> Commit
>
> 3. UPDATE ALLZIP
> DROP CITY Ok

Possibly need a commit here but then 4 whould have complained that CITY
still existed

> 4. ALTER TABLE ALLZIP
> ADD CITY VARCHAR(30) Ok
>
> 5. UPDATE ALLZIP
> SET CITY = UCITY Horror!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I used this procedure for some time without problem, so I do not see why
it should have failed.

If you have IB_WISQL, then you have the best method of changing
metadata. Build the new database format, and Pump data from the old
database to the new. It has the advantage that if the gremlins bite ( as
above ) you have not corrupted the original. This method also has the
added advantage that the new database will have all the fields in neat
order - not the most important thing, but it helps when looking at raw
table when debugging.
There is nothing more anoying that having to scroll horizontally because
the field you have just changed has moved to the end of the record, and
is now out of order.

--
Lester Caine
-----------------------------
L.S.Caine Electronic Services