Re: Database related SQL question

> > I would like to ask two questions for informix gurus: > > 1. Can I rename the database without loosing any data/tables? > Or is it advisable to first use dbexport utility then use dbimport > with new database name? In this procedure lot of steps are involved, > please advise if there is any shourtcut/fast method. Unfortunately, you cannot rename a database name. You can do some copies to get the same results. I frequently copy databases thru a named pipe. As Informix: mknod pipename p chmod 777 pipename tbunload -t pipename fromdbname on another window: tbload -t pipename newdbname Works like a charm, and is *very* fast! > > 2. We are doing a research study, in one of my study questionnaire, I have > 219 different questions. My question is: Is it better to make one table > containing all of 219 columns (fields), or I should break up the columns > in smaller tables? Is there a limit on how many columns I can have in 1 > table. My advice, offhand, is that is probably more important not to let the rowsize get bigger than a page, forcing use of remainder pages. I prefer small amounts of columns in a table, as they are easier to work with, but sometimes performance factors in. -- Naomi Walker (aka N7FSA) naomi@anasazi.com Phoenix, Arizona To get the full value of joy, you must have someone to divide it with. ---Mark Twain