Changing default tablespaces in SQL

01 Oct 2023

In a SQL database, a default tablespace is the designated storage area for newly created tables and indexes. By default, the system assigns a default tablespace to every user in the database. However, there are scenarios where you might need to change the default tablespace for a user or the entire database. In this article, we will explore how to change default tablespaces in SQL.

1. Changing Default Tablespace for a User

To change the default tablespace for a specific user in SQL, you can use the ALTER USER statement. Follow the steps below:

Connect to the database using a privileged user account with the necessary permissions.
```
 CONNECT system/password;
```
Execute the ALTER USER statement, specifying the username and the new default tablespace.
```
 ALTER USER username DEFAULT TABLESPACE new_tablespace;
```

Replace username with the name of the user whose default tablespace you want to change, and new_tablespace with the name of the desired tablespace.

Confirm the changes by querying the DBA_USERS view.

 SELECT username, default_tablespace FROM dba_users WHERE username = 'username';

2. Changing Default Tablespace for the Entire Database

To change the default tablespace for the entire database, you need to modify the database parameter DEFAULT_TABLESPACE. Follow the steps below:

Connect to the database using a privileged user account.
```
 CONNECT system/password;
```

Set the new default tablespace using the ALTER SYSTEM statement.

 ALTER SYSTEM SET DEFAULT_TABLESPACE = new_tablespace;

Replace new_tablespace with the name of the desired tablespace.

Restart the database for the changes to take effect.

Conclusion

Changing the default tablespace in SQL can be useful in various scenarios, such as when you want to allocate data to different storage areas or optimize database performance. By following the steps provided in this article, you can easily change the default tablespace for a user or the entire database. Remember to choose the appropriate tablespace based on your requirements and ensure you have the necessary privileges before making any changes.

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#SQL #Database #Tablespace