RE : full featured alter table?

Bruno BAGUETTE <pgsql-ml@baguette.net>

From: "Bruno BAGUETTE" <pgsql-ml@baguette.net>
To: <pgsql-general@postgresql.org>
Date: 2003-06-17T11:21:08Z
Lists: pgsql-general
> > > Presentation order should be done at the application level.
> 
> I agree.
> 
> Use a VIEW for the presentation!
> 

Sorry, but I don't fully agree with you. If I have to add a new column
in a table, this column will appear in the end of the table. What we are
talking about (as I understand) is to have the possibility to order the
columns table (via ALTER TABLE ...POSITION..). SELECT * FROM <table>
would use that order to display the columns.

We are not talking of changing columns order for each kind of SQL query.
In that case, I agree that views are usefull and when we want to
display several tables in one "pseudo-table" (a view) and to have less
big queries.

I really think that column ordering (ALTER TABLE ...POSITION..) is very
interesting and will allow users to avoid loosing time when they have to
create a new temporary table each time they have to add a new column
inside (not at the end of) a table, and rename the table after deleting
the old table... :-)

Regards,

---------------------------------------
Bruno BAGUETTE - pgsql-ml@baguette.net