Sergio,

What version of SQL Server are you using? I believe the ALTER COLUMN syntax was new to version 7. You're not running an earlier version are you?

~~Bonnie

>Hello Sergey, thanks for your help.
>But when I remove the curled brackets I get a syntax error.
>
>This is the error:
>Line 2: Incorrect syntax near 'COLUMN'.
>
>The current column type of the ped field is datetime.
>
>
>Sergio