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Oracle9i SQL Reference
Release 2 (9.2)

Part Number A96540-02
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ALTER TABLE

Purpose

Use the ALTER TABLE statement to alter the definition of a nonpartitioned table, a partitioned table, a table partition, or a table subpartition. For object tables or relational tables with object columns, use ALTER TABLE to convert the table to the latest definition of its referenced type after the type has been altered.

See Also:

Additional Topics:

Prerequisites

The table must be in your own schema, or you must have ALTER privilege on the table, or you must have ALTER ANY TABLE system privilege. For some operations you may also need the CREATE ANY INDEX privilege.

Additional Prerequisites for Partitioning Operations

If you are not the owner of the table, then you need the DROP ANY TABLE privilege in order to use the drop_table_partition or truncate_table_partition clause.

You must also have space quota in the tablespace in which space is to be acquired in order to use the add_table_partition, modify_table_partition, move_table_partition, and split_table_partition clauses.

Additional Prerequisites for Constraints and Triggers

To enable a unique or primary key constraint, you must have the privileges necessary to create an index on the table. You need these privileges because Oracle creates an index on the columns of the unique or primary key in the schema containing the table.

To enable or disable triggers, the triggers must be in your schema or you must have the ALTER ANY TRIGGER system privilege.

Additional Prerequisites When Using Object Types

To use an object type in a column definition when modifying a table, either that object must belong to the same schema as the table being altered, or you must have either the EXECUTE ANY TYPE system privilege or the EXECUTE schema object privilege for the object type.

See Also:

CREATE INDEX for information on the privileges needed to create indexes

Syntax

alter_table::=

Text description of statements_312.gif follows
Text description of alter_table



Note:

You must specify some clause after table. That is, none of the clauses after table are required, but you must specify at least one of them.


Groups of ALTER TABLE syntax:

After each clause you will find links additional links to its component subclauses.

alter_table_properties::=

Text description of statements_393.gif follows
Text description of alter_table_properties


(physical_attributes_clause::=, logging_clause::=, data_segment_compression::=, supplemental_lg_grp_clauses::=, allocate_extent_clause::=,deallocate_unused_clause::= , upgrade_table_clause::=, records_per_block_clause::=, parallel_clause::=, row_movement_clause::=, alter_iot_clauses::=)

physical_attributes_clause::=

Text description of statements_340.gif follows
Text description of physical_attributes_clause


(storage_clause)

logging_clause::=

Text description of statements_335.gif follows
Text description of logging_clause


data_segment_compression::=

Text description of statements_391a.gif follows
Text description of data_segment_compression


supplemental_lg_grp_clauses::=

Text description of statements_37.gif follows
Text description of supplemental_lg_grp_clauses


allocate_extent_clause::=

Text description of statements_356.gif follows
Text description of allocate_extent_clause


deallocate_unused_clause::=

Text description of statements_358.gif follows
Text description of deallocate_unused_clause


upgrade_table_clause::=

Text description of statements_36.gif follows
Text description of upgrade_table_clause


(column_properties::=, modify_LOB_storage_clause::=)

records_per_block_clause::=

Text description of statements_362.gif follows
Text description of records_per_block_clause


parallel_clause::=

Text description of statements_384a.gif follows
Text description of parallel_clause


row_movement_clause::=

Text description of statements_35.gif follows
Text description of row_movement_clause


alter_iot_clauses::=

Text description of statements_38.gif follows
Text description of alter_iot_clauses


(alter_overflow_clause::=, alter_mapping_table_clauses::=)

index_org_table_clause::=

Text description of statements_342.gif follows
Text description of index_org_table_clause


mapping_table_clause::=

Text description of statements_39.gif follows
Text description of mapping_table_clause


key_compression::=

Text description of statements_346.gif follows
Text description of key_compression


index_org_overflow_clause::=

Text description of statements_348.gif follows
Text description of index_org_overflow_clause


(segment_attributes_clause::=)

segment_attributes_clause::=

Text description of statements_344.gif follows
Text description of segment_attributes_clause


(physical_attributes_clause::=, logging_clause)

alter_overflow_clause::=

Text description of statements_364.gif follows
Text description of alter_overflow_clause


(segment_attributes_clause::=, allocate_extent_clause::=, deallocate_unused_clause::=)

add_overflow_clause::=

Text description of statements_366.gif follows
Text description of add_overflow_clause


(segment_attributes_clause::=)

alter_mapping_table_clauses::=

Text description of statements_311.gif follows
Text description of alter_mapping_table_clauses


(allocate_extent_clause::=, deallocate_unused_clause::=)

column_clauses::=

Text description of statements_316.gif follows
Text description of column_clauses


(add_column_clause::=, modify_column_clauses::=, drop_column_clause::=, rename_column_clause::=, modify_collection_retrieval::=, modify_LOB_storage_clause::=, alter_varray_col_properties::=)

add_column_clause::=

Text description of statements_318.gif follows
Text description of add_column_clause


(inline_constraint and inline_ref_constraint: constraints, column_properties::=)

modify_column_clauses::=

Text description of statements_392a.gif follows
Text description of modify_column_clauses


modify_col_properties::=

Text description of statements_374a.gif follows
Text description of modify_col_properties


(inline_constraint: constraints)

modify_col_substitutable::=

Text description of statements_389a.gif follows
Text description of modify_col_substitutable


drop_column_clause::=

Text description of statements_322.gif follows
Text description of drop_column_clause


rename_column_clause::=

Text description of statements_390.gif follows
Text description of rename_column_clause


modify_collection_retrieval::=

Text description of statements_324.gif follows
Text description of modify_collection_retrieval


constraint_clauses::=

Text description of statements_326.gif follows
Text description of constraint_clauses


(constraint_state: constraints)

drop_constraint_clause::=

Text description of statements_330.gif follows
Text description of drop_constraint_clause


column_properties::=

Text description of statements_375.gif follows
Text description of column_properties


object_type_col_properties::=

Text description of statements_376a.gif follows
Text description of object_type_col_properties


substitutable_column_clause::=

Text description of statements_336.gif follows
Text description of substitutable_column_clause


nested_table_col_properties::=

Text description of statements_338.gif follows
Text description of nested_table_col_properties


object_properties::=

Text description of statements_350.gif follows
Text description of object_properties


(inline_constraint, inline_ref_constraint, out_of_line_constraint, out_of_line_ref_constraint: constraints)

supplemental_logging_props::=

Text description of statements_352.gif follows
Text description of supplemental_logging_props


physical_properties::=

Text description of statements_354.gif follows
Text description of physical_properties


(segment_attributes_clause::=, index_org_table_clause::=, external_data_properties::=)

varray_col_properties::=

Text description of statements_360.gif follows
Text description of varray_col_properties


(substitutable_column_clause::=)

LOB_storage_clause::=

Text description of statements_34.gif follows
Text description of LOB_storage_clause


LOB_parameters::=

Text description of statements_310.gif follows
Text description of LOB_parameters


(storage_clause::=, logging_clause::=)

modify_LOB_storage_clause::=

Text description of statements_313.gif follows
Text description of modify_LOB_storage_clause


modify_LOB_parameters::=

Text description of statements_315.gif follows
Text description of modify_LOB_parameters


(storage_clause::=, logging_clause::=, allocate_extent_clause::=, deallocate_unused_clause::=)

alter_varray_col_properties::=

Text description of statements_317.gif follows
Text description of alter_varray_col_properties


LOB_partition_storage::=

Text description of statements_328.gif follows
Text description of LOB_partition_storage


(LOB_storage_clause::=, varray_col_properties::=)

XMLType_column_properties::=

Text description of statements_321.gif follows
Text description of XMLType_column_properties


XMLType_storage::=

Text description of statements_377a.gif follows
Text description of XMLType_storage


XMLSchema_spec::=

Text description of statements_385.gif follows
Text description of XMLSchema_spec


alter_external_table_clause::=

Text description of statements_325.gif follows
Text description of alter_external_table_clause


(add_column_clause::=, modify_column_clauses::=, drop_column_clause::=, drop_constraint_clause::=, parallel_clause::=)

external_data_properties::=

Text description of statements_327.gif follows
Text description of external_data_properties


alter_table_partitioning::=

Text description of statements_368.gif follows
Text description of alter_table_partitioning


(modify_table_default_attrs::=, set_subpartition_template::=, modify_table_partition::=, modify_table_subpartition::=, move_table_partition::=, move_table_subpartition::=, add_table_partition::=, coalesce_table_partition::=, drop_table_partition::=, drop_table_subpartition::=, rename_partition_subpart::=, truncate_partition_subpart::=, split_table_partition::=, split_table_subpartition::, merge_table_partitions::=, merge_table_subpartitions::=, exchange_partition_subpart::=

modify_table_default_attrs::=

Text description of statements_370.gif follows
Text description of modify_table_default_attrs


(segment_attributes_clause::=, key_compression::=, LOB_parameters::=, alter_overflow_clause::=)

set_subpartition_template::=

Text description of statements_365.gif follows
Text description of set_subpartition_template


(list_values_clause::=, partitioning_storage_clause::=)

modify_table_partition::=

Text description of statements_395.gif follows
Text description of modify_table_partition


(modify_range_partition::=, modify_hash_partition::=, modify_list_partition::=)

modify_range_partition::=

Text description of statements_339a.gif follows
Text description of modify_range_partition


(partition_attributes::=, alter_mapping_table_clauses::=)

modify_hash_partition::=

Text description of statements_341.gif follows
Text description of modify_hash_partition


(partition_attributes::=, add_hash_subpartition::=, update_global_index_clause::=, parallel_clause::=, alter_mapping_table_clauses::=)

modify_list_partition::=

Text description of statements_386a.gif follows
Text description of modify_list_partition


(partition_attributes::=, add_list_subpartition::=)

modify_table_subpartition::=

Text description of statements_376.gif follows
Text description of modify_table_subpartition


modify_hash_subpartition::=, modify_list_subpartition::=)

move_table_partition::=

Text description of statements_377.gif follows
Text description of move_table_partition


(table_partition_description::=, update_global_index_clause::=, parallel_clause::=)

move_table_subpartition::=

Text description of statements_382.gif follows
Text description of move_table_subpartition


(subpartition_spec::=, update_global_index_clause::=, parallel_clause::=)

add_table_partition::=

Text description of statements_387a.gif follows
Text description of add_table_partition


add_range_partition_clause::=

Text description of statements_369.gif follows
Text description of add_range_partition_clause


(range_values_clause::=, table_partition_description::=)

add_hash_partition_clause::=

Text description of statements_383.gif follows
Text description of add_hash_partition_clause


(partitioning_storage_clause::=, update_global_index_clause::=, parallel_clause::=)

add_list_partition_clause::=

Text description of statements_384.gif follows
Text description of add_list_partition_clause


(list_values_clause::=, table_partition_description::=)

coalesce_table_partition::=

Text description of statements_380.gif follows
Text description of coalesce_table_partition


(update_global_index_clause::=, parallel_clause::=)

drop_table_partition::=

Text description of statements_393b.gif follows
Text description of drop_table_partition


(update_global_index_clause::=, parallel_clause::=)

drop_table_subpartition::=

Text description of statements_349.gif follows
Text description of drop_table_subpartition


(update_global_index_clause::=, parallel_clause::=)

rename_partition_subpart::=

Text description of statements_386.gif follows
Text description of rename_partition_subpart


truncate_partition_subpart::=

Text description of statements_387.gif follows
Text description of truncate_partition_subpart


(update_global_index_clause::=, parallel_clause::=)

split_table_partition::=

Text description of statements_388.gif follows
Text description of split_table_partition


(partition_spec::=, update_global_index_clause::=, parallel_clause::=)

split_table_subpartition::

Text description of statements_351.gif follows
Text description of partition_spec


(subpartition_spec::=, update_global_index_clause::=, parallel_clause::=)

merge_table_partitions::=

Text description of statements_389.gif follows
Text description of merge_table_partitions


(partition_spec::=, update_global_index_clause::=, parallel_clause::=)

merge_table_subpartitions::=

Text description of statements_393a.gif follows
Text description of merge_table_subpartitions


(subpartition_spec::=, update_global_index_clause::=, parallel_clause::=)

exchange_partition_subpart::=

Text description of statements_391.gif follows
Text description of exchange_partition_subpart


(update_global_index_clause::=, parallel_clause::=)

exceptions_clause::=

Text description of statements_392.gif follows
Text description of exceptions_clause


list_values_clause::=

Text description of statements_381.gif follows
Text description of list_values_clause


range_values_clause::=

Text description of statements_394.gif follows
Text description of range_values_clause


partitioning_storage_clause::=

Text description of statements_345.gif follows
Text description of partitioning_storage_clause


partition_attributes::=

Text description of statements_373.gif follows
Text description of partition_attributes


(physical_attributes_clause::=, logging_clause::=, allocate_extent_clause::=, deallocate_unused_clause::=, data_segment_compression::=, modify_LOB_parameters::=)

add_hash_subpartition::=

Text description of statements_374.gif follows
Text description of add_hash_subpartition


(subpartition_spec::=, update_global_index_clause::=)

add_list_subpartition::=

Text description of statements_382a.gif follows
Text description of add_list_subpartition


(subpartition_spec::=)

modify_hash_subpartition::=

Text description of statements_396.gif follows
Text description of modify_hash_subpartition


(allocate_extent_clause::=, deallocate_unused_clause::=, modify_LOB_parameters::=)

modify_list_subpartition::=

Text description of statements_383a.gif follows
Text description of modify_list_subpartition


(allocate_extent_clause::=, deallocate_unused_clause::=, modify_LOB_parameters::=)

table_partition_description::=

Text description of statements_378.gif follows
Text description of table_partition_description


(segment_attributes_clause::=, key_compression::=, LOB_storage_clause::=, varray_col_properties::=)

partition_level_subpartition::=

Text description of statements_379.gif follows
Text description of partition_level_subpartition


(subpartition_spec::=)

partition_spec::=

Text description of statements_395a.gif follows
Text description of partition_spec


(table_partition_description::=)

subpartition_spec::=

Text description of statements_380a.gif follows
Text description of subpartition_spec


(list_values_clause::=, partitioning_storage_clause::=)

update_global_index_clause::=

Text description of statements_339.gif follows
Text description of update_global_index_clause


parallel_clause::=

Text description of statements_319.gif follows
Text description of parallel_clause


move_table_clause::=

Text description of statements_3a.gif follows
Text description of move_table_clause


(segment_attributes_clause::=, index_org_table_clause::=, LOB_storage_clause::=, varray_col_properties::=)

enable_disable_clause::=

Text description of statements_32.gif follows
Text description of enable_disable_clause


(using_index_clause::=, exceptions_clause::=,)

using_index_clause::=

Text description of statements_33.gif follows
Text description of using_index_clause


(create_index::=, storage_clause, logging_clause::=)

global_partitioned_index::=

Text description of statements_329.gif follows
Text description of global_partitioned_index


index_partitioning_clause::=

Text description of statements_331.gif follows
Text description of index_partitioning_clause


Semantics

Many clauses of the ALTER TABLE statement have the same functionality they have in a CREATE TABLE statement. For more information on such clauses, please see CREATE TABLE.


Note:

Operations performed by the ALTER TABLE statement can cause Oracle to invalidate procedures and stored functions that access the table. For information on how and when Oracle invalidates such objects, see Oracle9i Database Concepts.


schema

Specify the schema containing the table. If you omit schema, then Oracle assumes the table is in your own schema.

table

Specify the name of the table to be altered.

Restrictions on Temporary Tables

You can modify, drop columns from, or rename a temporary table. However, for a temporary table you cannot:

Restrictions on External Tables

You can add, drop, or modify the columns of an external table. However, for an external table you cannot:

alter_table_properties

Use the alter_table_clauses to modify a database table.

physical_attributes_clause

The physical_attributes_clause lets you change the value of PCTFREE, PCTUSED, INITRANS, and MAXTRANS parameters and storage characteristics.

Restrictions on Altering Table Physical Attributes
data_segment_compression

The data_segment_compression clause is valid only for heap-organized tables. Use this clause to instruct Oracle whether to compress data segments to reduce disk and memory use. The COMPRESS keyword enables data segment compression. The NOCOMPRESS keyword disables data segment compression.


Note:

The first time a table is altered in such a way that compressed data will be added, all bitmap indexes and bitmap index partitions on that table must be marked UNUSABLE.


See Also:
logging_clause

Specify whether subsequent Direct Loader (SQL*Loader) and direct-path INSERT operations against a nonpartitioned table, table partition, all partitions of a partitioned table, or all subpartitions of a partition will be logged (LOGGING) or not logged (NOLOGGING) in the redo log file.

When used with the modify_table_default_attrs clause, this clause affects the logging attribute of a partitioned table.

Thelogging_clause also specifies whether ALTER TABLE ... MOVE and ALTER TABLE ... SPLIT operations will be logged or not logged.

See Also:

supplemental_lg_grp_clauses

The supplemental_lg_grp_clauses let you add and drop supplemental redo log groups.

allocate_extent_clause

Use the allocate_extent_clause to explicitly allocate a new extent for the table, the partition or subpartition, the overflow data segment, the LOB data segment, or the LOB index.

Restriction on Allocating Table Extents

You cannot allocate an extent for a temporary table or for a range- or composite-partitioned table.

See Also:

allocate_extent_clause for a full description of this clause and "Allocating Extents: Example"

deallocate_unused_clause

Use the deallocate_unused_clause to explicitly deallocate unused space at the end of the table, partition or subpartition, overflow data segment, LOB data segment, or LOB index and make the space available for other segments in the tablespace.

See Also:

deallocate_unused_clause for a full description of this clause and "Deallocating Unused Space: Example"

CACHE | NOCACHE

Use the CACHE clauses to indicate how Oracle should store blocks in the buffer cache. If you specify neither CACHE nor NOCACHE:

CACHE Clause

For data that is accessed frequently, this clause indicates that the blocks retrieved for this table are placed at the most recently used end of the least recently used (LRU) list in the buffer cache when a full table scan is performed. This attribute is useful for small lookup tables.

As a parameter in the LOB_storage_clause, CACHE specifies that Oracle places LOB data values in the buffer cache for faster access.

Restriction on CACHE

You cannot specify CACHE for an index-organized table. However, index-organized tables implicitly provide CACHE behavior.

NOCACHE Clause

For data that is not accessed frequently, this clause indicates that the blocks retrieved for this table are placed at the least recently used end of the LRU list in the buffer cache when a full table scan is performed.

As a parameter in the LOB_storage_clause, NOCACHE specifies that the LOB value is either not brought into the buffer cache or brought into the buffer cache and placed at the least recently used end of the LRU list. (The latter is the default behavior.)

Restriction on NOCACHE

You cannot specify NOCACHE for index-organized tables.

MONITORING | NOMONITORING
MONITORING Clause

Specify MONITORING if you want Oracle to collect modification statistics on table. These statistics are estimates of the number of rows affected by DML statements over a particular period of time. They are available for use by the optimizer or for analysis by the user.

See Also:

Oracle9i Database Performance Tuning Guide and Reference for more information on using this clause

NOMONITORING Clause

Specify NOMONITORING if you do not want Oracle to collect modification statistics on table.

Restriction on MONITORING

You cannot specify MONITORING or NOMONITORING for a temporary table.

upgrade_table_clause

The upgrade_table_clause is relevant for object tables and for relational tables with object columns. It lets you instruct Oracle to convert the metadata of the target table to conform with the latest version of each referenced type. If table is already valid, then the table metadata remains unchanged.

Restriction on Upgrading Object Tables and Columns

Within this clause, you cannot specify object_type_col_properties as a clause of column_properties.

INCLUDING DATA

Specify INCLUDING DATA if you want Oracle to convert the data in the table to the latest type version format (if it was not converted when the type was altered). You can define the storage for any new column while upgrading the table by using the column_properties and the LOB_partition_storage. This is the default.

For information on whether a table contains data based on an older type version, refer to the DATA_UPGRADED column of the USER_TAB_COLUMNS data dictionary view.

NOT INCLUDING DATA

Specify NOT INCLUDING DATA if you want Oracle to leave column data unchanged.

Restriction on NOT INCLUDING DATA

You cannot specify NOT INCLUDING DATA if the table contains columns in Oracle8 release 8.0.x image format. To determine whether the table contains such columns, refer to the V80_FMT_IMAGE column of the USER_TAB_COLUMNS data dictionary view.

See Also:
records_per_block_clause

The records_per_block_clause lets you specify whether Oracle restricts the number of records that can be stored in a block. This clause ensures that any bitmap indexes subsequently created on the table will be as small (compressed) as possible.

Restrictions on Restricting Records in a Block
MINIMIZE

Specify MINIMIZE to instruct Oracle to calculate the largest number of records in any block in the table, and limit future inserts so that no block can contain more than that number of records.

Oracle Corporation recommends that a representative set of data already exist in the table before you specify MINIMIZE. If you are using data segment compression (see data_segment_compression), then a representative set of compressed data should already exist in the table.

Restriction on MINIMIZE

You cannot specify MINIMIZE for an empty table.

NOMINIMIZE

Specify NOMINIMIZE to disable the MINIMIZE feature. This is the default.

RENAME TO

Use the RENAME clause to rename table to new_table_name.

Restriction on Renaming a Table

You cannot rename a materialized view.


Note:

Using this clause invalidates any dependent materialized views. For more information on materialized views, see CREATE MATERIALIZED VIEW and Oracle9i Data Warehousing Guide.


row_movement_clause

The row_movement_clause lets you specify whether Oracle can move a table row. It is possible for a row to move, for example, during data segment compression or an update operation on partitioned data.


Caution:

If you need static rowids for data access, do not enable row movement. For a normal (heap-organized) table, moving a row changes that row's rowid. For a moved row in an index-organized table, the logical rowid remains valid, although the physical guess component of the logical rowid becomes inaccurate.


Restriction on Row Movement

You cannot specify this clause for a nonpartitioned index-organized table.

alter_iot_clauses

index_org_table_clause

See index_org_table_clause in the context of CREATE TABLE.

See Also:

"Modifying Index-Organized Tables: Examples"

alter_overflow_clause

The alter_overflow_clause lets you change the definition of an index-organized table. Index-organized tables keep data sorted on the primary key and are therefore best suited for primary-key-based access and manipulation.


Note:

When you add a column to an index-organized table, Oracle evaluates the maximum size of each column to estimate the largest possible row. If an overflow segment is needed but you have not specified OVERFLOW, then Oracle raises an error and does not execute the ALTER TABLE statement. This checking function guarantees that subsequent DML operations on the index-organized table will not fail because an overflow segment is lacking.


PCTTHRESHOLD integer

Specify the percentage of space reserved in the index block for an index-organized table row. PCTTHRESHOLD must be large enough to hold the primary key. All trailing columns of a row, starting with the column that causes the specified threshold to be exceeded, are stored in the overflow segment. PCTTHRESHOLD must be a value from 1 to 50. If you do not specify PCTTHRESHOLD, the default is 50.

Restriction on PCTTHRESHOLD

You cannot specify PCTTHRESHOLD for individual partitions of an index-organized table.

INCLUDING column_name

Specify a column at which to divide an index-organized table row into index and overflow portions. The primary key columns are always stored in the index. column_name can be either the last primary-key column or any non-primary-key column. All non-primary-key columns that follow column_name are stored in the overflow data segment.

Restriction on the INCLUDING Clause

You cannot specify this clause for individual partitions of an index-organized table.


Note:

If an attempt to divide a row at column_name causes the size of the index portion of the row to exceed the PCTTHRESHOLD value (either specified or default), Oracle breaks up the row based on the PCTTHRESHOLD value.


overflow_attributes

The overflow_attributes let you specify the overflow data segment physical storage and logging attributes to be modified for the index-organized table. Parameters specified in this clause are applicable only to the overflow data segment.

See Also:

CREATE TABLE

add_overflow_clause

The add_overflow_clause lets you add an overflow data segment to the specified index-organized table. You can also use this clause to explicitly allocate an extent to or deallocate unused space from an existing overflow segment.

Use the STORE IN tablespace clause to specify tablespace storage for the entire overflow segment. Use the PARTITION clause to specify tablespace storage for the segment by partition.

For a partitioned index-organized table:

You can find the order of the partitions by querying the PARTITION_NAME and PARTITION_POSITION columns of the USER_IND_PARTITIONS view.

If you do not specify TABLESPACE for a particular partition, then Oracle uses the tablespace specified for the table. If you do not specify TABLESPACE at the table level, then Oracle uses the tablespace of the partition's primary key index segment.

See Also:

allocate_extent_clause and deallocate_unused_clause for full descriptions of these clauses of the add_overflow_clause

alter_mapping_table_clauses

The alter_mapping_table_clauses is valid only if table is index organized and has a mapping table.

UPDATE BLOCK REFERENCES

Specify UPDATE BLOCK REFERENCES to update all stale "guess" data block addresses stored as part of the logical ROWID column in the mapping table with the correct address for the corresponding block identified by the primary key.

allocate_extent_clause

Use the allocate_extent_clause to allocate a new extent at the end of the mapping table for the index-organized table.

See Also:

allocate_extent_clause for a full description of this clause

deallocate_unused_clause

Specify the deallocate_unused_clause to deallocate unused space at the end of the mapping table of the index-organized table.

See Also:

deallocate_unused_clause for a full description of this clause

COALESCE

The keyword is relevant only if table is index organized. Specify COALESCE to instruct Oracle to combine the primary key index blocks of the index-organized table where possible to free blocks for reuse. You can specify this clause with the parallel_clause.

column_clauses

add_column_clause

The add_column_clause lets you add a column to a table.

See Also:

CREATE TABLE for a description of the keywords and parameters of this clause and "Adding a Table Column: Example"

If you add a column, then the initial value of each row for the new column is null unless you specify the DEFAULT clause. In this case, Oracle updates each row in the new column with the value you specify for DEFAULT. This update operation, in turn, fires any AFTER UPDATE triggers defined on the table.


Note:

If a column has a default value, then you can use the DEFAULT clause to change the default to NULL, but you cannot remove the default value completely. That is, if a column has ever had a default value assigned to it, then the DATA_DEFAULT column of the USER_TAB_COLUMNS data dictionary view will always display either a default value or NULL.


You can add an overflow data segment to each partition of a partitioned index-organized table.

You can add LOB columns to nonpartitioned and partitioned tables. You can specify LOB storage at the table and at the partition or subpartition level.

If you previously created a view with a query that used the "SELECT *" syntax to select all columns from table, and you now add a column to table, then Oracle does not automatically add the new column to the view. To add the new column to the view, re-create the view using the CREATE VIEW statement with the OR REPLACE clause.

See Also:

CREATE VIEW

Restrictions on Adding Columns
DEFAULT

Use the DEFAULT clause to specify a default for a new column or a new default for an existing column. Oracle assigns this value to the column if a subsequent INSERT statement omits a value for the column. If you are adding a new column to the table and specify the default value, then Oracle inserts the default column value into all rows of the table.

The datatype of the default value must match the datatype specified for the column. The column must also be long enough to hold the default value.

Restrictions on Default Column Values
inline_constraint

Use inline_constraint to add a constraint to the new column

inline_ref_constraint

This clause lets you describe a new column of type REF.

See Also:

constraints for syntax and description of this type of constraint, including restrictions

column_properties

The column_properties determine the storage characteristics of an object, nested table, varray, or LOB column.

object_type_col_properties

This clause is valid only when you are adding a new object type column or attribute. To modify the properties of an existing object type column, use the modify_column_clauses.

Use the object_type_col_properties to specify storage characteristics for a new object column or attribute or an element of a collection column or attribute.

column

For column, specify an object column or attribute.

substitutable_column_clause

The substitutable_column_clause indicates whether object columns or attributes in the same hierarchy are substitutable for each other. You can specify that a column is of a particular type, or whether it can contain instances of its subtypes, or both.

Restrictions on the substitutable_column_clause
nested_table_col_properties

The nested_table_col_properties clause lets you specify separate storage characteristics for a nested table, which in turn lets you to define the nested table as an index-organized table. You must include this clause when creating a table with columns or column attributes whose type is a nested table. (Clauses within this clause that function the same way they function for parent object tables are not repeated here.)

Restrictions on Nested Table Column Properties
varray_col_properties

The varray_col_properties clause lets you specify separate storage characteristics for the LOB in which a varray will be stored. If you specify this clause, then Oracle will always store the varray in a LOB, even if it is small enough to be stored inline. If varray_item is a multilevel collection, then Oracle stores all collection items nested within varray_item in the same LOB in which varray_item is stored.

Restriction on Varray Column Properties

You cannot specify TABLESPACE as part of LOB_parameters for a varray column. The LOB tablespace for a varray defaults to the containing table's tablespace.

LOB_storage_clause

Use the LOB_storage_clause to specify the LOB storage characteristics for a newly added LOB column, partition, or subpartition. You cannot use this clause to modify an existing LOB. Instead, you must use the modify_LOB_storage_clause.

CACHE READS Clause

CACHE READS applies only to LOB storage. It indicates that LOB values are brought into the buffer cache only during read operations, but not during write operations.

When you add a new LOB column, you can specify the logging attribute with CACHE READS, as you can when defining a LOB column at create time.

When you modify a LOB column from CACHE or NOCACHE to CACHE READS, or from CACHE READS to CACHE or NOCACHE, you can change the logging attribute. If you do not specify LOGGING or NOLOGGING, then this attribute defaults to the current logging attribute of the LOB column.

For existing LOBs, if you do not specify CACHE, NOCACHE, or CACHE READS, then Oracle retains the existing values of the LOB attributes.

Restrictions on LOB Parameters
ENABLE | DISABLE STORAGE IN ROW

Specify whether the LOB value is to be stored in the row (inline) or outside of the row (out of line). (The LOB locator is always stored inline regardless of where the LOB value is stored.)

Restrictions on Enabling Storage in Row

You cannot change STORAGE IN ROW once it is set. Therefore, you cannot specify this clause as part of the modify_col_properties clause. However, you can change this setting when adding a new column (add_column_clause) or when moving the table (move_table_clause).

CHUNK integer

Specify the number of bytes to be allocated for LOB manipulation. If integer is not a multiple of the database block size, then Oracle rounds up (in bytes) to the next multiple. For example, if the database block size is 2048 and integer is 2050, then Oracle allocates 4096 bytes (2 blocks).The maximum value is 32768 (32 K), which is the largest Oracle block size allowed. The default CHUNK size is one Oracle database block.

Restrictions on CHUNK
PCTVERSION integer

Specify the maximum percentage of overall LOB storage space to be used for maintaining old versions of the LOB. The default value is 10, meaning that older versions of the LOB data are not overwritten until 10% of the overall LOB storage space is used.

RETENTION

If the database is in automatic undo mode, then you can specify RETENTION instead of PCTVERSION to instruct Oracle to retain old versions of this LOB. This clause overrides any prior setting of PCTVERSION.

Restriction on RETENTION

You cannot specify RETENTION if the database is running in manual undo mode.

See Also:

LOB_parameters for a full description of the RETENTION parameter

FREEPOOLS integer

If the database is in automatic undo mode, then you can use this clause to specify the number of freelist groups for this LOB. This clause overrides any prior setting of FREELIST GROUPS.

Restriction on FREEPOOLS

You cannot specify FREEPOOLS if the database is running in manual undo mode.

See Also:

LOB_parameters for a full description of the FREEPOOLS parameter

LOB_index_clause

This clause has been deprecated since Oracle8i. Oracle generates an index for each LOB column. The LOB indexes are system named and system managed, and they reside in the same tablespace as the LOB data segments.

It is still possible for you to specify this clause in some cases. However, Oracle Corporation strongly recommends that you no longer do so. In any event, do not put the LOB index in a different tablespace from the LOB data.

See Also:

Oracle9i Database Migration Guide for information on how Oracle manages LOB indexes in tables migrated from earlier versions

LOB_partition_storage

The LOB_partition_storage clause lets you specify a separate LOB_storage_clause or varray_col_properties clause for each partition. You must specify the partitions in the order of partition position. You can find the order of the partitions by querying the PARTITION_NAME and PARTITION_POSITION columns of the USER_IND_PARTITIONS view.

If you do not specify a LOB_storage_clause or varray_col_properties clause for a particular partition, then the storage characteristics are those specified for the LOB item at the table level. If you also did not specify any storage characteristics for the LOB item at the table level, then Oracle stores the LOB data partition in the same tablespace as the table partition to which it corresponds.

Restriction on LOB Partition Storage

You can specify only one list of LOB_partition_storage clause in a single ALTER TABLE statement, and all LOB_storage_clauses and varray_col_properties clause must precede the list of LOB_partition_storage clauses.

XMLType_column_properties

The XMLType_column_properties let you specify storage attributes for an XMLTYPE column.

XMLType_storage

XMLType columns can be stored either in LOB or object-relational columns.

XMLSchema_spec

This clause lets you specify the URL of a registered XMLSchema (in the XMLSCHEMA clause or as part of the ELEMENT clause) and an XML element name. You must specify an element, although the XMLSchema URL is optional. If you do specify an XMLSchema URL, you must already have registered the XMLSchema using the DBMS_XMLSCHEMA package.

See Also:

modify_column_clauses

Use the modify_column_clauses to modify the properties of an existing column or the substitutability of an existing object type column.

See Also:

"Modifying Table Columns: Examples"

modify_col_properties

Use this clause to modify the properties of the column. Any of the optional parts of the column definition (datatype, default value, or constraint) that you omit from this clause remain unchanged.

datatype

You can change any column's datatype if all rows for the column contain nulls. However, if you change the datatype of a column in a materialized view container table, then the corresponding materialized view is invalidated.

You can omit the datatype only if the statement also designates the column as part of the foreign key of a referential integrity constraint. Oracle automatically assigns the column the same datatype as the corresponding column of the referenced key of the referential integrity constraint.

You can always increase the size of a character or raw column or the precision of a numeric column, whether or not all the columns contain nulls. You can reduce the size of a column's datatype as long as the change does not require data to be modified. Oracle scans existing data and returns an error if data exists that exceeds the new length limit.

You can modify a DATE column to TIMESTAMP or TIMESTAMP WITH LOCAL TIME ZONE. You can modify any TIMESTAMP WITH LOCAL TIME ZONE to a DATE column.


Note:

When you modify a TIMESTAMP WITH LOCAL TIME ZONE column to a DATE column, the fractional seconds and time zone adjustment data is lost.

  • If the TIMESTAMP WITH LOCAL TIME ZONE data has fractional seconds, then Oracle updates the row data for the column by rounding the fractional seconds.
  • If the TIMESTAMP WITH LOCAL TIME ZONE data has the minute field greater than equal to 60 (which can occur in a boundary case when the daylight savings rule switches), then Oracle updates the row data for the column by subtracting 60 from its minute field.

If the table is empty, then you can increase or decrease the leading field or the fractional second value of a datetime or interval column. If the table is not empty, then you can only increase the leading field or fractional second of a datetime or interval column.

You can change a LONG column to a CLOB or NCLOB column, and a LONG RAW column to a BLOB column.

For CHAR and VARCHAR2 columns, you can change the length semantics by specifying CHAR (to indicate character semantics for a column that was originally specified in bytes) or BYTE (to indicate byte semantics for a column that was originally specified in characters). To learn the length semantics of existing columns, query the CHAR_USED column of the ALL_, USER_, or DBA_TAB_COLUMNS data dictionary view.

See Also:
inline_constraint

The only type of integrity constraint that you can add to an existing column using the MODIFY clause is a NOT NULL constraint, and only if the column contains no nulls. To define other types of integrity constraints (UNIQUE, PRIMARY KEY, referential integrity, and CHECK constraints) on existing columns, use the add_column_clause. To modify existing constraints on existing columns, use the constraint_clauses.

Restrictions on Modifying Column Properties
modify_col_substitutable

Use this clause to set or change the substitutability of an existing object type column.

The FORCE keyword drops any hidden columns containing typeid information or data for subtype attributes. You must specify FORCE if the column or any attributes of its type are not FINAL.

Restrictions on Modifying Column Substitutability

drop_column_clause

The drop_column_clause lets you free space in the database by dropping columns you no longer need, or by marking them to be dropped at a future time when the demand on system resources is less.

SET UNUSED Clause

Specify SET UNUSED to mark one or more columns as unused. Specifying this clause does not actually remove the target columns from each row in the table (that is, it does not restore the disk space used by these columns). Therefore, the response time is faster than it would be if you execute the DROP clause.

You can view all tables with columns marked UNUSED in the data dictionary views USER_UNUSED_COL_TABS, DBA_UNUSED_COL_TABS, and ALL_UNUSED_COL_TABS.

See Also:

Oracle9i Database Reference for information on the data dictionary views

Unused columns are treated as if they were dropped, even though their column data remains in the table's rows. After a column has been marked UNUSED, you have no access to that column. A "SELECT *" query will not retrieve data from unused columns. In addition, the names and types of columns marked UNUSED will not be displayed during a DESCRIBE, and you can add to the table a new column with the same name as an unused column.


Note:

Until you actually drop these columns, they continue to count toward the absolute limit of 1000 columns in a single table. However, as with all DDL statements, you cannot roll back the results of this clause. That is, you cannot issue SET USED counterpart to retrieve a column that you have SET UNUSED.

Also, if you mark a column of datatype LONG as UNUSED, then you cannot add another LONG column to the table until you actually drop the unused LONG column.


See Also:

CREATE TABLE for more information on the 1000-column limit

DROP Clause

Specify DROP to remove the column descriptor and the data associated with the target column from each row in the table. If you explicitly drop a particular column, then all columns currently marked UNUSED in the target table are dropped at the same time.

When the column data is dropped:

DROP UNUSED COLUMNS Clause

Specify DROP UNUSED COLUMNS to remove from the table all columns currently marked as unused. Use this statement when you want to reclaim the extra disk space from unused columns in the table. If the table contains no unused columns, then the statement returns with no errors.

column

Specify one or more columns to be set as unused or dropped. Use the COLUMN keyword only if you are specifying only one column. If you specify a column list, then it cannot contain duplicates.

CASCADE CONSTRAINTS

Specify CASCADE CONSTRAINTS if you want to drop all foreign key constraints that refer to the primary and unique keys defined on the dropped columns, and drop all multicolumn constraints defined on the dropped columns. If any constraint is referenced by columns from other tables or remaining columns in the target table, then you must specify CASCADE CONSTRAINTS. Otherwise, the statement aborts and an error is returned.

INVALIDATE

The INVALIDATE keyword is optional. Oracle automatically invalidates all dependent objects, such as views, triggers, and stored program units. Object invalidation is a recursive process. Therefore, all directly dependent and indirectly dependent objects are invalidated. However, only local dependencies are invalidated, because Oracle manages remote dependencies differently from local dependencies.

An object invalidated by this statement is automatically revalidated when next referenced. You must then correct any errors that exist in that object before referencing it.

See Also:

Oracle9i Database Concepts for more information on dependencies

CHECKPOINT

Specify CHECKPOINT if you want Oracle to apply a checkpoint for the DROP COLUMN operation after processing integer rows; integer is optional and must be greater than zero. If integer is greater than the number of rows in the table, then Oracle applies a checkpoint after all the rows have been processed. If you do not specify integer, then Oracle sets the default of 512. Checkpointing cuts down the amount of undo logs accumulated during the DROP COLUMN operation to avoid running out of rollback segment space. However, if this statement is interrupted after a checkpoint has been applied, then the table remains in an unusable state. While the table is unusable, the only operations allowed on it are DROP TABLE, TRUNCATE TABLE, and ALTER TABLE DROP COLUMNS CONTINUE (described in sections that follow).

You cannot use this clause with SET UNUSED, because that clause does not remove column data.

DROP COLUMNS CONTINUE Clause

Specify DROP COLUMNS CONTINUE to continue the drop column operation from the point at which it was interrupted. Submitting this statement while the table is in a valid state results in an error.

Restrictions on Dropping Columns

rename_column_clause

Use the rename_column_clause to rename a column of table. The new column name must not be the same as any other column name in table.

When you rename a column, Oracle handles dependent objects as follows:

Restrictions on Renaming Columns
modify_collection_retrieval

Use the modify_collection_retrieval clause to change what Oracle returns when a collection item is retrieved from the database.

collection_item

Specify the name of a column-qualified attribute whose type is nested table or varray.

RETURN AS

Specify what Oracle should return as the result of a query:

modify_LOB_storage_clause

The modify_LOB_storage_clause lets you change the physical attributes of LOB_item. You can specify only one LOB_item for each modify_LOB_storage_clause.

The REBUILD FREEPOOLS clause removes all the old data from the LOB column. This clause is useful only if you reverting to PCTVERSION for management of LOBs. You might want to do this to manage older data blocks, and you must do this if you are downgrading to a release of Oracle earlier than 9.2.0.

Restrictions on Modifying LOB Storage
alter_varray_col_properties

The alter_varray_col_properties clause lets you change the storage characteristics of an existing LOB in which a varray is stored.

Restriction on Altering Varray Column Properties

You cannot specify the TABLESPACE clause of LOB_parameters as part of this clause. The LOB tablespace for a varray defaults to the tablespace of the containing table.

constraint_clauses

Use the constraint_clauses to add a new constraint using out-of-line declaration, modify the state of an existing constraint, or to drop a constraint.

See Also:

constraints for a description of all the keywords and parameters of out-of-line constraints and constraint_state

Adding a Constraint

The ADD clause lets you add a new out-of-line constraint or out-of-line REF constraint to the table.

See Also:

"Disabling a CHECK Constraint: Example", "Specifying Object Identifiers: Example", and "REF Columns: Examples"

Modifying a Constraint

The MODIFY CONSTRAINT clause lets you change the state of an existing constraint.

Restrictions on Modifying Constraints
Renaming a Constraint

The RENAME CONSTRAINT clause lets you rename any existing constraint on table. The new constraint name cannot be the same as any existing constraint on any object in the same schema. All objects that are dependent on the constraint remain valid.

See Also:

"Renaming Constraints: Example"

drop_constraint_clause

The drop_constraint_clause lets you drop an integrity constraint from the database. Oracle stops enforcing the constraint and removes it from the data dictionary. You can specify only one constraint for each drop_constraint_clause, but you can specify multiple drop_constraint_clauses in one statement.

PRIMARY KEY

Specify PRIMARY KEY to drop the table's primary key constraint.

UNIQUE

Specify UNIQUE to drop the unique constraint on the specified columns.


Note:

If you drop the primary key or unique constraint from a column on which a bitmap join index is defined, then Oracle invalidates the index. See CREATE INDEX for information on bitmap join indexes.


CONSTRAINT

Specify CONSTRAINT constraint to drop an integrity constraint other than a primary key or unique constraint.

CASCADE

Specify CASCADE if you want all other integrity constraints that depend on the dropped integrity constraint to be dropped as well.

KEEP | DROP INDEX

Specify KEEP or DROP INDEX to indicate whether Oracle should preserve or drop the index it has been using to enforce the PRIMARY KEY or UNIQUE constraint.

Restrictions on Dropping Constraints

alter_external_table_clause

Use the alter_external_table_clause to change the characteristics of an external table. This clause has no affect on the external data itself. The syntax and semantics of the parallel_clause, enable_disable_clause, external_data_properties, and REJECT LIMIT clause are the same as described for CREATE TABLE. See the external_table_clause of CREATE TABLE.

Restrictions on Altering External Tables

alter_table_partitioning

The clauses in this section apply only to partitioned tables. You cannot combine partition operations with other partition operations or with operations on the base table in the same ALTER TABLE statement.

Notes on Altering Table Partitioning

modify_table_default_attrs

The modify_table_default_attrs clause lets you specify new default values for the attributes of table. Partitions and LOB partitions you create subsequently will inherit these values unless you override them explicitly when creating the partition or LOB partition. Existing partitions and LOB partitions are not affected by this clause.

Only attributes named in the statement are affected, and the default values specified are overridden by any attributes specified at the individual partition level.

set_subpartition_template

Use the set_subpartition_template clause to create or replace existing default list or hash subpartition definitions for each table partition. This clause is valid only for composite-partitioned tables. It replaces the existing subpartition template or creates a new template if you have not previously created one. Existing subpartitions are not affected, nor are existing local and global indexes. However, subsequent partitioning operations (such as add and merge operations) will use the new template.

You can drop an existing subpartition template by specifying ALTER TABLE table SET SUBPARTITION TEMPLATE ().

Restrictions on Subpartition Templates

modify_table_partition

The modify_table_partition clause lets you change the real physical attributes of a range, hash, or list partition. This clause optionally modifies the storage attributes of one or more LOB items for the partition. You can specify new values for physical attributes (with some restrictions, as noted in the sections that follow), logging; and storage parameters.

You can also specify how Oracle should handle local indexes that become unusable as a result of the modification to the partition. See "UNUSABLE LOCAL INDEXES Clauses".

For partitioned index-organized tables, you can also update the mapping table in conjunction with partition changes. See the alter_mapping_table_clauses.

See Also:

"Modifying Table Partitions: Examples"

modify_range_partition

When modifying a range partition, if table is composite partitioned:

Restriction on Modifying Range Partitions

If you specify UNUSABLE LOCAL INDEXES, then you cannot specify any other clause of modify_range_partition.

add_hash_subpartition

This clause is valid only for range-hash composite partitions. The add_hash_subpartition clause lets you add a hash subpartition to partition. Oracle populates the new subpartition with rows rehashed from the other subpartition(s) of partition as determined by the hash function. For optimal load balancing, the total number of subpartitions should be a power of 2.

Oracle invalidates any global indexes on table. You can update these indexes during this operation using the update_global_index_clause.

Oracle adds local index partitions corresponding to the selected partition. Oracle marks UNUSABLE, and you must rebuild, the local index partitions corresponding to the added partitions.

add_list_subpartition

the add_list_subpartition clause lets you add a list subpartition to partition. This clause is valid only for range-list composite partitions, and only if you have not already created a DEFAULT subpartition.

Oracle also adds a subpartition with the same value list to all local index partitions of the table. The status of existing local and global index partitions of table are not affected.

Restriction on Adding list Subpartitions

You cannot specify this clause if you have already created a DEFAULT subpartition for this partition. Instead you must split the DEFAULT partition using the split_list_subpartition clause.

modify_hash_partition

When modifying a hash partition, in the partition_attributes clause, you can specify only the allocate_extent_clause and deallocate_unused_clause. All other attributes of the partition are inherited from the table-level defaults except TABLESPACE, which stays the same as it was at create time.

COALESCE SUBPARTITION

COALESCE SUBPARTITION applies only to hash subpartitions. Use the COALESCE SUBPARTITION clause if you want Oracle to select the last hash subpartition, distribute its contents into one or more remaining subpartitions (determined by the hash function), and then drop the last subpartition.

Oracle invalidates any global indexes on table. You can update these indexes during this operation using the update_global_index_clause.

Oracle drops local index partitions corresponding to the selected partition. Oracle marks UNUSABLE, and you must rebuild, the local index partitions corresponding to one or more absorbing partitions.

Restriction on Modifying Hash Partitions

If you specify UNUSABLE LOCAL INDEXES, then you cannot specify any other clause of modify_hash_partition.

modify_list_partition

When modifying a list partition, the following additional clauses are available:

Restriction on Modifying List Partitions

If you specify UNUSABLE LOCAL INDEXES, then you cannot specify any other clause of modify_list_partition.

ADD | DROP VALUES Clauses

These clauses are valid only when you are modifying list partitions. Local and global indexes on the table are not affected by either of these clauses.

Restrictions on Adding and Dropping List Values

modify_table_subpartition

This clause applies only to composite-partitioned tables.

modify_hash_subpartition

The modify_hash_subpartition clause lets you allocate or deallocate storage for an individual subpartition of table. This clause is valid only for range-hash composite-partitioned tables.

You can also specify how Oracle should handle local indexes that become unusable as a result of the modification to the partition. See "UNUSABLE LOCAL INDEXES Clauses".

Restriction on Modifying Hash Subpartitions

The only modify_LOB_parameters you can specify for subpartition are the allocate_extent_clause and deallocate_unused_clause.

modify_list_subpartition

The modify_list_subpartition clause lets you make the same changes to a list subpartition that you can make to a hash subpartition. In addition, it lets you add or remove values from a list subpartition's value list. This clause is valid only for range-list composite-partitioned tables.

ADD VALUES

Specify ADD VALUES to extend the value list of subpartition.

DROP VALUES

Specify DROP VALUES to remove one or more values from the value list of subpartition.

You can also specify how Oracle should handle local indexes that become unusable as a result of the modification to the partition. See "UNUSABLE LOCAL INDEXES Clauses".

Restriction on Modifying List Subpartitions

The only modify_LOB_parameters you can specify for subpartition are the allocate_extent_clause and deallocate_unused_clause.

move_table_partition

Use the move_table_partition clause to move partition to another segment. You can move partition data to another tablespace, recluster data to reduce fragmentation, or change create-time physical attributes.

If the table contains LOB columns, then you can use the LOB_storage_clause to move the LOB data and LOB index segments associated with this partition. Only the LOBs named are affected. If you do not specify the LOB_storage_clause for a particular LOB column, then its LOB data and LOB index segments are not moved.

Oracle invalidates any global indexes on heap-organized tables. You can update these indexes during this operation using the update_global_index_clause. Global indexes on index-organized tables are primary key based, so they do not become unusable.

Oracle moves local index partitions corresponding to the specified partition. If the moved partitions are not empty, then Oracle marks them UNUSABLE, and you must rebuild them.

When you move a LOB data segment, Oracle drops the old data segment and corresponding index segment and creates new segments even if you do not specify a new tablespace.

The move operation obtains its parallel attribute from the parallel_clause, if specified. If not specified, the default parallel attributes of the table, if any, are used. If neither is specified, then Oracle performs the move without using parallelism.

Specifying the parallel_clause in MOVE PARTITION does not change the default parallel attributes of table.


Note:

For index-organized tables, Oracle uses the address of the primary key, as well as its value, to construct logical rowids. The logical rowids are stored in the secondary index of the table. If you move a partition of an index-organized table, then the address portion of the rowids will change, which can hamper performance. To ensure optimal performance, rebuild the secondary index(es) on the moved partition to update the rowids.


See Also:

Oracle9i Database Concepts for more information on logical rowids and "Moving Table Partitions: Example"

MAPPING TABLE

The MAPPING TABLE clause is relevant only for an index-organized table that already has a mapping table defined for it. Oracle moves the mapping table along with the index partition and marks all corresponding bitmap index partitions UNUSABLE.

See Also:

mapping_table_clause of CREATE TABLE

Restrictions on Moving Table Partitions

move_table_subpartition

Use the move_table_subpartition clause to move subpartition to another segment. If you do not specify TABLESPACE, then the subpartition remains in the same tablespace.

You can update global indexes on table during this operation using the update_global_index_clause. If the subpartition is not empty, then Oracle marks UNUSABLE, and you must rebuild, all local index subpartitions corresponding to the subpartition being moved.

If the table contains LOB columns, then you can use the LOB_storage_clause to move the LOB data and LOB index segments associated with this subpartition. Only the LOBs specified are affected. If you do not specify the LOB_storage_clause for a particular LOB column, then its LOB data and LOB index segments are not moved.

When you move a LOB data segment, Oracle drops the old data segment and corresponding index segment and creates new segments even if you do not specify a new tablespace.

Restriction on Moving Table Subpartitions

In subpartition_spec, the only clause of the partitioning_storage_clause you can specify is the TABLESPACE clause.

add_table_partition

Use the add_table_partition clause to add a hash, range, or list partition to table.

Oracle adds to any local index defined on table a new partition with the same name as that of the base table partition. If the index already has a partition with such a name, then Oracle generates a partition name of the form SYS_Pn.

If table is index organized, then Oracle adds a partition to any mapping table and overflow area defined on the table as well.

See Also:

"Adding a Table Partition with a LOB: Examples"

add_range_partition_clause

The add_range_partition_clause lets you add a new range partition to the "high" end of a partitioned table (after the last existing partition). You can specify any create-time physical attributes for the new partition. If the table contains LOB columns, then you can also specify partition-level attributes for one or more LOB items.

If you do not specify a new partition_name, then Oracle assigns a name of the form SYS_Pn. If you add a range partition to a composite-partitioned table and do not describe the subpartitions, then Oracle assigns subpartition names as described in partition_level_subpartition.

If a domain index is defined on table, then the index must not be marked IN_PROGRESS or FAILED.

A table can have up to 64K-1 partitions.

Restrictions on Adding Range Partitions
range_values_clause

Specify the upper bound for the new partition. The value_list is a comma-delimited, ordered list of literal values corresponding to column_list. The value_list must collate greater than the partition bound for the highest existing partition in the table.

partition_level_subpartition

The partition_level_subpartition clause (in table_partition_description) is valid only for a composite-partitioned table. This clause lets you specify hash or list subpartitions for a new range-hash or range-list composite partition. This clause overrides any subpartition descriptions defined in subpartition_template at the table level.

For all composite partitions:

For range-hash composite partitions, the list_values_clause of subpartition_spec is not relevant and is invalid.

For range-list composite partitions:

Oracle will add a new index partition with the same subpartition descriptions to all local indexes defined on table. Global indexes defined on table are not affected.

add_hash_partition_clause

The add_hash_partition_clause lets you add a new hash partition to the "high" end of a partitioned table. Oracle will populate the new partition with rows rehashed from other partitions of table as determined by the hash function. For optimal load balancing, the total number of partitions should be a power of 2.

You can specify a name for the partition, and optionally a tablespace where it should be stored. If you do not specify a name, then Oracle assigns a partition name of the form SYS_Pn. If you do not specify TABLESPACE, then the new partition is stored in the table's default tablespace. Other attributes are always inherited from table-level defaults.

You can update global indexes on table during this operation using the update_global_index_clause. For a heap-organized table, if this operation causes data to be rehashed among partitions, then Oracle marks UNUSABLE, and you must rebuild, any corresponding local index partitions. Indexes on index-organized tables are primary key based, so they do not become unusable.

Use the parallel_clause to specify whether to parallelize the creation of the new partition.

See Also:

CREATE TABLE and Oracle9i Database Concepts for more information on hash partitioning

Restriction on Adding Hash Partitions

In table_partition_description, you cannot specify partition_level_subpartition.

add_list_partition_clause

The add_list_partition_clause lets you add a new partition to table using a new set of partition values. You can specify any create-time physical attributes for the new partition. If the table contains LOB columns, then you can also specify partition-level attributes for one or more LOB items.

When you add a list partition to a table, Oracle adds a corresponding index partition with the same value list to all local indexes defined on the table. Global indexes are not affected.

Restrictions on Adding List Partitions

coalesce_table_partition

COALESCE applies only to hash partitions. Use the coalesce_table_partition clause to indicate that Oracle should select the last hash partition, distribute its contents into one or more remaining partitions (determined by the hash function), and then drop the last partition.

Oracle invalidates any global indexes on heap-organized tables. You can update these indexes during this operation using the update_global_index_clause. Global indexes on index-organized tables are primary key based, so they do not become unusable.

Oracle drops local index partitions corresponding to the selected partition. Oracle marks UNUSABLE, and you must rebuild, the local index partitions corresponding to one or more absorbing partitions.

drop_table_partition

The drop_table_partition clause removes partition, and the data in that partition, from a partitioned table. If you want to drop a partition but keep its data in the table, then you must merge the partition into one of the adjacent partitions.

See Also:

merge_table_partitions

If the table has LOB columns, then Oracle also drops the LOB data and LOB index partitions (and their subpartitions, if any) corresponding to partition.

If table is index organized and has a mapping table defined on it, then Oracle drops the corresponding mapping table partition as well.

Oracle drops local index partitions and subpartitions corresponding to partition, even if they are marked UNUSABLE.

You can update global indexes on heap-organized tables during this operation using the update_global_index_clause. If you specify the parallel_clause with the update_global_index_clause, then Oracle parallelizes the index update, not the drop operation.

If you drop a range partition and later insert a row that would have belonged to the dropped partition, then Oracle stores the row in the next higher partition. However, if that partition is the highest partition, then the insert will fail because the range of values represented by the dropped partition is no longer valid for the table.

Restrictions on Dropping Table Partitions

drop_table_subpartition

Use this clause to drop a list subpartition from a range-list composite-partitioned table. Oracle deletes any rows in the dropped subpartition.

Oracle drops the corresponding subpartition of any local index. Other index subpartitions are not affected. Any global indexes are marked UNUSABLE unless you specify the update_global_index_clause.

Restrictions on Dropping Table Subpartitions

rename_partition_subpart

Use the rename_table_partition clause to rename a table partition or subpartition current_name to new_name. For both partitions and subpartitions, new_name must be different from all existing partitions and subpartitions of the same table.

If table is index organized, then Oracle assigns the same name to the corresponding primary key index partition as well as to any existing overflow partitions and mapping table partitions.

See Also:

"Renaming Table Partitions: Examples"

truncate_partition_subpart

Specify TRUNCATE PARTITION to remove all rows from partition or, if the table is composite partitioned, all rows from partition's subpartitions. Specify TRUNCATE SUBPARTITION to remove all rows from subpartition. If table is index organized, then Oracle also truncates any corresponding mapping table partitions and overflow area partitions.

If the partition or subpartition to be truncated contains data, then you must first disable any referential integrity constraints on the table. Alternatively, you can delete the rows and then truncate the partition.

If the table contains any LOB columns, then the LOB data and LOB index segments for this partition are also truncated. If table is composite partitioned, then the LOB data and LOB index segments for this partition's subpartitions are truncated.

If a domain index is defined on table, then the index must not be marked IN_PROGRESS or FAILED, and the index partition corresponding to the table partition being truncated must not be marked IN_PROGRESS.

For each partition or subpartition truncated, Oracle also truncates corresponding local index partitions and subpartitions. If those index partitions or subpartitions are marked UNUSABLE, then Oracle truncates them and resets the UNUSABLE marker to VALID.

You can update global indexes on table during this operation using the update_global_index_clause. If you specify the parallel_clause with the update_global_index_clause, then Oracle parallelizes the index update, not the truncate operation.

DROP STORAGE

Specify DROP STORAGE to deallocate space from the deleted rows and make it available for use by other schema objects in the tablespace.

REUSE STORAGE

Specify REUSE STORAGE to keep space from the deleted rows allocated to the partition or subpartition. The space is subsequently available only for inserts and updates to the same partition or subpartition.

See Also:

"Truncating Table Partitions: Example"

split_table_partition

The split_table_partition clause lets you create, from current_partition, two new partitions, each with a new segment and new physical attributes, and new initial extents. The segment associated with current_partition is discarded.

The new partitions inherit all unspecified physical attributes from current_partition.


Note:

Oracle can optimize and speed up SPLIT PARTITION and SPLIT SUBPARTITION operations if specific conditions are met. Please refer to Oracle9i Database Administrator's Guide for information on optimizing these operations.


If you split a DEFAULT list partition, then the first of the resulting partitions will have the split values, and the second resulting partition will have the DEFAULT value.

If table is index organized, then Oracle splits any corresponding mapping table partition and places it in the same tablespace as the parent index-organized table partition. Oracle also splits any corresponding overflow area, and you can specify segment attributes for the new overflow areas using the OVERFLOW clause.

Oracle splits the corresponding local index partition, even if it is marked UNUSABLE. Oracle marks UNUSABLE, and you must rebuild, the local index partitions corresponding to the split partitions. The new index partitions inherit their attributes from the partition being split. Oracle stores the new index partitions in the default tablespace of the index partition being split. If that index partition has no default tablespace, then Oracle uses the tablespace of the new underlying table partitions.

If table contains LOB columns, then you can use the LOB_storage_clause to specify separate LOB storage attributes for the LOB data segments resulting from the split. Oracle drops the LOB data and LOB index segments of current_partition and creates new segments for each LOB column, for each partition, even if you do not specify a new tablespace.

AT Clause

The AT clause applies only to range partitions. Specify the new noninclusive upper bound for the first of the two new partitions. The value list must compare less than the original partition bound for current_partition and greater than the partition bound for the next lowest partition (if there is one).

VALUES Clause

The VALUES clause applies only to list partitions. Specify the partition values you want to include in the first of the two new partitions. Oracle creates the first new partition using the partition value list you specify and creates the second new partition using the remaining partition values from current_partition. Therefore, the value list cannot contain all of the partition values of current_partition, nor can it contain any partition values that do not already exist for current_partition.

INTO Clause

The INTO clause lets you describe the two partitions resulting from the split. In function_spec, the keyword PARTITION is required even if you do not specify the optional names and physical attributes of the two partitions resulting from the split. If you do not specify new partition names, then Oracle assigns names of the form SYS_Pn. Any attributes you do not specify are inherited from current_partition.

For range-hash composite-partitioned tables, if you specify subpartitioning for the new partitions, then you can specify only TABLESPACE for the subpartitions. All other attributes are inherited from current_partition. If you do not specify subpartitioning for the new partitions, then their tablespace is also inherited from current_partition.

For range-list composite-partitioned tables, you cannot specify subpartitions for the new partitions at all (using the partition_level_subpartition clause of table_partition_description). The subpartitions of the split partition will inherit all their attributes (number of subpartitions and value lists) from current_partition.

For all range-list composite-partitioned tables, and for range-hash composite-partitioned tables for which you do not specify subpartition names for the newly created subpartitions, the newly created subpartitions inherit their names from the parent partition as follows:

Oracle splits the corresponding partition in each local index defined on table, even if the index is marked UNUSABLE.

Oracle invalidates any global indexes on heap-organized tables. You can update these indexes during this operation using the update_global_index_clause. Global indexes on index-organized tables are primary key based, so they do not become unusable.

The parallel_clause lets you parallelize the split operation, but does not change the default parallel attributes of the table.

Restrictions on Splitting Table Partitions

split_table_subpartition

Use this clause to split a list subpartition into two separate subpartitions with nonoverlapping value lists.


Note:

Oracle can optimize and speed up SPLIT PARTITION and SPLIT SUBPARTITION operations if specific conditions are met. Please refer to Oracle9i Database Administrator's Guide for information on optimizing these operations.


Oracle splits any corresponding local subpartition index, even if it is marked UNUSABLE. The new index subpartitions will inherit the names of the new table subpartitions unless those names are already held by index subpartitions. In that case, Oracle assigns new index subpartition names of the form SYS_SUBPn. The new index subpartitions inherit physical attributes from the parent subpartition. However, if the parent subpartition does not have a default TABLESPACE attribute, then the new subpartitions inherit the tablespace of the corresponding new table subpartitions.

Oracle marks all global indexes on table UNUSABLE. If you also specify the update_global_index_clause, then Oracle will attempt to rebuild these global indexes.

Restrictions on Splitting Table Subpartitions

merge_table_partitions

The merge_table_partitions clause lets you merge the contents of two partitions of table into one new partition, and then drops the original two partitions.

Any attributes not specified in the segment_attributes_clause are inherited from table-level defaults.

If you do not specify a new partition_name, then Oracle assigns a name of the form SYS_Pn. If the new partition has subpartitions, then Oracle assigns subpartition names as described in partition_level_subpartition.

Oracle marks UNUSABLE any global indexes on heap-organized tables. You can update these indexes during this operation using the update_global_index_clause. Global indexes on index-organized tables are primary key based, so they do not become unusable.

Oracle drops local index partitions corresponding to the selected partitions. Oracle marks UNUSABLE, and you must rebuild, the local index partition corresponding to merged partition.

Restriction on Merging Table Partitions

You cannot specify this clause for a hash-partitioned table. Instead, use the coalesce_table_partition clause.

See Also:

"Merging Two Table Partitions: Example" and "Working with Default List Partitions: Example"

partition_level_subpartition

The partition_level_subpartition clause is valid only when you are merging range-hash composite partitions. This clause lets you specify subpartitioning attributes for the newly merged partition. Any attributes not specified in this clause are inherited from table-level values. If you do not specify this clause, then the new merged partition inherits subpartitioning attributes from table-level defaults.

If you omit this clause, then the new partition inherits the subpartition descriptions from any subpartition template you have defined. If you have not defined a subpartition template, then Oracle creates one subpartition in the newly merged partition.

Specify the parallel_clause to parallelize the merge operation.

Restriction on the partition_level_subpartition Clause

You cannot specify this clause for a range-list composite partition.

merge_table_subpartitions

The merge_table_subpartitions clause lets you merge the contents of two list subpartitions of table into one new subpartition, and then drops the original two subpartitions. The two subpartitions to be merged must belong to the same partition, but they do not have to be adjacent. The data in the resulting subpartition will consist of the combined data from the merged subpartitions.

Any attributes you do not specify explicitly for the new subpartition are inherited from partition-level values. If you reuse one of the subpartition names for the new subpartition, then the new subpartition will inherit values from the subpartition whose name is being reused rather than from partition-level default values.

Oracle merges corresponding local index subpartitions and marks the resulting index subpartition UNUSABLE. Oracle also marks UNUSABLE both partitioned and nonpartitioned global indexes on table.

Restriction on Merging Table Subpartitions

You cannot specify this clause for a hash subpartition.

exchange_partition_subpart

Use the EXCHANGE PARTITION or EXCHANGE SUBPARTITION clause to exchange the data and index segments of:

In all cases, the structure of the table and the partition or subpartition being exchanged, including their partitioning keys, must be identical. In the case of list partitions and subpartitions, the corresponding value lists must also match.

This clause facilitates high-speed data loading when used with transportable tablespaces.

See Also:

Oracle9i Database Administrator's Guide for information on transportable tablespaces

If table contains LOB columns, then for each LOB column Oracle exchanges LOB data and LOB index partition or subpartition segments with corresponding LOB data and LOB index segments of table.

All of the segment attributes of the two objects (including tablespace and logging) are also exchanged.

All statistics of the table and partition are exchanged, including table, column, index statistics, and histograms. The aggregate statistics of the table receiving the new partition are recalculated.

Oracle invalidates any global indexes on the objects being exchanged. If you specify the update_global_index_clause with this clause, then Oracle updates the global indexes on the table whose partition is being exchanged. Global indexes on the table being exchanged remain invalidated. If you specify the parallel_clause with the update_global_index_clause, then Oracle parallelizes the index update, not the exchange operation.

See Also:

"Restrictions on Exchanging Partitions or Subpartitions"

WITH TABLE table

Specify the table with which the partition or subpartition will be exchanged.

INCLUDING INDEXES

Specify INCLUDING INDEXES if you want local index partitions or subpartitions to be exchanged with the corresponding table index (for a nonpartitioned table) or local indexes (for a hash-partitioned table).

EXCLUDING INDEXES

Specify EXCLUDING INDEXES if you want all index partitions or subpartitions corresponding to the partition and all the regular indexes and index partitions on the exchanged table to be marked UNUSABLE.

WITH VALIDATION

Specify WITH VALIDATION if you want Oracle to return an error if any rows in the exchanged table do not map into partitions or subpartitions being exchanged.

WITHOUT VALIDATION

Specify WITHOUT VALIDATION if you do not want Oracle to check the proper mapping of rows in the exchanged table.

exceptions_clause

Specify a table into which Oracle places the rowids of all rows violating the constraint. If you omit schema, then Oracle assumes the exceptions table is in your own schema. If you omit this clause altogether, then Oracle assumes that the table is named EXCEPTIONS. The exceptions table must be on your local database.

You can create the EXCEPTIONS table using one of these scripts:

If you create your own exceptions table, then it must follow the format prescribed by one of these two scripts.


Note:

If you are collecting exceptions from index-organized tables based on primary keys (rather than universal rowids), then you must create a separate exceptions table for each index-organized table to accommodate its primary key storage. You create multiple exceptions tables with different names by modifying and resubmitting the script.


See Also:
Restrictions on Specifying an Exceptions Table

If these conditions are not true, then Oracle ignores this clause.

See Also:

The constraints for more information on constraint checking and "Creating an Exceptions Table for Index-Organized Tables: Example"

Restrictions on Exchanging Partitions or Subpartitions

UNUSABLE LOCAL INDEXES Clauses

These two clauses modify the attributes of local index partitions and index subpartitions corresponding to partition (depending on whether you are modifying a partition or subpartition).

Restrictions on the UNUSABLE LOCAL INDEXES Clause

update_global_index_clause

When you perform DDL on a table partition, if a global index is defined on table, then Oracle invalidates the entire index, not just the partitions undergoing DDL. This clause lets you update the global index partition you are changing during the DDL operation, eliminating the need to rebuild the index after the DDL.

UPDATE GLOBAL INDEXES

Specify UPDATE GLOBAL INDEXES to update the global indexes defined on table.

INVALIDATE GLOBAL INDEXES

Specify INVALIDATE GLOBAL INDEXES to invalidate the global indexes defined on table.

If you specify neither, then Oracle invalidates the global indexes.

Restrictions on Invalidating Global Indexes

This clause supports only global indexes. Domain indexes and index-organized tables are not supported. In addition, this clause updates only indexes that are USABLE and VALID. UNUSABLE indexes are left unusable, and INVALID global indexes are ignored.

See Also:

"Updating Global Indexes: Example"

parallel_clause

The parallel_clause lets you change the default degree of parallelism for queries and DML on the table.


Note:

The syntax of the parallel_clause supersedes syntax appearing in earlier releases of Oracle. Superseded syntax is still supported for backward compatibility, but may result in slightly different behavior than that documented.


NOPARALLEL

Specify NOPARALLEL for serial execution. This is the default.

PARALLEL

Specify PARALLEL if you want Oracle to select a degree of parallelism equal to the number of CPUs available on all participating instances times the value of the PARALLEL_THREADS_PER_CPU initialization parameter.

PARALLEL integer

Specification of integer indicates the degree of parallelism, which is the number of parallel threads used in the parallel operation. Each parallel thread may use one or two parallel execution servers. Normally Oracle calculates the optimum degree of parallelism, so it is not necessary for you to specify integer.

Restrictions on Altering Table Parallelization

move_table_clause

The move_table_clause lets you relocate data of a nonpartitioned table into a new segment, optionally in a different tablespace, and optionally modify any of its storage attributes.

You can also move any LOB data segments associated with the table using the LOB_storage_clause and varray_col_properties clause. LOB items not specified in this clause are not moved.

index_org_table_clause

For an index-organized table, the index_org_table_clause of the syntax lets you additionally specify overflow segment attributes. The move_table_clause rebuilds the index-organized table's primary key index. The overflow data segment is not rebuilt unless the OVERFLOW keyword is explicitly stated, with two exceptions:

The index and data segments of LOB columns are not rebuilt unless you specify the LOB columns explicitly as part of this ALTER TABLE statement.

ONLINE Clause

Specify ONLINE if you want DML operations on the index-organized table to be allowed during rebuilding of the table's primary key index.

Restrictions on the ONLINE Clause
mapping_table_clause

Specify MAPPING TABLE if you want Oracle to create a mapping table if one does not already exist. If it does exist, then Oracle moves the mapping table along with the index-organized table, and marks any bitmapped indexes UNUSABLE. The new mapping table is created in the same tablespace as the parent table.

Specify NOMAPPING to instruct Oracle to drop an existing mapping table.

Restriction on Mapping Tables

You cannot specify NOMAPPING if any bitmapped indexes have been defined on table.

See Also:

mapping_table_clause of CREATE TABLE

key_compression

Use the key_compression clause to enable or disable key compression in an index-organized table.

TABLESPACE tablespace

Specify the tablespace into which the rebuilt index-organized table is stored.

Restrictions on Moving Tables

enable_disable_clause

The enable_disable_clause lets you specify whether and how Oracle should apply an integrity constraint. The DROP and KEEP clauses are valid only when you are disabling a unique or primary key constraint.

See Also:

TABLE LOCK

Oracle permits DDL operations on a table only if the table can be locked during the operation. Such table locks are not required during DML operations.


Note:

Table locks are not acquired on temporary tables.


ENABLE TABLE LOCK

Specify ENABLE TABLE LOCK to enable table locks, thereby allowing DDL operations on the table.

DISABLE TABLE LOCK

Specify DISABLE TABLE LOCK to disable table locks, thereby preventing DDL operations on the table.

ALL TRIGGERS

Use the ALL TRIGGERS clause to enable or disable all triggers associated with the table.

ENABLE ALL TRIGGERS

Specify ENABLE ALL TRIGGERS to enable all triggers associated with the table. Oracle fires the triggers whenever their triggering condition is satisfied.

To enable a single trigger, use the enable_clause of ALTER TRIGGER.

See Also:

CREATE TRIGGER, ALTER TRIGGER, and "Enabling Triggers: Example"

DISABLE ALL TRIGGERS

Specify DISABLE ALL TRIGGERS to disable all triggers associated with the table. Oracle will not fire a disabled trigger even if the triggering condition is satisfied.

Examples

Collection Retrieval: Example

The following statement modifies nested table column ad_textdocs_ntab in the sample table sh.print_media so that when queried it returns actual values instead of locators:

ALTER TABLE print_media MODIFY NESTED TABLE ad_textdocs_ntab
   RETURN AS VALUE; 
Specifying Parallel Processing: Example

The following statement specifies parallel processing for queries to the sample table oe.customers:

ALTER TABLE customers
   PARALLEL;
Changing the State of a Constraint: Examples

The following statement places in ENABLE VALIDATE state an integrity constraint named emp_manager_fk in the employees table:

ALTER TABLE employees
   ENABLE VALIDATE CONSTRAINT emp_manager_fk
   EXCEPTIONS INTO exceptions;

Each row of the employees table must satisfy the constraint for Oracle to enable the constraint. If any row violates the constraint, then the constraint remains disabled. Oracle lists any exceptions in the table exceptions. You can also identify the exceptions in the employees table with the following statement:

SELECT employees.*
   FROM employees e, exceptions ex
   WHERE e.row_id = ex.row_id
      AND ex.table_name = 'EMPLOYEES'
      AND ex.constraint = 'EMP_MANAGER_FK';

The following statement tries to place in ENABLE NOVALIDATE state two constraints on the employees table:

ALTER TABLE employees
   ENABLE NOVALIDATE PRIMARY KEY
   ENABLE NOVALIDATE CONSTRAINT emp_last_name_nn;

This statement has two ENABLE clauses:

In this case, Oracle enables the constraints only if both are satisfied by each row in the table. If any row violates either constraint, then Oracle returns an error and both constraints remain disabled.

Consider a referential integrity constraint involving a foreign key on the combination of the areaco and phoneno columns of the phone_calls table. The foreign key references a unique key on the combination of the areaco and phoneno columns of the customers table. The following statement disables the unique key on the combination of the areaco and phoneno columns of the customers table:

ALTER TABLE customers
   DISABLE UNIQUE (areaco, phoneno) CASCADE;

The unique key in the customers table is referenced by the foreign key in the phone_calls table, so you must use the CASCADE clause to disable the unique key. This clause disables the foreign key as well.

Creating an Exceptions Table for Index-Organized Tables: Example

The following example creates the except_table table to hold rows from the index-organized table hr.countries that violate the primary key constraint:

EXECUTE DBMS_IOT.BUILD_EXCEPTIONS_TABLE ('hr', 'countries', 'except_table');

ALTER TABLE countries
   ENABLE PRIMARY KEY
   EXCEPTIONS INTO except_table;

To specify an exception table, you must have the privileges necessary to insert rows into the table. To examine the identified exceptions, you must have the privileges necessary to query the exceptions table.

See Also:
  • INSERT
  • SELECT for information on the privileges necessary to insert rows into tables
Disabling a CHECK Constraint: Example

The following statement defines and disables a CHECK constraint on the employees table:

ALTER TABLE employees ADD CONSTRAINT check_comp 
   CHECK (salary + (commission_pct*salary) <= 5000)
   DISABLE;

The constraint check_comp ensures that no employee's total compensation exceeds $5000. The constraint is disabled, so you can increase an employee's compensation above this limit.

Enabling Triggers: Example

The following statement enables all triggers associated with the employees table:

ALTER TABLE employees
   ENABLE ALL TRIGGERS;
Deallocating Unused Space: Example

The following statement frees all unused space for reuse in table employees, where the high water mark is above MINEXTENTS:

ALTER TABLE employees
    DEALLOCATE UNUSED;
Renaming a Column: Example

The following example renames the credit_limit column of the sample table oe.customers to credit_amount:

ALTER TABLE customers
   RENAME COLUMN credit_limit TO credit_amount;
Dropping a Column: Example

This statement illustrates the drop_column_clause with CASCADE CONSTRAINTS. Assume table t1 is created as follows:

CREATE TABLE t1 (
   pk NUMBER PRIMARY KEY,
   fk NUMBER,
   c1 NUMBER,
   c2 NUMBER,
   CONSTRAINT ri FOREIGN KEY (fk) REFERENCES t1,
   CONSTRAINT ck1 CHECK (pk > 0 and c1 > 0),
   CONSTRAINT ck2 CHECK (c2 > 0)
);

An error will be returned for the following statements:

/* The next two statements return errors:
ALTER TABLE t1 DROP (pk); -- pk is a parent key
ALTER TABLE t1 DROP (c1);  -- c1 is referenced by multicolumn
                           -- constraint ck1

Submitting the following statement drops column pk, the primary key constraint, the foreign key constraint, ri, and the check constraint, ck1:

ALTER TABLE t1 DROP (pk) CASCADE CONSTRAINTS;

If all columns referenced by the constraints defined on the dropped columns are also dropped, then CASCADE CONSTRAINTS is not required. For example, assuming that no other referential constraints from other tables refer to column pk, then it is valid to submit the following statement without the CASCADE CONSTRAINTS clause:

ALTER TABLE t1 DROP (pk, fk, c1);
Modifying Index-Organized Tables: Examples

This statement modifies the INITRANS parameter for the index segment of index-organized table hr.countries:

ALTER TABLE countries INITRANS 4;

The following statement adds an overflow data segment to index-organized table countries:

ALTER TABLE countries ADD OVERFLOW;

This statement modifies the INITRANS parameter for the overflow data segment of index-organized table countries:

ALTER TABLE countries OVERFLOW INITRANS 4;
Splitting Table Partitions: Examples

The following statement splits the old partition sales_q4_2000 in the sample table sh.sales, creating two new partitions, naming one sales_q4_2000b and reusing the name of the old partition for the other:

ALTER TABLE sales SPLIT PARTITION SALES_Q4_2000 
   AT (TO_DATE('15-NOV-2000','DD-MON-YYYY'))
   INTO (PARTITION SALES_Q4_2000, PARTITION SALES_Q4_2000b);

Assume that the sample table pm.print_media was range partitioned into partitions p1 and p2. (You would have to convert the LONG column in print_media to LOB before partitioning the table.) The following statement splits partition p2 of that table into partitions p2a and p2b:

ALTER TABLE print_media_part
   SPLIT PARTITION p2 AT (150) INTO
   (PARTITION p2a TABLESPACE omf_ts1
      LOB ad_photo, ad_composite) STORE AS (TABLESPACE omf_ts2),
   PARTITION p2b 
      LOB (ad_photo, ad_composite) STORE AS (TABLESPACE omf_ts2));

In both partitions p2a and p2b, Oracle creates the LOB segments for columns ad_photo and ad_composite in tablespace omb_ts2. The LOB segments for the remaining columns in partition p2a are stored in tablespace omf_ts1. The LOB segments for the remaining columns in partition p2b remain in the tablespaces in which they resided prior to this ALTER statement. However, Oracle creates new segments for all the LOB data and LOB index segments, even if they are not moved to a new tablespace.

Adding a Table Partition with a LOB: Examples

The following statement adds a partition p3 to the print_media_part table (see preceding example) and specifies storage characteristics for the table's BLOB and CLOB columns:

ALTER TABLE print_media_part ADD PARTITION p3 VALUES LESS THAN 
(MAXVALUE)
   LOB (ad_photo, ad_composite) STORE AS (TABLESPACE omf_ts2)
   LOB (ad_sourcetext, ad_finaltext) STORE AS (TABLESPACE omf_ts1);

The LOB data and LOB index segments for columns ad_photo and ad_composite in partition p3 will reside in tablespace omf_ts2. The remaining attributes for these LOB columns will be inherited first from the table-level defaults, and then from the tablespace defaults.

The LOB data segments for columns ad_source_text and ad_finaltext will reside in the omf_ts1 tablespace, and will inherit all other attributes from the table-level defaults and then from the tablespace defaults.

Working with Default List Partitions: Example

The following statements use the list partitioned table created in "List Partitioning Example". The first statement splits the existing default partition into a new south partition and a default partition:

ALTER TABLE list_customers SPLIT PARTITION rest 
   VALUES ('MEXICO', 'COLOMBIA')
   INTO (PARTITION south, PARTITION rest);

The next statement merges the resulting default partition with the asia partition:

ALTER TABLE list_customers 
   MERGE PARTITIONS asia, rest INTO PARTITION rest;

The next statement re-creates the asia partition by splitting the default partition:

ALTER TABLE list_customers SPLIT PARTITION rest 
   VALUES ('CHINA', 'THAILAND')
   INTO (PARTITION east, partition rest);
Merging Two Table Partitions: Example

The following statement merges back into one partition the partitions created in "Splitting Table Partitions: Examples":

ALTER TABLE sales 
   MERGE PARTITIONS sales_q4_2000, sales_q4_2000b
   INTO PARTITION sales_q4_2000;
Dropping a Table Partition: Example

The following statement drops partition p3 created in "Adding a Table Partition with a LOB: Examples":

ALTER TABLE print_media_part DROP PARTITION p3;
Exchanging Table Partitions: Example

The following statement converts partition feb97 to table sales_feb97 without exchanging local index partitions with corresponding indexes on sales_feb97 and without verifying that data in sales_feb97 falls within the bounds of partition feb97:

ALTER TABLE sales 
   EXCHANGE PARTITION feb97 WITH TABLE sales_feb97 
   WITHOUT VALIDATION;
Modifying Table Partitions: Examples

The following statement marks all the local index partitions corresponding to the nov96 partition of the sales table UNUSABLE:

ALTER TABLE sales MODIFY PARTITION nov96 
   UNUSABLE LOCAL INDEXES;

The following statement rebuilds all the local index partitions that were marked UNUSABLE:

ALTER TABLE sales MODIFY PARTITION jan97
   REBUILD UNUSABLE LOCAL INDEXES;

The following statement changes MAXEXTENTS and logging attribute for partition branch_ny:

ALTER TABLE branch MODIFY PARTITION branch_ny 
   STORAGE (MAXEXTENTS 75) LOGGING;
Moving Table Partitions: Example

The following statement moves partition p2b (from "Splitting Table Partitions: Examples") to tablespace omf_ts1:

ALTER TABLE print_media_part 
   MOVE PARTITION p2b TABLESPACE omf_ts1;
Renaming Table Partitions: Examples

The following statement renames a table:

ALTER TABLE employees RENAME TO employee;

In the following statement, partition emp3 is renamed:

ALTER TABLE employee RENAME PARTITION emp3 TO employee3;
Truncating Table Partitions: Example

The following statement deletes all the data in the sys_p017 partition and deallocates the freed space:

ALTER TABLE deliveries
   TRUNCATE PARTITION sys_p017 DROP STORAGE;
Updating Global Indexes: Example

The following statement splits partition sales_q1_2000 of the sample table sh.sales, and updates any global indexes defined on it:

ALTER TABLE sales SPLIT PARTITION sales_q1_2000
   AT (TO_DATE('16-FEB-2000','DD-MON-YYYY'))
   INTO (PARTITION q1a_2000, PARTITION q1b_2000)
   UPDATE GLOBAL INDEXES;
Specifying Object Identifiers: Example

The following statements create an object type, a corresponding object table with a primary-key-based object identifier, and a table having a user-defined REF column:

CREATE TYPE emp_t AS OBJECT (empno NUMBER, address CHAR(30));

CREATE TABLE emp OF emp_t (
   empno PRIMARY KEY)
   OBJECT IDENTIFIER IS PRIMARY KEY;

CREATE TABLE dept (dno NUMBER, mgr_ref REF emp_t SCOPE is emp);

The next statements add a constraint and a user-defined REF column, both of which reference table emp:

ALTER TABLE dept ADD CONSTRAINT mgr_cons FOREIGN KEY (mgr_ref)
   REFERENCES emp;
ALTER TABLE dept ADD sr_mgr REF emp_t REFERENCES emp;
Adding a Table Column: Example

The following statement adds a column named duty_pct of datatype NUMBER and a column named visa_needed of datatype VARCHAR2 with a size of 3 (to hold "yes" and "no" data) and a CHECK integrity constraint:

ALTER TABLE countries 
   ADD (duty_pct     NUMBER(2,2)  CHECK (duty_pct < 10.5),
        visa_needed  VARCHAR2(3)); 
Modifying Table Columns: Examples

The following statement increases the size of the duty_pct column:

ALTER TABLE countries
   MODIFY (duty_pct NUMBER(3,2)); 

Because the MODIFY clause contains only one column definition, the parentheses around the definition are optional.

The following statement changes the values of the PCTFREE and PCTUSED parameters for the employees table to 30 and 60, respectively:

ALTER TABLE employees 
   PCTFREE 30
   PCTUSED 60; 
Converting LONG Columns to LOB: Example

The following example modifies the press_release column of the sample table pm.print_media from LONG to CLOB datatype:

ALTER TABLE print_media MODIFY (press_release CLOB);
Allocating Extents: Example

The following statement allocates an extent of 5 kilobytes for the employees table and makes it available to instance 4:

ALTER TABLE employees
  ALLOCATE EXTENT (SIZE 5K INSTANCE 4); 

Because this statement omits the DATAFILE parameter, Oracle allocates the extent in one of the datafiles belonging to the tablespace containing the table.

Specifying Default Column Value: Examples

This statement modifies the min_price column of the product_information table so that it has a default value of 10:

ALTER TABLE product_information
  MODIFY (min_price DEFAULT 10); 

If you subsequently add a new row to the product_information table and do not specify a value for the min_price column, then the value of the min_price column is automatically 0:

INSERT INTO product_information (product_id, product_name, 
   list_price)
   VALUES (300, 'left-handed mouse', 40.50); 

SELECT product_id, product_name, list_price, min_price 
    FROM product_information
    WHERE product_id = 300; 

PRODUCT_ID PRODUCT_NAME         LIST_PRICE  MIN_PRICE
---------- -------------------- ---------- ----------
       300 left-handed mouse          40.5         10

To discontinue previously specified default values, so that they are no longer automatically inserted into newly added rows, replace the values with nulls, as shown in this statement:

ALTER TABLE product_information
   MODIFY (min_price DEFAULT NULL);

The MODIFY clause need only specify the column name and the modified part of the definition, rather than the entire column definition. This statement has no effect on any existing values in existing rows.

Adding a Constraint to an XMLType Table: Example

The following example adds a primary key constraint to the xwarehouses table, created in "XMLType Table Examples":

ALTER TABLE xwarehouses 
   ADD (PRIMARY KEY(XMLDATA."WarehouseID"));
See Also:

XMLDATA for information about this pseudocolumn

Renaming Constraints: Example

The following statement renames the cust_fname_nn constraint on the sample table oe.customers to cust_firstname_nn:

ALTER TABLE customers RENAME CONSTRAINT cust_fname_nn
   TO cust_firstname_nn;
Dropping Constraints: Examples

The following statement drops the primary key of the departments table:

ALTER TABLE departments 
    DROP PRIMARY KEY CASCADE; 

If you know that the name of the PRIMARY KEY constraint is pk_dept, then you could also drop it with the following statement:

ALTER TABLE departments
    DROP CONSTRAINT pk_dept CASCADE; 

The CASCADE clause drops any foreign keys that reference the primary key.

The following statement drops the unique key on the email column of the employees table:

ALTER TABLE employees 
    DROP UNIQUE (email); 

The DROP clause in this statement omits the CASCADE clause. Because of this omission, Oracle does not drop the unique key if any foreign key references it.

LOB Columns: Examples

The following statement adds CLOB column resume to the employee table and specifies LOB storage characteristics for the new column:

ALTER TABLE employees ADD (resume CLOB)
  LOB (resume) STORE AS resume_seg (TABLESPACE example);

To modify the LOB column resume to use caching, enter the following statement:

ALTER TABLE employees MODIFY LOB (resume) (CACHE); 
Nested Tables: Examples

The following statement adds the nested table column skills to the employee table:

ALTER TABLE employees ADD (skills skill_table_type)
    NESTED TABLE skills STORE AS nested_skill_table;

You can also modify a nested table's storage characteristics. Use the name of the storage table specified in the nested_table_col_properties to make the modification. You cannot query or perform DML statements on the storage table. Use the storage table only to modify the nested table column storage characteristics.

The following statement creates table vetservice with nested table column client and storage table client_tab. Nested table vetservice is modified to specify constraints:

CREATE TYPE pet_table AS OBJECT
   (pet_name VARCHAR2(10), pet_dob DATE);

CREATE TABLE vetservice (vet_name VARCHAR2(30),
                         client   pet_table)
  NESTED TABLE client STORE AS client_tab;

ALTER TABLE client_tab ADD UNIQUE (ssn);

The following statement adds a UNIQUE constraint to nested table nested_skill_table:

ALTER TABLE nested_skill_table ADD UNIQUE (a);

The following statement alters the storage table for a nested table of REF values to specify that the REF is scoped:

CREATE TYPE emp_t AS OBJECT (eno number, ename char(31)); 
CREATE TYPE emps_t AS TABLE OF REF emp_t; 
CREATE TABLE emptab OF emp_t; 
CREATE TABLE dept (dno NUMBER, employees emps_t) 
   NESTED TABLE employees STORE AS deptemps; 
ALTER TABLE deptemps ADD (SCOPE FOR (column_value) IS emptab); 

Similarly, to specify storing the REF with rowid:

ALTER TABLE deptemps ADD (REF(column_value) WITH ROWID); 

In order to execute these ALTER TABLE statements successfully, the storage table deptemps must be empty. Also, because the nested table is defined as a table of scalars (REFs), Oracle implicitly provides the column name COLUMN_VALUE for the storage table.

See Also:
REF Columns: Examples

In the following statement an object type dept_t has been previously defined. Now, create table staff as follows:

CREATE TABLE staff 
   (name   VARCHAR(100), 
    salary NUMBER,
    dept   REF dept_t); 

An object table offices is created as:

CREATE TABLE offices OF dept_t; 

The dept column can store references to objects of dept_t stored in any table. If you would like to restrict the references to point only to objects stored in the departments table, then you could do so by adding a scope constraint on the dept column as follows:

ALTER TABLE staff 
    ADD (SCOPE FOR (dept) IS offices); 

The preceding ALTER TABLE statement will succeed only if the staff table is empty.

If you want the REF values in the dept column of staff to also store the rowids, issue the following statement:

ALTER TABLE staff 
   ADD (REF(dept) WITH ROWID);
Additional Examples

For examples of defining integrity constraints with the ALTER TABLE statement, see the constraints.

For examples of changing the value of a table's storage parameters, see the storage_clause.