patternsqlMinor

Reset Column Header Index

Submitted by: @import:stackexchange-dba·Mar 10, 2026·

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indexheaderresetcolumn

Problem

I uploaded some tables to SQL Server Management Studio. Upon inspecting the tables I've found that the column headers area actually values. Is there any way to bump the headers down into a new row and to create new column headers, or will I have to re-upload all of the tables and remember to select the 'has header' option?

Thanks.

Solution

Probably the least complicated option would be to select all your data into a new table with the correct column names, filtering out the row of values containing the header values. From there, you can drop the malformed table, and rename the new one.

Example:

CREATE TABLE dbo.wrongo(wrong INT, [column] INT, names INT);
CREATE TABLE dbo.righto(correct INT, [column] INT, names INT);

INSERT dbo.righto ( correct, [column], names )
SELECT wrong, [column], names
FROM dbo.wrongo
WHERE wrongo.wrong <> 'column name'; --this will throw an error, but you get the idea.

DROP TABLE dbo.wrongo;

EXEC sp_rename 'dbo.righto', 'wrongo', 'OBJECT';

Code Snippets

CREATE TABLE dbo.wrongo(wrong INT, [column] INT, names INT);
CREATE TABLE dbo.righto(correct INT, [column] INT, names INT);

INSERT dbo.righto ( correct, [column], names )
SELECT wrong, [column], names
FROM dbo.wrongo
WHERE wrongo.wrong <> 'column name'; --this will throw an error, but you get the idea.

DROP TABLE dbo.wrongo;

EXEC sp_rename 'dbo.righto', 'wrongo', 'OBJECT';

Context

StackExchange Database Administrators Q#243468, answer score: 6

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