Re: Alter table add column ignores default

On 8 May 2001, Nabil Sayegh wrote:

> On 05 May 2001 12:23:37 -0400, pgsql-bugs@postgresql.org wrote:
> > Vince Vielhaber (vev@hub.org) reports a bug with a severity of 3
> > The lower the number the more severe it is.
> >
> > Short Description
> > Alter table add column ignores default
> >
> > Long Description
> > Alter table add column ignores the default values in both v7.0x and 7.1.  In the example code the table is created
withone column having a default value of 'none'.  An ALTER TABLE is done adding another varchar column also with a
defaultvalue.  \d table only shows the default from the create, not the alter.  An insert also fails to add the
default.
> >
> >
> >
> > Sample Code
> > foo=# create table foobar(name varchar(20),nickname varchar(10) default 'none');
> > CREATE
> > foo=# \d foobar
> >               Table "foobar"
> >  Attribute |    Type     |    Modifier
> > -----------+-------------+----------------
> >  name      | varchar(20) |
> >  nickname  | varchar(10) | default 'none'
> >
> > foo=# alter table foobar add column address varchar(50) default 'none';
>
>
> http://hermes.swu.bg/postgres/postgres/sql-altertable.htm
> The correct syntax is:
> ALTER TABLE foobar add column address varchar(50);
> ALTER TABLE foobar alter column address set default 'none';

If this:

alter table foobar add column address varchar(50) default 'none';

is the incorrect syntax, why does it not fail or at least give a
warning?

Vince.
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