DROP TABLE DESCRIPTION
Function
The statement removes a base table description in the catalog but does not delete the data.
Note:
Dropping a table description does not cause all data contained within to be deleted. Only the table description in the catalog is deleted.
Syntax
DROP TABLE DESCRIPTION table_specification[ | CASCADE | RESTRICT ]
where
table_specification | The expected format is catalog . schema . table identifier. The default schema and catalog is assumed if omitted. See
Table Specification. |
Description
A table description and all its associated information will be deleted from Adabas SQL Gateway Embedded SQL's catalog. Any other statements referencing this table will no longer be valid. In addition, any attempts to compile statements which reference this table will fail. Even if the table is re-specified, all previously compiled statements remain invalid.
If the CASCADE option is specified, all dependent view descriptions based on the table to be dropped, will also be deleted. Statement execution will fail when attempting to drop a table description with dependent view descriptions but without the CASCADE option.
If the statement is invoked statically, then during pre-compilation, the table description need not exist in the catalog. For successful execution, however, the table description must exist in the catalog, regardless of how it is invoked.
Limitations
The DBA can execute this statement for all users. All other users can use this statement only in a schema owned by the user.
The specified table specification must denote an existing table at runtime.
If a table description has been created as a part of a cluster, then it can not be dropped individually. The cluster must be dropped in order to remove this table description.
Warning:
This statement is not subject to transaction logic. An implicit COMMIT will be performed after successful execution of this statement. If an error is detected during execution of this statement, an implicit ROLLBACK will be performed. Therefore, before executing this statement, it is strongly recommended to complete any open transaction containing INSERT, UPDATE and/or DELETE statements by issuing an explicit COMMIT or ROLLBACK statement.
ANSI Specifics
The DROP TABLE DESCRIPTION statement is not part of the Standard.
Examples
The following example drops the description of the table "cruise" and all dependent view descriptions.
DROP TABLE DESCRIPTION cruise CASCADE;