       [JobTitle] [nvarchar](50) NULL,
       [BusinessEntityType] [nvarchar](50) NULL
   )
   AS
   -- Returns the first name, last name, job title and business entity type for the specified contact.
   -- Since a contact can serve multiple roles, more than one row may be returned.
   BEGIN
   IF @PersonID IS NOT NULL
   BEGIN
        IF EXISTS(SELECT * FROM [HumanResources].[Employee] e
        WHERE e.[BusinessEntityID] = @PersonID)
        INSERT INTO @retContactInformation
             SELECT @PersonID, p.FirstName, p.LastName, e.[JobTitle], 'Employee'
             FROM [HumanResources].[Employee] AS e
             INNER JOIN [Person].[Person] p ON p.[BusinessEntityID] = e.[BusinessEntityID]
             WHERE e.[BusinessEntityID] = @PersonID;
   
        IF EXISTS(SELECT * FROM [Purchasing].[Vendor] AS v
        INNER JOIN [Person].[BusinessEntityContact] bec ON bec.[BusinessEntityID] = v.[BusinessEntityID]
        WHERE bec.[PersonID] = @PersonID)
        INSERT INTO @retContactInformation
             SELECT @PersonID, p.FirstName, p.LastName, ct.[Name], 'Vendor Contact'
             FROM [Purchasing].[Vendor] AS v
             INNER JOIN [Person].[BusinessEntityContact] bec ON bec.[BusinessEntityID] = v.[BusinessEntityID]
             INNER JOIN [Person].ContactType ct ON ct.[ContactTypeID] = bec.[ContactTypeID]
             INNER JOIN [Person].[Person] p ON p.[BusinessEntityID] = bec.[PersonID]
             WHERE bec.[PersonID] = @PersonID;
   
        IF EXISTS(SELECT * FROM [Sales].[Store] AS s
        INNER JOIN [Person].[BusinessEntityContact] bec ON bec.[BusinessEntityID] = s.[BusinessEntityID]
        WHERE bec.[PersonID] = @PersonID)
        INSERT INTO @retContactInformation
             SELECT @PersonID, p.FirstName, p.LastName, ct.[Name], 'Store Contact'
             FROM [Sales].[Store] AS s
             INNER JOIN [Person].[BusinessEntityContact] bec ON bec.[BusinessEntityID] = s.[BusinessEntityID]
             INNER JOIN [Person].ContactType ct ON ct.[ContactTypeID] = bec.[ContactTypeID]
             INNER JOIN [Person].[Person] p ON p.[BusinessEntityID] = bec.[PersonID]
             WHERE bec.[PersonID] = @PersonID;
   
        IF EXISTS(SELECT * FROM [Person].[Person] AS p
        INNER JOIN [Sales].[Customer] AS c ON c.[PersonID] = p.[BusinessEntityID]
        WHERE p.[BusinessEntityID] = @PersonID AND c.[StoreID] IS NULL)
        INSERT INTO @retContactInformation
             SELECT @PersonID, p.FirstName, p.LastName, NULL, 'Consumer'
             FROM [Person].[Person] AS p
             INNER JOIN [Sales].[Customer] AS c ON c.[PersonID] = p.[BusinessEntityID]
             WHERE p.[BusinessEntityID] = @PersonID AND c.[StoreID] IS NULL;
        END
   RETURN;
   END;
   

See also

• ALTER FUNCTION (Transact-SQL)