is there a way to change field type text to text area in field manager?

without re-creating the field and losing all the data

or if not back up the data and reload...

Let's see. If you have database access you could try:

Backup your site or at least your database!
Create the new text area field.
Go to your database manager (probably phpmysql and perform a query consisting of your comprofiler table (probably jos_comprofiler) your old field name and your new field name:Confirm that the data was copied over and delete the old field.

Or something like that.. like I said: Backup!

Thanks heyai,

I have exported the database and also set up a development database separate from the my sites,

then put

INSERT INTO jos_comprofiler (cb_test) SELECT cb_lastname FROM jos_comprofiler;

in the box "SQL query on database"

then I get an error You have to choose at least one column to display

I am not experienced in doing mysql queries

Is it possible give a step by step?

thanks again,

Hi I created a new field type editarea and does the job

then in mysql changed type medium to long text didn't lose any data...

however there seems to be a limit on how much text can be put in there how do we change the maximum limit fields in tab for area main?