Name can be omiitted from ->dbforge->modify_column()'s 2nd param if you aren't changing the name.
diff --git a/system/database/DB_forge.php b/system/database/DB_forge.php
index f40eac8..ce505f4 100644
--- a/system/database/DB_forge.php
+++ b/system/database/DB_forge.php
@@ -333,6 +333,12 @@
foreach ($field as $k => $v)
{
+ // If no name provided, use the current name
+ if ( ! isset($field[$k]['name']))
+ {
+ $field[$k]['name'] = $k;
+ }
+
$this->add_field(array($k => $field[$k]));
if (count($this->fields) == 0)
diff --git a/user_guide/database/forge.html b/user_guide/database/forge.html
index 28b32d9..b9e0442 100644
--- a/user_guide/database/forge.html
+++ b/user_guide/database/forge.html
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@
<p>Used to remove a column from a table. </p>
<p><code>$this->dbforge->drop_column('table_name', 'column_to_drop');</code></p>
<h2>$this->dbforge->modify_column()</h2>
-<p>The usage of this function is identical to add_column(), except it alters an existing column rather than adding a new one. In order to use it you must add a "name" key into the field defining array.</p>
+<p>The usage of this function is identical to add_column(), except it alters an existing column rather than adding a new one. In order to change the name you can add a "name" key into the field defining array.</p>
<p><code>$fields = array(<br />
'old_name' => array(<br />
'name' => 'new_name',<br />