Re: Changing size of Char field

umacru, @, gate.net wrote: > > We are running Informix SQL 4.1 on a DEC Ultrix machine. > > There is a char field that currently has a length of 5 characters that we > would like to change to at least 6 (7 might be safer), but I want to make sure > this isn't going to somehow screw up the current database. This field is used > in several different tables and reports (one table currently has 6000 rows, > another has 66,000, and this is a required field in several tables). I know > that if we decide to do this, every table/report that the field appears in > will need modification (there is a way I could get around needing to do this, > but in anticipation of future needs, if we're going to do it, now would be the > time). > > Unfortunately we are without a DBA at the moment, so it is falling on to me. > I know what needs to be done and how to do it (I think), I just don't know > if I change the size of this field for a database we have been using for 10 > years if things will get screwed up. > > Thank you for any advice. > > Lisa you can use dbaccess to change the size of the column. It won't "screw up" the database, but any programs that reference the column may have to be modified and will have to be recompiled. The programs that reference it must be checked for any definitions that use the column. I am assuming that your programs are written with informix 4GL. Hopefully, any references were defined using the "LIKE column-name" syntax. If you don't have a test environment and database, now may be a good time to set one up. HTH, Matt Brickley