From: pneal@ingres.com (Calgary (Kal-gree), (403) 262-8119)
Subject: RE:  Looking for a USABLE database
Organization: National Radio Astronomy Observatory
Date: Tue, 18 Aug 1992 15:08:29 GMT

This may be of interest to a lot of Ingres users, so I thought I'd post this 
info FYI ...

The schemadef application included in the sig directory on the distribution
tape has been significantly updated for the version included with the 6.4/02
release.

Schemadef II was remodelled after the Tables application, with old features
enhanced and new features added.  It now alters tables 'properly' optionally
keeping data, storage structure, secondary indices, rules, permissions, 
integrities and views.  New features include forms based 'create index', and
'modify table'.  Its not perfect (yet), but its a step in the right direction.
I have tested it on 6.4/01 for VMS, SUN Sparc, RS/6000, Ultrix, and DOS PC's.
New enhancements are also being worked on (including a W4GL version).

6.4/02 is currently shipping on VMS and SUN Sparc, With the other platforms
about to roll out ... The code will run on any 6.4/xx platform, and if I had a 
convenient place to post it, I'd put it there for customer use until they get
6.4/02.  Of course maybe this will encourage people to upgrade??!!

Cheers,

Paul N. Neal (TSR Calgary)
pneal@ingres.com

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From:	PONY::"tjb@MATH.AMS.ORG" 15-AUG-1992 04:04:08.78
To:	info-ingres@MATH.AMS.ORG
CC:	
Subj:	Re:  Looking for a USABLE database

In article <4474@disuns2.epfl.ch>, baechler@liasun2.epfl.ch 
(Emmanuel Baechler) writes:
> In article <9208031347.AA07101@tpghq>, sfc%tpghq@uunet.UU.NET 
> (Steve Caswell) writes:
> |> I agree that the inability to add/remove columns from a table is a severe
> |> limitation.  There are people out there who have written software to do
> |> what you suggest.  INGRES comes with an unsupported utility which does this.
> 
> Where can we get this utility?

I think that Steve was referring to the thing in
ii_system:[ingres.sig.schemadef] (or $II_SYSTEM/ingres/sig/schemadef). 
It's an ABF application written in 4GL and ESQL/C.  I have attached an
extract from the read.me file.

I put together a COM file (shell script) that does much the same thing
(the altertable part) using "copydb", but it still has the problem that
it doesn't preserve all those other back-end objects that get defined on
a table: views, procedures, and rules.

--Mark Jaeger				internet: cs_mj@gsbvax.uchicago.edu
Graduate School of Business		yellnet:  (312) 702-0328
University of Chicago			faxnet:   (312) 702-0233
Disclaimer: My opinions are my own and not those of my employer.
Ich bin ein Virus.  Mach' mit und kopiere mich in Deine .signature.

================================================================================
Schemadef is an ABF application that assists with creation, copy, alter,
rename, and load of database tables.

The source files, help files, and copyapp output are all provided in
this  directory.  You can build your own executable image using the
steps outlined below.  (Building schemadef requires ABF and ESQL/C, and
a C compiler, of course).

The "schemadef" application currently consists of five frames and four
ESQL/C procedures.  

Menu options are as follows:

Create(1)	Allows you to create a table or view.

Drop(2)		Allows you to drop a table or view.  Provides a confirmation 
		message to prevent dropping the wrong object.

Alter(3)	Allows for changing column names, datatypes, lengths, and null 
		and default options on tables, whether or not they contain 
		data.  If the table contains data, makes all appropriate 
		datatype conversions.  Does not preserve permits, grants, 
		views, storage structures, or indexes.  Does not apply to views.

Copy(4)		Prompts for a new name and makes a copy of an existing table.  
		If a view is selected for copying, the copy is still a new 
		table.  Does not copy permits, grants, views, storage 
		structure, or indexes.

ReName(5)	Prompts for a new name which replaces the old table name.  
		Does not preserve permits, grants, views, storage structure, 
		or indexes.  Does not apply to views.

Load(6)		Facilitates loading a table from a flat file.

Exit(PF4)	Returns user to the operating system level.

Help(PF2)	Invokes this help file.

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