ALTER TABLE tbl ALTER COLUMN col ntext I think that ought to work, but I'm not completely sure. Stability. What an interesting concept. -- Chris Maunder

The could bark in morse code. Todd Smith

Okay, so call GetCurrentProcessId() first.

Well, certainly you can use SQLDMO to do this. The problem is that there's really no method faster than what you're already doing. The best you can hope for, I think, is to put the database in single-user mode where you're the only user, and not perform the changes in a transaction. BTW, be careful modifying the system tables directly. This can often have unexpected results, and cause the table to become pretty much useless. Grim (aka Toby) MCDBA, MCSD, MCP+SB Need a Second Life?[^]

#define OFF(type, field) ((LONG)(LONG_PTR)&(((type *)0)->field)) Take the following structure: struct ThisStruct { char field1; // at offset 0 short field2; // at offset 1 int field3; // at offset 3 int field4; // at offset 7 }; If we call the macro as such: OFF(ThisStruct, field3) Firstly, the macro creates a pointer to a ThisStruct structure at address 0: ((ThisStruct *)0) Next, it refers to a particular field inside that structure: ((ThisStruct *)0)->field3 Next, it takes the address of that field: &(((ThisStruct *)0)->field3) Since field3 is 3 bytes from the beginning of the structure, and the structure is at address 0, the pointer will hold the value 3. Lastly, the macro converts the pointer to a LONG_PTR and finally to a LONG, to give an integer result - the offset of the field from the beginning of the structure. Hope this helps, Ryan "Punctuality is only a virtue for those who aren't smart enough to think of good excuses for being late" John Nichol "Point Of Impact"