This example was tested on Oracle 9. First create a table:
SQL> create table table1 (col1 number)
2 /
Table created.
SQL>
Then create a synonym pointing to that table:
SQL> create synonym synonym1 for table1
2 /
Synonym created.
SQL> desc synonym1
Name Null? Type
-------------------------- -------- ------------------
COL1 NUMBER
SQL>
Rename the underlying the table:
SQL> rename table1 to table2
2 /
Table renamed.
SQL>
Now, if you describe the table via the synonym, you get an ORA-04043, which I have shown elsewhere:
SQL> desc synonym1
ERROR:
ORA-04043: object "ORACLE"."TABLE1" does not exist
SQL>
But, if you select from the table via the synonym, you get an ORA-00980:
SQL> select * from synonym1
2 /
select * from synonym1
*
ERROR at line 1:
ORA-00980: synonym translation is no longer valid
SQL>
Depending on the circumstances, you could fix this as follows:
(1) Rename the table back again, if it was renamed by mistake in the first place.
(2) Drop and recreate the synonym so that it points to the new table name.
