Alter Table non-exclusive

Hi all We have 24 x 7 production with our Informix databases. We all heard of Informix Server that ran a year or longer without interruption <http://dict.leo.org/ende?lp=ende&p=Ci4HO3kMAA&search=interruption&trest r=0x8001> . What we wish is the ability to do "Alter tables" and other administrative tasks that needs "exclusive locks" without this need. Each change on the table structures which come continuous from our software developement causes trouble with our production: Workflows has to be stopped, dialog programs can't run. Is there any chance do these tasks without exclusive locks, perhaps in futur? Or, is there any other way to do these tasks without a production break? TIA, Reinhard.

If the table involved is repeatedly used by applications but not continuously by any one, the fix can be to set environment variable IFX_DIRTY_WAIT (as well as SET LOCK MODE TO WAIT) to the number of seconds required. This has been available since IDS 9 or 10, but is underdocumented. Combine this with IDS 11 AUTO_REPREPARE, and prepared statements on the table will also then be unaffected. Regards, Doug Lawry