How to convert a non-partitioned table into a partitioned table in Oracle version 12.2 and onwards

With Oracle 12.2 and higher versions, it is really simple to convert a non-partitioned table to a partitioned table: you can now use the "ALTER TABLE .... MODIFY" syntax.

Below I am showing how I used this feature for one of my tables.

First, find some basic info about the table as it is right now:

SELECT TABLE_NAME, PARTITIONED,NUM_ROWS,COMPRESSION
FROM  DBA_TABLES
WHERE TABLE_NAME='SEGMENT_SIZE_SAMPLES';

Output:

TABLE_NAME	PARTITIONED	NUM_ROWS	COMPRESSION
SEGMENT_SIZE_SAMPLES	NO	948401	DISABLED

Alter the table. I am taking the opportunity to compress the table at the same time as I am getting it partitioned. I am also using the ONLINE keyword, allowing DML against the table during the operation:

ALTER TABLE SEGMENT_SIZE_SAMPLES MODIFY 
PARTITION BY RANGE (SAMPLE_DATE)
INTERVAL
(
   NUMTOYMINTERVAL(1,'MONTH')
)
(
PARTITION P_INIT VALUES LESS THAN (TO_DATE('2014-01','YYYY-MM') )
)
ROW STORE COMPRESS ADVANCED
ONLINE;

Analyze the table:

exec DBMS_STATS.GATHER_TABLE_STATS (OwnName => 'DBDRIFT',TabName => 'SEGMENT_SIZE_SAMPLES');

Check the table properties again:

SELECT TABLE_NAME, PARTITIONED,NUM_ROWS,COMPRESSION
FROM  DBA_TABLES
WHERE TABLE_NAME='SEGMENT_SIZE_SAMPLES';

Output:

TABLE_NAME	PARTITIONED	NUM_ROWS	COMPRESSION
SEGMENT_SIZE_SAMPLES	YES	1000719

How about compression?

Check the DBA_TAB_PARTITIONS (I am only showing the first 5 rows for brevity):

SELECT TABLE_NAME, PARTITION_NAME,NUM_ROWS,COMPRESSION, COMPRESS_FOR
FROM DBA_TAB_PARTITIONS
WHERE TABLE_NAME='SEGMENT_SIZE_SAMPLES'
FETCH FIRST 5 ROWS ONLY;

Output:

TABLE_NAME	PARTITION_NAME	NUM_ROWS	COMPRESSION	COMPRESS_FOR
SEGMENT_SIZE_SAMPLES	P_INIT	0	ENABLED	ADVANCED
SEGMENT_SIZE_SAMPLES	SYS_P17074	19320	ENABLED	ADVANCED
SEGMENT_SIZE_SAMPLES	SYS_P17075	24955	ENABLED	ADVANCED
SEGMENT_SIZE_SAMPLES	SYS_P17076	24150	ENABLED	ADVANCED
SEGMENT_SIZE_SAMPLES	SYS_P17077	24934	ENABLED	ADVANCED

How about existing indexes?

By default, existing non-unique indexes are also partitioned during the alteration of the table.

There are two indexes on my table, one unique index supporting the primary key constraint, and one non-unique index.

Before the table was altered, both were unpartitioned:

SELECT INDEX_NAME,UNIQUENESS, PARTITIONED 
FROM DBA_INDEXES
WHERE TABLE_NAME='SEGMENT_SIZE_SAMPLES';

INDEX_NAME	UNIQUENESS	PARTITIONED
SEGMENT_SIZE_SAMPLES_IDX1	UNIQUE	NO
SEGMENT_SIZE_SAMPLES_IDX2	NONUNIQUE	NO

After the table was partitioned, the non-unique index was automatically partitioned, too:

INDEX_NAME	UNIQUENESS	PARTITIONED
SEGMENT_SIZE_SAMPLES_IDX1	UNIQUE	NO
SEGMENT_SIZE_SAMPLES_IDX2	NONUNIQUE	YES

Update 18.03.2020:

Another example using LIST partitioning:

alter table MUSIC.ALBUM modify
partition by list (GENRE)
(
    partition P_ROCK values (( 'ROCK')),
    partition P_POP values (( 'POP')),
    partition P_CLASSICAL values (( 'CLASSICAL')),
    partition P_MISC values (default)
)
online;

Update 12.03.2021:
An example using subpartitions:

-- First, give the LOB the desired attributes, if you wish to change any of them:
alter TABLE STOCKS MOVE
LOB (DOC)
STORE AS SECUREFILE(
  TABLESPACE  DATA1
  ENABLE      STORAGE IN ROW
  CHUNK       8192
  COMPRESS    MEDIUM
);

-- Alter the table
alter TABLE STOCKS MODIFY
PARTITION BY LIST (stockname)
SUBPARTITION BY RANGE (LASTUPDATED)
(   -- First partition is called a_name
    PARTITION a_name VALUES('a-abc')
    (
    -- older values
    SUBPARTITION SP_a_name_1_older VALUES LESS THAN ( TO_DATE('2016-01', 'YYYY-MM')) TABLESPACE DATA1
    LOB (DOC) STORE AS SECUREFILE  ( TABLESPACE DATA1 ),
    -- 2016
    subpartition SP_a_name_201601 VALUES LESS THAN (TO_DATE(' 2016-02-01 00:00:00', 'SYYYY-MM-DD HH24:MI:SS')) TABLESPACE DATA_2016
    LOB (DOC) STORE AS SECUREFILE  ( TABLESPACE DATA_2016 ),

...continue with one subpartition per month per year...

...contine with  partitions b_name, c_name etc

-- Final partition is called z_name
 PARTITION z_name VALUES(default)
  (
    -- 2016
    SUBPARTITION SP_sp_z_name_older VALUES LESS THAN ( TO_DATE('2016-01', 'YYYY-MM')) TABLESPACE DATA1,
    subpartition SP_sp_z_name_201601 VALUES LESS THAN (TO_DATE(' 2016-02-01 00:00:00', 'SYYYY-MM-DD HH24:MI:SS')) TABLESPACE DATA_2016
    LOB (DOC) STORE AS SECUREFILE  ( TABLESPACE DATA_2016 ),

...continue with one subpartition per month per year...

 LOB (DOC) STORE AS SECUREFILE  ( TABLESPACE DATA_2022 ),
    subpartition SP_z_name_202212 VALUES LESS THAN (TO_DATE(' 2023-01-01 00:00:00', 'SYYYY-MM-DD HH24:MI:SS')) TABLESPACE DATA_2022
    LOB (DOC) STORE AS SECUREFILE  ( TABLESPACE DATA_2022 ),
    SUBPARTITION SP_z_name_DEFAULT VALUES LESS THAN (MAXVALUE) TABLESPACE DATA1
    LOB (DOC) STORE AS SECUREFILE  ( TABLESPACE DATA1)
    )
)
ONLINE
UPDATE INDEXES(
  IDX_1 LOCAL,
  IDX_2 LOCAL
);
  

Note that UPDATE INDEXES converts IDX_1 and IDX_2 and convert them to LOCAL indexes, on the fly.
Source: Oracle Documentation
I also recommend to look at Oracle-base.com for further reading.