Changing Column Data Types

Changes to a database schema may result in changes to the data types of columns. For example, strings become integers, or conversely integers become strings. When this occurs additional actions may be required to complete the migration of an Interactive Reporting document to the new schema.

If the type change affects a filter, the data type of the data model column is applied to the filter in the Interactive Reporting document. The filter type in an Interactive Reporting document is copied from the data model when it is created and cannot be accessed by developers or users.

Some data type changes require no action and are unaffected. Those changes are marked as OK in Table 29. The changes marked as Warn require attention because values cached in the Interactive Reporting document may not be migrated correctly.

Table 29. Data Type Changes

Data Types
From/To	string	int	real	date	time	timestamp
string	OK	Warn	Warn	Warn	Warn	Warn
int	OK	OK	OK	Warn	Warn	Warn
real	OK	Warn	OK	Warn	Warn	Warn
date	Warn	Warn	Warn	OK	Warn	OK
time	Warn	Warn	Warn	Warn	OK	Warn
timestamp	Warn	Warn	Warn	Warn	Warn	OK

If the type change affects a Request line item, no action is taken because request item data types are accessed by clicking Option in Item Properties. If the Impact Manager module changes the data types, unforeseen effects in results, tables, charts, pivots, or reports may occur—especially if computations are applied to the column that is returned.