>>>I have a table that is already being used in an installation. I need to modify the table structure to repair a bug and remove an unneeded field. The only way I know how to modify table structures is to use the Project Manager but that is NOT available on the clients site.
The "Old-fashioned" method involves detailing the exact differences between the two version of the tables, and writing code to make the old one like the new.
>>>#1 - How do I change an existing field type from character 15 to integer 4?
ALTER TABLE MyTaable ALTER COLUMN MyField I
Be aware that you will probably lose data here, and if oyu need to preserve anything in the field, oyu will want to do this in a couple of steps: adding a new column, populating it with VAL(OldField), deleting the old field, and then renaming the new to the old.
>>>#2 - How do I remove a field from the a table?
ALTER TABLE MyTable DROP COLUMN MyField
>>>#3 - How do I add a field to a table?
ALTER TABLE MyTable ADD COLUMN MyField C(10)
>>>#4 - I assume I am updating the clients existing database (somehow), but if I make these changes - what do I need to copy to the clients system. .dbc, .exe, ...)?
You don't need to copy the dbc- it will be updated when you make the structure changes. You on;y need to copy a new exe if the exe has code in it that references the old fields, and the code needs to be updated.
Erik Moore
Clientelligence