Renaming attribute/field names for GeoPackage layer in QGIS

Question

I need to rename several attributes/fields in a GeoPackage layer. How to do this?

There are numerous pages on how to rename the attributes/fields of a shapefile. However, there do not seem to be any pages specifically addressing the modification of attributes to GeoPackage layers, except a few about using Python scripts. Perhaps what is assumed at the moment (Feb 2019) is that you must be able to do Python programming in order to modify fields in GeoPackage layers.

Before tagging this as a duplicate, please make sure you are not presuming that I am trying to modify a shapefile. I am trying to modify a GeoPackage layer.

Answer 1

You can rename, drop, add, reorder Geopackage fields using QGis 3.x as follows: Processing > Toolbox > Vector table > Refactor fields. This will output a new Geopackage.

Answer 2

It's possible to rename attributes/fields in place of a GeoPackage via the Fields tab under Layer Properties.

1. Double-click the layer in the Layers panel to open Layer Properties
2. Navigate to the Fields tab on the left.
3. Enable editing with the pencil icon
4. Double-click the field name you want to change and hit enter to confirm
5. Disable editing by clicking the pencil icon again
6. Apply changes

I've been refactoring layers and overwriting files like a sucker! This way is far less handling. I can't confirm which other file types this process works for.