Patent ID: 8291191
Filing Date: 2012-10-16
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method for propagating alterations to partitions of database table objects, the method comprising: in a table comprising logical and physical table partitions, using a processor device to safely organize table partitions in logical order, wherein logical order is different from physical order which would adversely impact presentation and ordering of partition ending values; presenting table partition numbers and their current ending values in logical order to a user; receiving an alter request from the user, the alter request specifying at least one logical partition number and its corresponding ending value to alter; internally matching the specified logical partition number to its corresponding physical partition number; altering a logical ordering of the table partitions based on the alter request; wherein altering the logical ordering of the table partitions provokes no physical change in the table; and automatically generating at least one data definition language (DDL) statement corresponding to the alter request, using new ending values for the physical partitions, thereby altering the physical partitioning of the table by altering at least the current ending value of the physical partition to which the specified logical partition number is associated when the DDL statement is executed; wherein the method organizes and presents the partitions and their ending values using only their logical numbers and sequencing, while removing from the user concerns as to their underlying physical numbering relationships, and wherein a user of the method manages partitions of a table object's tablespace through logical means.