Copying Columns from One Table to Another

See Also

You can copy columns from one table to another table in the same diagram or in different diagrams. Copying a column involves only the column definition. The data itself is not automatically transferred to the second table as part of this process.

Tip   You can use database queries to copy the column's data from the original column to the new column. Use the Query Designer to run an update query to add the data to the table to which you copied the columns. For details, see Creating Update Queries. For information about the Query Designer, see Designing Queries.

To copy columns from one table to another

1. In your database diagram, select the columns that you want to copy.
   
   
2. Click the Copy button on the toolbar. This action copies the selection from the table and places the column and its current set of properties on the Clipboard.
   
   
3. Position the cursor in the table at the location where you want to insert the columns.
   
   
4. Click the Paste button on the toolbar. The column and its properties are inserted at the new location and remain highlighted until you click elsewhere.

When you copy a database column that has a user-defined data type from one database to another, the user-defined data type may not be available in the destination database. In such a case, the column will be assigned the nearest matching base data type available in that database.