NetMaster Database Administration › Alter Field Definitions in an NDB › Update a Field Definition

Update a Field Definition

A field definition can be updated at any time. However, not all field attributes can be changed at any time. Some changes require the database to be empty (that is, just created or reset), or in LOAD MODE. Some field attribute alterations are prohibited.

The following field attributes can be changed at any time:

• DESC = description
• USER1, USER2, USER3, USER4
• NULLVALUE
• NULLFIELD (except for KEY = SEQ field)
• UPDATE (except for KEY = SEQ field)
• KEY = Y to KEY = N
• KEY = U to KEY = Y or N
• NEWNAME (to rename the field)

The following attribute can be changed if the field is not keyed (that is, KEY=NO):

• CAPS = YES to CAPS = SEARCH

The following attributes can be changed if the database is in the LOAD MODE or empty:

• KEY (except to/from SEQ)
• CAPS = SEARCH/NO to CAPS = NO/SEARCH

The following attributes can be changed if the database is empty:

• FMT
• CAPS
• KEY (except to/from SEQ)

The following attribute cannot be changed:

• KEY = SEQ (to or from)

Note: A field can also be changed from KEY = N to KEY = Y by using the NDB ALTER command.