SugarCRM Fields, Changing Field Types

/*
I don't share this fact often, but SugarCRM fields can change types if you do it from the database. Assuming there are no vardefs specifying otherwise, here's how I converted a set of dropdown (enum) fields to open-text (varchar) fields...

Caution, though! You can lose data if your change data types or shorten a field in a live database. Use your head. There's a reason the SugarCRM Studio doesn't do this for you.
*/

update fields_meta_data set
ext1=null,
type='varchar',
len = 255,
default_value = ''
where id in(
'A1_Poolskimmer_manufacturer_c',
'A1_Poolskimmer_model_number_c',
'A1_Poolskimmer_basket_size_c',
'A1_Poolskimmer_door_size_c',
'A1_Poolnumber_of_inlets_c',
'A1_Poolautomatic_pool_cleaner_manuf_c',
'A1_Poolautormatic_pool_cleaner_mode_c',
'A1_Poolpump_manufacturer_c',
'A1_Poolpump_model_number_c',
'A1_Poolfilter_model_number_c',
'A1_Poolfilter_size_c',
'A1_Poolheater_manufacturer_c',
'A1_Poolheater_model_number_c',
'A1_Poolchlorinator_manufacturer_c',
'A1_Poolchlorinator_model_number_c',
'A1_Poolfeeder_manufacturer_c',
'A1_Poolfeeder_model_number_c'
);

alter table a1_pool_cstm modify skimmer_manufacturer_c VARCHAR(255);
alter table a1_pool_cstm modify skimmer_model_number_c VARCHAR(255);
alter table a1_pool_cstm modify skimmer_basket_size_c VARCHAR(255);
alter table a1_pool_cstm modify skimmer_door_size_c VARCHAR(255);
alter table a1_pool_cstm modify number_of_inlets_c VARCHAR(255);
alter table a1_pool_cstm modify automatic_pool_cleaner_manuf_c VARCHAR(255);
alter table a1_pool_cstm modify autormatic_pool_cleaner_mode_c VARCHAR(255);
alter table a1_pool_cstm modify pump_manufacturer_c VARCHAR(255);
alter table a1_pool_cstm modify pump_model_number_c VARCHAR(255);
alter table a1_pool_cstm modify filter_model_number_c VARCHAR(255);
alter table a1_pool_cstm modify filter_size_c VARCHAR(255);
alter table a1_pool_cstm modify heater_manufacturer_c VARCHAR(255);
alter table a1_pool_cstm modify heater_model_number_c VARCHAR(255);
alter table a1_pool_cstm modify chlorinator_manufacturer_c VARCHAR(255);
alter table a1_pool_cstm modify chlorinator_model_number_c VARCHAR(255);
alter table a1_pool_cstm modify feeder_manufacturer_c VARCHAR(255);
alter table a1_pool_cstm modify feeder_model_number_c VARCHAR(255);