Model versioning with existing unsuffixed model

[cyclonstep]

Hello community!
Recently I have this situations where I need to do breaking changes to the existing models of our current important models.
Because this model is quite important for our business process, I want to do the versioning that based on this feature. https://docs.getdbt.com/docs/collaborate/govern/model-versions

When I read this, the pattern is I need to add suffixes to both the v1 (old one) and v2 (new one). If my understanding was not mistaken, this would also create the new models for both model_v1 and model_v2 (i want to avoid the creation the new v1 model, because this incremental model will be quite expensive). Is there anyway that I can use the old model for the v1? Currently the old model is not having suffix.

Looks like there is a way to do it but I cannot find any clues or examples on how to use it.

Thank you very much!

[cyclonstep]

the image:

[jtcohen6]

@cyclonstep You can configure yourmodelname_v1 with alias: yourmodelname. That way, it will not create a new object in the data warehouse, and continue to update the object located in the old namespace.

https://docs.getdbt.com/docs/collaborate/govern/model-versions#configuring-database-location-with-alias