
Can a serial type be added to an existing table using ALTER TABLE?  If so
why doesn't it work on hub?  If not, I guess that explains why it doesn't
work, so I'm open to suggestions on how to add it easily...

Vince.
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Tue, 06 Jul 1999 15:47:27 -0400 (EDT)
Vince Vielhaber <vev@michvhf.com>
alter table
Vince Vielhaber <vev@michvhf.com> writes:
> Can a serial type be added to an existing table using ALTER TABLE?  If so
> why doesn't it work on hub?  If not, I guess that explains why it doesn't
> work, so I'm open to suggestions on how to add it easily...

I'm not sure about this, but I seem to recall that ALTER TABLE ADD
COLUMN doesn't know anything about adding constraints or defaults.
And, of course, the default clause for a serial column is what *really*
makes it go.  Given this lack, the fact that ALTER TABLE is also
unprepared to create the underlying sequence object for a SERIAL column
is the least of your worries ;-)

There was some discussion a few months ago about redesigning the support
for SERIAL columns to make them less of an add-on kluge and more of a
real integrated feature.  I'd be inclined to think that that should
happen before we try to teach ALTER TABLE about serial columns ---
otherwise it'll just be another kluge in need of replacement.  Does
anyone recall what happened with that discussion thread?

			regards, tom lane

Tue, 06 Jul 1999 17:12:55 -0400
Tom Lane <tgl@sss.pgh.pa.us>
Re: [HACKERS] alter table 

On 06-Jul-99 Tom Lane wrote:
> Vince Vielhaber <vev@michvhf.com> writes:
>> Can a serial type be added to an existing table using ALTER TABLE?  If so
>> why doesn't it work on hub?  If not, I guess that explains why it doesn't
>> work, so I'm open to suggestions on how to add it easily...
> 
> I'm not sure about this, but I seem to recall that ALTER TABLE ADD
> COLUMN doesn't know anything about adding constraints or defaults.
> And, of course, the default clause for a serial column is what *really*
> makes it go.  Given this lack, the fact that ALTER TABLE is also
> unprepared to create the underlying sequence object for a SERIAL column
> is the least of your worries ;-)
> 
> There was some discussion a few months ago about redesigning the support
> for SERIAL columns to make them less of an add-on kluge and more of a
> real integrated feature.  I'd be inclined to think that that should
> happen before we try to teach ALTER TABLE about serial columns ---
> otherwise it'll just be another kluge in need of replacement.  Does
> anyone recall what happened with that discussion thread?
> 
>                       regards, tom lane

Now that you mention it I vaguely recall that thread.  I'm also thinking 
there may be a problem with serial types on hub.  I tried using an insert
with select and although it inserted all 106 records, it didn't have a 
clue as to what the serial column was.  So I dropped the table, dropped
the sequence and created it again.  It gives me this:

ERROR:  attribute 'mirrorid' not found

I dropped Marc a note about it since I'm about to run out the door.  (Baseball
playoffs are here)

Vince.
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==========================================================================
Vince Vielhaber -- KA8CSH   email: vev@michvhf.com   flame-mail: /dev/null
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Tue, 06 Jul 1999 17:21:49 -0400 (EDT)
Vince Vielhaber <vev@michvhf.com>
Re: [HACKERS] alter table