---
title: ALTER Options
slug: help/en-us/dairycomp/alter-options
docTags: 
createdAt: 2026-06-02T13:48:04.776Z
---

## 🎓In this Guide, You Will Learn:

- What ALTER is and what it's used for
- Five commonly used ALTER options
- Where to learn more about each option

## ALTER Overview

**ALTER** is a command verb used to display the menu shown below for accessing multiple options allowing you to customize DairyComp. 

:inlineImage[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/3h8pSJcGUXEi4HGCCYPTA/pxdWjxJYUxGfx3TSUUxBY-20260316-192420.png" alt caption width="70" height="70"} Type ALTER on the DairyComp Server computer's Command Line to bring up the menu shown below.

::Image[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/3h8pSJcGUXEi4HGCCYPTA/g0ka1gmLRlZyP8omhUOOJ_alter-menu.png" size="24" width="484" height="360" position="flex-start" caption="ALTER menu" darkWidth="484" darkHeight="360" showCaption="true"}

Found under the DairyComp Reference Guide, **ALTER Overview** is the perfect place to get started learning about ALTER before reviewing the five commonly used ALTER options. Follow this link to get started: [ALTER Overview](docId:1MW1mvF3HJ2V-u2QoXzl0) 

## Commonly Used ALTER Options

Found under the DairyComp Reference Guide, the links below were selected to help guide you through some of the most commonly used ALTER options. 

| <font color="#f3f4f6">ALTER</font>                             | <font color="#f3f4f6">Description</font>                                                                                                                                  |
| -------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| [ALTER2: Item Definitions](docId\:ELH0_Fj-KTf5ihC3RhfIG)       | Learn how to view all items currently configured in DairyComp and perform essential item management tasks, including creating, modifying, deleting, and renaming items.   |
| [ALTER3: Command Abbreviations](docId\:bq-RsQLRiniXrUKCZz8RV)  | Learn what command abbreviations are and how to create, modify, or delete them within DairyComp.                                                                          |
| [ALTER4: Pens](docId\:noM61wLBr2IbwGQEAlD6E)                   | Learn how to manage DairyComp pens, view historical pen inventory, and perform key pen management tasks such as creating, deleting, renaming, and modifying pen settings. |
| [ALTER7: Protocols](docId\:ZYd1hLxwmnyN3w9jCN3HI)              | Learn about treatment protocol management, providing guidance on how to create, update, and maintain protocols within DairyComp.                                          |
| [ALTER9: Events](docId:8-YOPeCfYeksw0DKFyiSm)                  | Learn about managing DairyComp events, including how to create, update, and delete events to support your herd management workflows.                                      |

:::hint{type="success"}
💡**TIP:** Want to learn more about other **ALTER** options? Navigate to the DairyComp Reference Guide or type **ALTER** in the Help-Doc search bar.
:::