RE: Expanding varchar2 column

Yeah yeah, I know. Thanks for responding. For those who actually did a test on my behalf (or, rather, on my co-worker's behalf), I'm grateful, though I neither asked for nor expected a test done on my behalf. Still, I am grateful. Send me your Martyr Card and I'll be happy to punch it.

My co-worker has confirmed that his experience with the column expansion last night did go as expected.

For those who responded with irony, sarcasm or even actual abuse, either publicly or privately (better), while I do occasionally enjoy a good spanking from a complete stranger, it's always consensual. Getting abused on this list is not consensual. I do think carefully before I submit a query to the list. I don't take others' time for granted. In this case, I was simply asking if anyone knew "off the top of their head" if my and my co-worker's assumption was correct. We're all quite busy, I'm sure. I manage 220 databases on 80 servers. Sometimes I just don't have time to test and I barely have time to do research. Occasionally I do impose on the collective experience and wisdom of this list, even at the likely risk of abuse. I do not take that privilege for granted. After 12 years as a DBA and 16 years in IT, my skin should be thicker than it is. Pardon me for being human.

Regards,
Mark Strickland

-----Original Message-----

From: Norman Dunbar [mailto:norman.dunbar_at_environment-agency.gov.uk] Sent: Wednesday, November 16, 2005 1:15 AM To: Strickland, Mark; oracle-l_at_freelists.org; paul.baumgartel_at_gmail.com Subject: RE: Expanding varchar2 column

I couldn't resist :

create a table.
Load it.
Alter it.

The trace file shows a lot of selects followed by an update to SYS.tab$, SYS.col$ and SYS.obj$. The original table isn't touched.

I didn't test where the table has a default value or check contraints etc - they might be different.

Cheers,
Norman.

Norman Dunbar.
Contract Oracle DBA.
Rivers House, Leeds.

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http://www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-l Received on Wed Nov 16 2005 - 14:49:11 CST