ALTER'ing an XML Column

I was wondering, is it possible to ALTER and existing XML column? I need the abiltiy to be able to type the column to a different xsd if the need arose. For example, the column was created and typed to an XSD called UserClaimsXSD. Then later on, the XSD itself changes and needs to be typed to the column.

I was looking through ALTER table but couldn't find anything. I ran SQL PRofiler and saw it is handled via SSMS - it builds a new table, with that new XSD and then copies the adta from the original table into the temp table. It then drops the original table and renames the temp table...

There has to be an easier way...

Thanks!!

You can first alter the column to untyped xml:

ALTER TABLE YourTable ALTER COLUMN xmlColumn xml NOT NULL;

Then modify or create the new schema

Lastly, change the column to the new schema (the data in the table must comply with the new schema)

ALTER TABLE YourTable ALTER COLUMN xmlColumn xml(NewSchemaCollection) NOT NULL;