Re: Getting rid of a column in a table

In article <39217409.E3CC19DD_at_christian-horizons.org>,   Brad huskins <bhuskins_at_christian-horizons.org> wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I am trying to drop a column from a table. I am logged in as SYSTEM,
 and
> can see the table. I am also able to add columns to it using ALTER
 TABLE
> table ADD ... .
> However, when I try to use the ALTER TABLE table DROP (column)
 command,
> I get an error saying I'm 'missing a key word'. I looked this up in
 the
> docs, and I think I have the syntax right. Can anyone tell me what
 might
> be going wrong?
>
> Thanks in advance.
> /Brad.
>
>

alter table drop column is new with Orcle8i, release 8.1.5 and up.

Prior to that you will get the ORA-905 error as this is not implemented.

In version 8.0 and before, the way I prefer to "drop" a column is:

• rename the table T to something_else
• create a view T as select <all columns EXCEPT the one you don't want> from something_else
• revoke all privs on something_else
• grant them on T

--
Thomas Kyte                              tkyte_at_us.oracle.com
Oracle Service Industries
http://osi.oracle.com/~tkyte/index.html
--
Opinions are mine and do not necessarily reflect those of Oracle Corp


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