How to change database column 'null' to 'nullable' using laravel migration in mysql?

Question

This is my vehicles table. I want to change my database structure by using a migration

use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Schema;
use Illuminate\Database\Schema\Blueprint;
use Illuminate\Database\Migrations\Migration;

class CreateVehiclesTable extends Migration
{
    /**
     * Run the migrations.
     *
     * @return void
     */
    public function up()
    {
        Schema::create('vehicles', function (Blueprint $table) {
            $table->increments('id');
            $table->string('image')->nullable();
            $table->string('reg_no')->unique();
            $table->string('fuel_type');
            $table->string('capacity');
            $table->double('rate');
            $table->boolean('req_carrier');
            $table->date('service_date');
            $table->integer('service_freq_km');
            $table->integer('service_freq_months');
            $table->date('insurance_date');
            $table->integer('insurance_freq_months');
            $table->date('eco_date');
            $table->integer('eco_freq_months');
            $table->date('licence_date');
            $table->integer('licence_freq_months');
            $table->integer('current_company');
            $table->string('status')->default("available");
            $table->timestampsTz();

        });
    }

    /**
     * Reverse the migrations.
     *
     * @return void
     */
    public function down()
    {
        Schema::dropIfExists('vehicles');
    }
}

I want to give nullable values to these columns. 1.service_date 2.service_freq_km 3.service_freq_months

How can I alter these columns as nullable in mysql?

Answer 1

You can read the docs about Modifying Columns.

If you want these feature, you need to install this package first:

composer require doctrine/dbal

Then, you need to create another migration, for example:

2019_10_24_xxxxxx_change_columns_to_nullable_in_vehicles.php

<?php

use Illuminate\Database\Migrations\Migration;
use Illuminate\Database\Schema\Blueprint;
use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Schema;

class ChangeColumnsToNullableInVehicles extends Migration
{
    /**
     * Run the migrations.
     *
     * @return void
     */
    public function up()
    {
        Schema::table('vehicles', function (Blueprint $table) {
            $table->date('service_date')->nullable()->change();
            $table->integer('service_freq_km')->nullable()->change();
            $table->integer('service_freq_months')->nullable()->change();
        });
    }

    /**
     * Reverse the migrations.
     *
     * @return void
     */
    public function down()
    {
        Schema::table('vehicles', function (Blueprint $table) {
            $table->date('service_date')->nullable(false)->change();
            $table->integer('service_freq_km')->nullable(false)->change();
            $table->integer('service_freq_months')->nullable(false)->change();
        });
    }
}

Answer 2

install the package in order to update the tables composer require doctrine/dbal

Since you have migrated the migration files, you now need to create a new migration file using artisan command:

php artisan make:migration change_nullable_field_columns_to_vehicles_tables --table=vehicles

In newly created migration file, add the following codes

public function up() {
        Schema::table('vehicles', function (Blueprint $table) {
            $table->date('service_date')->nullable()->change();
            $table->integer('service_freq_km')->nullable()->change();
            $table->integer('service_freq_months')->nullable()->change();
        });
    }

//For php artisan down

public function down(){
            Schema::table('vehicles', function (Blueprint $table) {
                $table->date('service_date')->nullable(false)->change();
                $table->integer('service_freq_km')->nullable(false)->change();
                $table->integer('service_freq_months')->nullable(false)->change();
            });
}

Now you can execute migrate command

php artisan migrate