Example: Renaming Tables and Columns

Microsoft Access database software and Interactive Reporting Studio are used as examples in these procedural steps.

  To copy a table and make initial changes to the column names:

  1. In a database, for example MSAccess, open the Sample Database.

  2. Right-click a table, and select Copy.

    For example, select PCW_CUSTOMERS.

  3. Right-click again, and select Paste.

  4. In Paste Table As, enter a Table Name.

    For example, type Outlets. Ensure that Structure and Data is selected.

  5. Click OK.

    A copy of PCW_CUSTOMERS called Outlets is created.

  6. Right-click Outlets, and select Design View.

    The table is opened in design mode.

  7. Overwrite Field Name to change the column names.

    For example, overwrite STORE_ID with outlet_id, STORE with outlet, and STORE_TYPE with outlet_type.

  8. Close the Outlets table, and click Yes to save changes.

  To change the physical name of a table:

  1. Open Interactive Reporting Studio, select Sample.oce, and click OK.

  2. On the Sample.oce Host User and Host Password dialog box, click OK, without entering any text.

  3. From the catalog pane, expand Tables, and drag a topic onto the content area.

    For example, select PCW_CUSTOMERS.

  4. Right-click the topic header, and select Properties.

    Topic Properties is displayed.

  5. Enter a new Physical Name.

    For example, type outlets to replace PCW_CUSTOMERS.

  6. Click OK.

  To synchronize the data model with the database:

  1. In Interactive Reporting Studio, select the topic with the new physical name, for example Pcw Customers, and select DataModel , then Sync with Database.

    Data Model Synchronization is displayed. If Show Detail Information is selected, this dialog box provides information on changes that were made with the synchronization.

  2. Click OK.

  To change the display names of columns:

  1. In Interactive Reporting Studio, using the topic in the content area, right-click a column name, and select Properties.

    Topic Item Properties is displayed.

  2. Change the column name, and click OK.

    For example, change Outlet Id to Store Id.

  3. Repeat steps 1–2 to change the other column names.

    For example, change Outlet to Store and Outlet Type to Store Type.

    The display names of the columns are renamed.

  4. Optional: Alternatively, to achieve an equivalent end result of changing the display names, perform these actions:

    1. Drag a topic, for example Orders, onto the Interactive Reporting Studio content area.

    2. Rename the display names of the renamed columns and the topic.

      For example, a data model is created that can replace another data model that uses only the Pcw Customers topic. The edited topic now exposes names matching the original topic and is a valid replacement.