title: Modifying a column type with data, without deleting the data
body: <p>I have a column which I believe has been declared wrongly. It contains data and I do not wish to lose the data. </p>
  
  <p>I wish to change the definition from varchar(max) to varchar(an integer). I was under the impression I cannot just alter the column type?</p>
  
  <p>Is the best method to create a temp column, "column2", transfer the data to this column, from the column with the problematic type, delete the problem column and then rename the temp column to the original problematic column?</p>
  
  <p>If so, how do I copy the values from the problem column to the new column?</p>
  
  <p>EDIT: For anyone with same problem, you <em>can</em> just use the ALTER statements.</p>