syntax for changing column name

[OriginalSunny]

Hi,
I need to know how to change the name of some columns in my database. I would also like to change the name of my database. All of this without altering data stored in the database or dropping anyhing. If you know the syntax to do this please let me know. Thanks.

[wickning1]

ALTER TABLE will change table and column names, ALTER DATABASE will change database name... See the documentation at www.mysql.com for more details.

[fenway]

To change a column name:

[code]ALTER TABLE yourTable CHANGE COLUMN yourOldColumn yourNewColumn <column details>[/code]

To rename a DB, you really need to shutdown the server, rename the actual directory itself, and then handle all the privileges. I don't think there's another way, though I think 5.1 will have a RENAME DATABASE command.