Hi Dave,

It is observed that while creating table, once we define the attributes and
their properties, we can not change the attribute type. e.g. If we have
defined an attribute of type int. Now if one want to change it to numeric,
it is not allowed thorugh the pgAdmin GUI. However we have the option of
further addition of the attribute to the table. Also it is not possible to
remove the present attribute(s) in the table.

Is this a valid to have this kind of restriction if one want to do similar
change?? I think either we have to go to the psql prompt and use some
command, or refine the whole table after dropping the old one. 

Is there any solution to this through GUI, as it is easy to do it.

-anil.



Fri, 14 Dec 2001 18:34:06 +0530
Anil Jangam <anilj@indts.com>
Requirement for pgAdmin browser.
Le Vendredi 14 Dï¿½cembre 2001 14:04, vous avez ï¿½crit :
> It is observed that while creating table, once we define the attributes and
> their properties, we can not change the attribute type. e.g. If we have
> defined an attribute of type int. Now if one want to change it to numeric,
> it is not allowed thorugh the pgAdmin GUI. However we have the option of
> further addition of the attribute to the table. Also it is not possible to
> remove the present attribute(s) in the table.

PostgreSQL does not allow table modification. The community have been waiting 
for an ALTER TABLE DROP COLUMN and type PROMOTION / DEMOTION, for a long 
time. Same as for Views and triggers : it is impossible to alter them... The 
politics of PostgreSQL is to offer advanced features before basic ones.

Is anyone working seriously on those issues?

>> Is this a valid to have this kind of restriction if one want to do similar
> change?? I think either we have to go to the psql prompt and use some
> command, or refine the whole table after dropping the old one.
> Is there any solution to this through GUI, as it is easy to do it.
 
The only workaround by now is to use CREATE TABLE AS and dropping the old 
table.

In pgAdmin I, we used to offer a development mode where you could modify all 
parameters. Then the changes were applied to the database in a pseudo 
compilation (drop/create). Then, we decided to wait for real ALTER features 
in PostgreSQL. We are still waiting for them.

Best regards
Jean-Michel POURE

Sat, 15 Dec 2001 15:56:23 +0100
Jean-Michel POURE <jm.poure@freesurf.fr>
Re: Requirement for pgAdmin browser.
> Le Vendredi 14 D?cembre 2001 14:04, vous avez ?crit :
> > It is observed that while creating table, once we define the attributes and
> > their properties, we can not change the attribute type. e.g. If we have
> > defined an attribute of type int. Now if one want to change it to numeric,
> > it is not allowed thorugh the pgAdmin GUI. However we have the option of
> > further addition of the attribute to the table. Also it is not possible to
> > remove the present attribute(s) in the table.
> 
> PostgreSQL does not allow table modification. The community have been waiting 
> for an ALTER TABLE DROP COLUMN and type PROMOTION / DEMOTION, for a long 
> time. Same as for Views and triggers : it is impossible to alter them... The 
> politics of PostgreSQL is to offer advanced features before basic ones.
> 
> Is anyone working seriously on those issues?

Agreed.  We couldn't decide the best way to do it, so we did nothing.  I
have hopes for 7.3.

-- 
  Bruce Momjian                        |  http://candle.pha.pa.us
  pgman@candle.pha.pa.us               |  (610) 853-3000
  +  If your life is a hard drive,     |  830 Blythe Avenue
  +  Christ can be your backup.        |  Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania 19026

Sat, 15 Dec 2001 13:06:24 -0500 (EST)
Bruce Momjian <pgman@candle.pha.pa.us>
Re: [HACKERS] Requirement for pgAdmin browser.