Re: adding a column with default value on a very large table

On Fri, 15 Mar 2002, fbacheli_at_capgemini.fr wrote:

> I thank you for answering again. But my last question is still open,
> because as I said we don't have enough space in the database nor on
> the disks to expand the database in order to recreate the table
> (create as select). So even this is the best way, we can't apply it.

Since you have the space worries, why not leave the default as null? Maybe you can create a view on top of the table which uses nvl on the new column to bring back '0000' for the application but you wouldn't have to store this 4 character field and increase the size of the multi-million row table by the 4 extra characters.

Plus, I believe this new column could introduce a large amount of chaining into the already existing blocks because each row would be expanded by the 4 characters pushing some of the existing rows off the block, depending on the pctfree parameter.

-- 
Galen deForest Boyer
Sweet dreams and flying machines in pieces on the ground.