One of the most hassle-prone changes that can be made in a SQL Server database is to widen an existing column. Depending on the column’s use and data type, this process may involve hundreds of schema changes, app downtime, and a mountain of risk-prone code to review and deploy.
This article dives into a fun (and interesting!) strategy for widening fixed-width columns in SQL Server, to reduce downtime, risk, and runtime at the time when a column’s data type needs to be changed.
If you have ever suffered through a lengthy INT to BIGINT release, then this guide is for