SQL Server ALTER SCHEMA

Summary: in this tutorial, you will learn how to use the SQL Server ALTER SCHEMA to transfer a securable from one schema to another.

SQL Server ALTER SCHEMA overview

The ALTER SCHEMA statement allows you to transfer a securable from a schema to another within the same database.

Note that a securable is a resource to which the Database Engine authorization system controls access. For instance, a table is a securable.

The following shows the syntax of the ALTER SCHEMA statement:

ALTER SCHEMA target_schema_name   
    TRANSFER [ entity_type :: ] securable_name;
Code language: SQL (Structured Query Language) (sql)

In this syntax:

• target_schema_name is the name of a schema in the current database, into which you want to move the object. Note that it cannot be SYS or INFORMATION_SCHEMA.
• The entity_type can be Object, Type or XML Schema Collection. It defaults to Object. The entity_type represents the class of the entity for which the owner is being changed.
• object_name is the name of the securable that you want to move into the target_schema_name.

If you move a stored procedure, function, view, or trigger, SQL Server will not change the schema name of these securables. Therefore, it is recommended that you drop and re-create these objects in the new schema instead of using the ALTER SCHEMA statement for moving.

If you move an object e.g., table or synonym, SQL Server will not update the references for these objects automatically. You must manually modify the references to reflect the new schema name. For example, if you move a table that is referenced in a stored procedure, you must modify the stored procedure to reflect the new schema name.

SQL Server ALTER SCHEMA example

First, create a new table named offices in the dbo schema:

CREATE TABLE dbo.offices
(
    office_id      INT
    PRIMARY KEY IDENTITY, 
    office_name    NVARCHAR(40) NOT NULL, 
    office_address NVARCHAR(255) NOT NULL, 
    phone          VARCHAR(20),
);
Code language: SQL (Structured Query Language) (sql)

Next, insert some rows into the dob.offices table:

INSERT INTO 
    dbo.offices(office_name, office_address)
VALUES
    ('Silicon Valley','400 North 1st Street, San Jose, CA 95130'),
    ('Sacramento','1070 River Dr., Sacramento, CA 95820');
Code language: SQL (Structured Query Language) (sql)

Then, create a stored procedure that finds office by office id:

CREATE PROC usp_get_office_by_id(
    @id INT
) AS
BEGIN
    SELECT 
        * 
    FROM 
        dbo.offices
    WHERE 
        office_id = @id;
END;
Code language: SQL (Structured Query Language) (sql)

After that, transfer this dbo.offices table to the sales schema:

ALTER SCHEMA sales TRANSFER OBJECT::dbo.offices;  
Code language: SQL (Structured Query Language) (sql)

If you execute the usp_get_office_by_id stored procedure, SQL Server will issue an error:

Msg 208, Level 16, State 1, Procedure usp_get_office_by_id, Line 5 [Batch Start Line 30]
Invalid object name 'dbo.offices'.
Code language: SQL (Structured Query Language) (sql)

Finally, manually modify the stored procedure to reflect the new schema:

ALTER PROC usp_get_office_by_id(
    @id INT
) AS
BEGIN
    SELECT 
        * 
    FROM 
        sales.offices
    WHERE 
        office_id = @id;
END;
Code language: SQL (Structured Query Language) (sql)

In this tutorial, you have learned how to use the SQL Server ALTER SCHEMA statement to transfer a securable from one schema to another within the same database.