Greetings,

I am trying to specify a default value for an existing TIMESTAMP column in our firebird database.

The following syntax:
alter table perstyprate add default '01/01/1900 00:00:00' for ptrrateeffstartdate

Results in the following error:
*** IBPP::SQLException ***
Context: Statement::Prepare( alter table perstyprate add default '01/01/1900 00:00:00' for PTRRATEEFFSTARTDATE )
Message: isc_dsql_prepare failed

SQL Message : -104
Invalid token

Engine Code : 335544569
Engine Message :
Dynamic SQL Error
SQL error code = -104
Token unknown - line 1, column 29
default

I also tried the following:
alter table perstyprate add constraint defbegdate default '01/01/1900 00:00:00' for PTRRATEEFFSTARTDATE

Which gives me the same error.

The column as added as follows:
ALTER TABLE PERSTYPRATE ADD PTRRATEEFFSTARTDATE TIMESTAMP

By the way, the following works when adding the column:
ALTER TABLE PERSTYPRATE ADD PTRRATEEFFSTARTDATE TIMESTAMP DEFAULT '01/01/1900 00:00:00';

What is the correct syntax for adding a default value to an existing column?

Thanks,

Greg.