How to Partition an Existing Table

This example was tested on Oracle 9. First create an ordinary table with some data in and count the number of rows it contains:

SQL> create table andrew
  2  as select * from dba_tables
  3  /

Table created.

SQL> select count(*) from andrew
  2  /

  COUNT(*)
----------
       831

SQL>

Next create an empty partitioned version of the table and show that it is empty:

SQL> create table andrew_partitioned
  2  partition by range(owner)
  3  (partition part01
  4  values less than (maxvalue))
  5  as select * from andrew
  6  where 1=2
  7  /

Table created.

SQL> select count(*) from andrew_partitioned
  2  /

  COUNT(*)
----------
         0

SQL>

Now move the data from the ordinary table to the partitioned table:

SQL> alter table andrew_partitioned
  2  exchange partition part01
  3  with table andrew
  4  /

Table altered.

SQL>

Show that the ordinary table is empty and that the partitioned table now has all the data:

SQL> select count(*) from andrew
  2  /

  COUNT(*)
----------
         0

SQL> select count(*) from andrew_partitioned
  2  /

  COUNT(*)
----------
       831

SQL>

Give the partitioned table the same name as the original non-partitioned one:

SQL> drop table andrew
  2  /

Table dropped.

SQL> rename andrew_partitioned to andrew
  2  /

Table renamed.

SQL> 

Finally, you can split up the new partitioned table as you wish:

SQL> alter table andrew
  2  split partition part01 at ('O')
  3  into (partition part01, partition part02)
  4  /

Table altered.

SQL>