The one think that I will always do, even where the
databases are now growing into the hundreds of Megs, is pump
data from the existing production database to a new
database. I do not expect the production database metacode
to be changed on-line, so a new environment might work
between two copies of the database, but IF a problem
happens, how do you get back? My customers have never made
up their minds on what they want, so as changes are made,
the old version can run along side the new version if
required.

There have been a lot of complaints about not being able to
do this that or the other 'on-line', but I see no problem
with defining the new metacode, building a new blank
database, pumping in live data, and then testing it. This
method works and I see no reason to change. On the fly -
probably undocumented - changes are a problem, and if there
is anything wrong with Firebird/Interbase, then it is the
fact that this can actually be done live on site.

Keep it to the development environment and never do it on a
customers system!

--
Lester Caine
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L.S.Caine Electronic Services