drop table alter_char_1; create table alter_char_1 (key string, value string); insert overwrite table alter_char_1 select key, value from src order by key limit 5; select * from alter_char_1 order by key; -- change column to char alter table alter_char_1 change column value value char(20); -- contents should still look the same select * from alter_char_1 order by key; -- change column to smaller char alter table alter_char_1 change column value value char(3); -- value column should be truncated now select * from alter_char_1 order by key; -- change back to bigger char alter table alter_char_1 change column value value char(20); -- column values should be full size again select * from alter_char_1 order by key; -- add char column alter table alter_char_1 add columns (key2 int, value2 char(10)); select * from alter_char_1 order by key; insert overwrite table alter_char_1 select key, value, key, value from src order by key limit 5; select * from alter_char_1 order by key; drop table alter_char_1;