At 20/03/2002 11:41 PM, you wrote:

>It seems like I'm teasing you, but no.
>You mixed DDL and DML. Usually, tools handle auto-commit DDL and manual
>commit DML, but this is not mandatory to use separate transactions for them
>and in isql, it's an option. By renaming a field to the original name, I can
>imagine (but I'm not sure) how the disaster happens. You need the commits.

Just to add to my last reply. I just tried Ann's suggestion, in my
application, to have additional steps to perform the wanted task and it
works great and doesn't give any errors. And, I can do the backup.

>I personally understand people's need to change metadata on live databases,
>but I never do. I better play ping-pong with nitroglycerine balls or join a
>russian roulette club.

I know what you mean. But, my application is on the market and we have a
good customer base that uses it. The upgrades are about twice a year, we
try not to have more often than that. But, as you saw in an earlier
posting, that there's a double safeguard: a backup and a copy are
created. The second set of backup and copy in the process uses different
names, so that the first ones are not lost.

Have a nice day.


Daniel Rail
Senior System Engineer
ACCRA Group Inc. (www.accra.ca)
ACCRA Med Software Inc. (www.accramed.ca)